Celtics announce Shaq is out for game 1

[GreenFaith1819]

well see shaq back in the playoffs...no way the guy doesnt go out there even in Pain...this is his last chance to fight for a championship.

The latest update on him is not optimistic at all. His heart might be willing....but his body may not. He is 39..weighs around 350 lbs...and has logged in serious career minutes.

That thought is in the back of my mind too, BFM....at this point, if it would help - I'd rather Boston try to go as far as they can and not even look for Shaq until our Lakers series in June.

I feel confident that JO/KG/Glen/Nenad/Some JG/Murph can get the job done.

That line up should do a fine job against the Knicks...its the second round match up that worries me. JO can't punish LeBron and Wade when they drive to the hoop....not like Shaq at least.

I think we'll be fine...besides, nowadays if Lebron or DRose are even sneezed on, they get to the line.

[cman88]

 I feel like we could get by the heat with JO/Kristic/Murphy...the key in that series is going to be limiting turnovers and making the heat into celtics half court defense. If we close up the driving lanes and and with help D wade, lebron,bosh are going to have to beat us with jumpers which they are pretty inconcsistent.

they were nearly put down by the 76ers yesterday. Id think the celtics could push these guys around. last sundays game couldve been a different story imo had Rondo played with some fire, driving to the hoop. only rondo can stop rondo..

JO/Kristic certainly are as good as bigz or Joel anthony. I dont think the heat have the depth to overcome the celtics. we have our big 4, JO, Delonte, green, baby, kristic(if he plays hw ihe did when he came here) even Wafer can get hot and give us 10points on any night....theyre big 3 have to perform EVERY night for them to win while we have guys who can pick up the slack and get hot.

[Jon]

I really wonder how much of this is Shaq being hurt, how much of this is the C's being cautious, and how much of this is the C's thinking they can win this series without him (and thus not wanting to risk him getting hurt again or agitating the injury he has now). 

Any way, I'm expecting very big things from Jermaine. 

[JadeBlack]

No choice Jermaine has to step up

[BudweiserCeltic]

The only reason Shaq is not playing is so that Murphy could make a playoff roster for the first time in his career.

[vinnie]

Did anyone see what miami did to the center tandem of JO and Krstic just a week ago? We continue to see people rewriting the past and the future. This team needs shaq to win, and doubletalk Danny blew it.

[Who]

Did anyone see what miami did to the center tandem of JO and Krstic just a week ago?

Jermaine O'Neal only played 14 minutes in that game.

Don't read too much into that result / performance.

[Jon]

Did anyone see what miami did to the center tandem of JO and Krstic just a week ago? We continue to see people rewriting the past and the future. This team needs shaq to win, and doubletalk Danny blew it.

Maybe.  But let's keep in mind two things:

1) The C's babied JO against the Heat.  He played 14 minutes that night.  He played 37 against the Knicks last week.  So let's see what JO can do unleashed before we dismiss him.  

2) Maybe Danny's lying.  Maybe he's not.  I tend to think he's not here (Shaq pretty clearly seems better off than KG was), but either way let's not write Shaq off yet because you're still bitter about '09.  

[vinnie]

So when the celts' doctor says Shaq was in too much pain to do anything at practice, I guess there is no reason to be concerned.  The guy has played 5 minutes total in almost 3 months.

[Eja117]

Guys guys!  I have obtained exclusive footage of the Celtics medical staff examining Shaq!  This is top notch stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpu-7VlgThA&feature=related

Well, at least you like your Disney classics...

What do you mean Disney classic? I had to pay a lot of money to a guy that hid in towels for hours to get that exclusive footage of the Celtics trainers room!

[celtics2]

Why don't they just announce *when* he is going to show up? Good grief.

[hwangjini_1]

Did anyone see what miami did to the center tandem of JO and Krstic just a week ago? We continue to see people rewriting the past and the future. This team needs shaq to win, and doubletalk Danny blew it.

Maybe.  But let's keep in mind two things:

1) The C's babied JO against the Heat.  He played 14 minutes that night.  He played 37 against the Knicks last week.  So let's see what JO can do unleashed before we dismiss him.  

2) Maybe Danny's lying.  Maybe he's not.  I tend to think he's not here (Shaq pretty clearly seems better off than KG was), but either way let's not write Shaq off yet because you're still bitter about '09.  

I hope you are correct on shaq's return for the playoffs. With him playing #18 is much, much easier.

But honestly, if playing only 5 and 1/2 minutes since February 1st hasn't been enough rest for him, then I am not sure another few weeks will do it.

I hope very much I am wrong...as I usually am... But it looks to me that shaq is cooked.

[cman88]

Will Shaq get back?
Though it’s doubtful, center Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been ruled out of tomorrow night’s game. He will test his strained right calf/inflamed Achilles’ again in practice today.

“I don’t know what we’ll do on the floor, but we’ll do a little bit and then we’ll see from there,’’ Rivers said. “Basically it’s day-to-day and we’ll just see.’’

O’Neal, who played just 37 games in the regular season, sat out last night after failing tests in Saturday’s practice. He tried to run, but couldn’t do it without feeling pain in his right leg.

“It’s going to be tough because it’s one practice,’’ Rivers said. “But there’s a chance.’’

from the boston globe today....I guess they're just going to test shaq every practice until he feels good enough.

[GreenEnvy]

Will Shaq get back?
Though it’s doubtful, center Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t been ruled out of tomorrow night’s game. He will test his strained right calf/inflamed Achilles’ again in practice today.

“I don’t know what we’ll do on the floor, but we’ll do a little bit and then we’ll see from there,’’ Rivers said. “Basically it’s day-to-day and we’ll just see.’’

O’Neal, who played just 37 games in the regular season, sat out last night after failing tests in Saturday’s practice. He tried to run, but couldn’t do it without feeling pain in his right leg.

“It’s going to be tough because it’s one practice,’’ Rivers said. “But there’s a chance.’’

from the boston globe today....I guess they're just going to test shaq every practice until he feels good enough.

But isn't there a pretty big difference between being able to practice without pain and being ready for 20 minutes of NBA playoff basketball?

They are acting like once he can get through a pain-free practice they are going to unleash him... Which seems like they are risking him injuring himself again.

I do NOT want him playing tomorrow at all, regardless of what he can do today. Only when he can string together several practices without any pain/setbacks should ge be allowed to play.

[Fafnir]

Its the playoffs, there isn't any time for him to wait longer.