Celtics announce Shaq is out for game 1

[outcry]

I really don't think Shaq is needed throughout this series against New York. I believe this team as constituted matches up with them well. Rest him this series and definitely bring him in for the next series.

[celticinorlando]

Celtics are going to play smaller than large in this series...baby...west and green will be more important shaq

[mgent]

I wish they could just tell us if it is injury related or we're not gonna play him because we're scared he's going to get an injury related.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I wish they could just tell us if it is injury related or we're not gonna play him because we're scared he's going to get an injury related.

It's the calf, and it has to do with how much pain Shaq can he play with.

gwashburn14 gary washburn
Celtics team doc basically said it all depends on how much paian Shaq can withstand. Right now he cannot run without pain #celtics

[soap07]

That's fine. It would have been nice to have Shaq but he is not necessary to beat the Knicks.

Everything is still looking good.

Looking good for what? We're going to hear this same crap in the next round. Shaq's not the kind of player you can just throw in there and things will magically fit into place. Players have to get used to playing with him....if he even plays at all.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

hmm well i thought things were looking good but it looks like we're just inching closer and closer to the inevitability of being screwed

[mgent]

I wish they could just tell us if it is injury related or we're not gonna play him because we're scared he's going to get an injury related.

It's the calf, and it has to do with how much pain Shaq can he play with.

gwashburn14 gary washburn
Celtics team doc basically said it all depends on how much paian Shaq can withstand. Right now he cannot run without pain #celtics

Wow, that is ridiculously bad news.

[j804]

Danny Ainge is looking like a darn fool right now

It's KG's injury a couple years back all over again doubt he plays more than 3 games this year he's thru

[j804]

I hope I'm wrong but this news just screwed up my morning and has me
really worried that getting by Miami will just not be enough without him.

[JoT]

Danny Ainge is looking like a darn fool right now

It's KG's injury a couple years back all over again doubt he plays more than 3 games this year he's thru

Danny better buy a plane ticket out of Boston if this doesn't go too well.

[CelticSooner]

They may as well admit Shaq will be out this series. Who's knows his status going forward.

[celticinorlando]

I think it is time to move on. Not looking good for him

[get_banners]

sounds like shaq hasn't had any setbacks, but that this injury just takes time. i'm not too stressed about it, because JO seems to be fine knee-wise and quite honestly he gives us a real 5 in the middle to radically improve our defense. would JO + shaq be better? of course. but at least JO is back. and actually back, not back but playing through a major injury. if we can get 25 mpg from JO this series, we dont' need shaq. actually, if we can get 25 mpg from JO throughout the postseason, i feel good about our chances, period. the dude can play some serious D and has offensive game as well.

[GDAbraham]

Rather let that pain diminish as much as possible. If he shows up in the next few games, great. Shake some rust off. If we're going to get the last hurrah of Shaquille O'Neal, best use him wisely. The advantage is the series spread over so many days.

I don't get the venom when it comes to injuries. It's not like the doctors and the team are out to get the fans. It's unpredictable. Having one O'Neal good to go and a healthy KG is the important thing. People keep saying Nenad brings nothing (even intangibles), but he really does despite his flaws. A 7 foot frame, 6 fouls and for this series especially offensive rebounding. If they do a good job of perimeter defending, that's a great asset.

[garz]

That's fine. It would have been nice to have Shaq but he is not necessary to beat the Knicks.

Everything is still looking good.

Looking good for what? We're going to hear this same crap in the next round. Shaq's not the kind of player you can just throw in there and things will magically fit into place. Players have to get used to playing with him....if he even plays at all.

Good point I don't like this scenario at all. I don't like that the players are expecting him back, and I don't like that he might start playing later when even the slightest disruption is going to be magnified.