Celtics announce Shaq is out for game 1

[P2]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

At least they don't set return dates this time. They don't know? Oh, OK, I'll just rephrase that: Shaq might be out for the playoffs! In any case, his career is done and I fully expect him to retire this season.

Seriously, what a bummer! Now my whole life is screwed up until Shaq returns.

[mc34]

Am I crazy for thinking we can still win it all without Shaq? The real reason we've been struggling is because Rondo has not been playing very well lately. If he can turn it on, I like our chances.

[mgent]

Now we all just have to hope that they are hyping up Shaq's injury so Kobe will be counting him out.

[heitingas]

shaq is out.

[LarBrd33]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

[The DarkPassenger]

OMG no way!! is he hurt?? OMG     not shocked. hope he can come back soon. game 3 or 4 maybe.

[BudweiserCeltic]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

Not the same type of situation. For one, we actually know what's wrong with Shaq, there's a proper diagnosis. That wasn't the case with KG's situation.

[blink]

I admit that I am completely NOT surprised by this.  Bottom line it that an still gimpy / injured Shaq isn't going to help us anyways.  I think the team might benefit from just completely forgetting about the  possibility of Shaq playing in the playoffs and move on.  If he comes back and provides anything, well that is a bonus. 

Better to go in with the attitude, Shaq isn't coming back and we all need to raise our level of play/hustle/defense everything to win.  It seems like Shaq coming back or not coming back is just a big monkey on our back.  Let it go and just play.  We have 4 all stars, a 6th man of the year candidate, young hungry players off the bench...former starters in west, nenad, green, carlos, sasha.  Play up to our potential and we will be fine.

[GreenEnvy]

Ugh. If he can't even practice, he isn't nearly ready for gameplay. Depending on how the first few games go, I'd try to shut him down as long as possible.

Having him makes life A LOT easier, especially against Miami and Chicago. I truly believe we can still beat them without him, but it will be tougher. Fortunately, the Knicks don't have very good centers. Neither does Miami, but one is physical (Anthony) and the other has length and range (Ilgauskas). Noah doesn't scare me, I feel we can get into his head, especially KG.

But if we were to meet LA again, I feel we would be giving up wayyyy to many second chance opportunities like last Finals. What good is holding your opponent to 40% FG when you are giving them 15 extra shots than you? Shaq would undoubtedly be able to prevent them from getting wherever they want in the paint.

JO is going to have to step up, especially these first few games of the playoffs. I believe he is prepared mentally and physically. He was brought in for this ('Sheed v2.0?), and everyone knows this.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

Not the same type of situation. For one, we actually know what's wrong with Shaq, there's a proper diagnosis. That wasn't the case with KG's situation.

lol and??...You said 'for one' like you had a long list prepared. Besides that this is exactly the same situation. I'd like to hear anyone tell me how this is sooooo different

[hpantazo]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

Not the same type of situation. For one, we actually know what's wrong with Shaq, there's a proper diagnosis. That wasn't the case with KG's situation.

lol and??...You said 'for one' like you had a long list prepared. Besides that this is exactly the same situation. I'd like to hear anyone tell me how this is sooooo different

1) We know exactly what's wrong with Shaq

2) He's nowhere near as important as KG

3) He will be back when we really need him

4) We don't need him against NY, he wouldn't play much anyway with Amare playing center

5) JO is looking great

[clover]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

Not the same type of situation. For one, we actually know what's wrong with Shaq, there's a proper diagnosis. That wasn't the case with KG's situation.

lol and??...You said 'for one' like you had a long list prepared. Besides that this is exactly the same situation. I'd like to hear anyone tell me how this is sooooo different

From what their doctor just said (as opposed to what Doc just said), it sounds like it's still the achilles, and all the distraction about the calf muscle served to throw fans off track.  That seems a lot like the KG situation 2 years ago.

[clover]

Am I crazy for thinking we can still win it all without Shaq? The real reason we've been struggling is because Rondo has not been playing very well lately. If he can turn it on, I like our chances.

If the Big Four and JO all play well, they can win it all.

[Tai]

Yea...um...how did we get to "No Doubt Shaq will play Game 1" to he can't even get on the court? Hell, what happened to "if this were the playoffs he'd be playing"?

Definitely a bad spin on things.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

*Cough cough KG cough 2009 cough*

Yup.  Same thing all over again.  They'll keep pushing back his return date to "just around the corner" so Ainge doesn't get booed during our 3 home games against the Knicks.   Once we are humiliated in 6 games and Ainge is out of dodge, Shaq will announce his retirement.

Not the same type of situation. For one, we actually know what's wrong with Shaq, there's a proper diagnosis. That wasn't the case with KG's situation.

lol and??...You said 'for one' like you had a long list prepared. Besides that this is exactly the same situation. I'd like to hear anyone tell me how this is sooooo different

1) We know exactly what's wrong with Shaq

2) He's nowhere near as important as KG

3) He will be back when we really need him

4) We don't need him against NY, he wouldn't play much anyway with Amare playing center

5) JO is looking great

Some of what your claiming is just conjecture, nothing more.

1. 'We' know exactly what is wrong with shaq. Who is 'we'? the fans or the training staff? Again did we the fans know what was wrong with kg in 09? Seems to me his achilles never healed and the staff has been covering for it just like 09

2. Thank you for stating the obvious but we still need shaq

3. Nothing but guessing on your part.

4. I agree we dont need him much against NY but that's besides the point. The point is the guy can barely walk. Not sure how thats gonna drastically change after this series.

5. Yes JO is looking great, but can he be great enough to depend on as our only 7' enforcer? I'm not sure bout that. (Kristic is NOT an enforcer)