Shaq out for Game 2

[hpantazo]

Shaq needs to take this series off. I believe he will try and come back for the Miami series, though, on one leg or two. This could very well be his last year. I believe he will give it everything he has and play through the pain. I believe in Shaq's greatness and his heart.

The thing is, if Shaq can't run well, he's a huge liability. The guy is slow to start with, add a limp to that and the Knicks would run us off the floor. There is no use playing him in this series, or in the next if he can't run all out for 20 minutes. JO looks great, very mobil, but unfortunately it looks like Kristic has a knee issue too, so we are down to JO as our only healthy center for the playoffs, who would have thought that earlier this year?

[Neurotic Guy]

Sorry but it's silly to say "it's over" --  just as it's silly to say "he'll be back". 

We all realize (don't we?) that we don't really know anything specific about Shaq's condition.  Doc and Danny share with the media what they think is best. That's fine. But it means that NONE of us knows for sure whether he'll be able to play. 

Haven't enough of us speculated INCORRECTLY about injuries this year to leave some room open to the possibility of his return?  Remember how KG was done? West was done? Jermaine was done?   

No sense in being  positive about this -- and no sense in being negative about this.  Can't we just tell the truth -- WE DON'T KNOW -- and let the chips fall...

[Marcus13]

I wonder how long before they rule him out for the series

[Neurotic Guy]

With regard to the Knicks series, if we get anywhere near what JO provided in Game 1, aren't we at least looking at Perk-level output or better?  I mean, we shouldn't need Shaq in this series.

I'll take JO (yesterday's version), baby and Krstic (hopefully his injury isn't a big deal) over Perk, baby and Sheed.  It's at least a comparable center rotation to last year.

[theswitch]

At this point, we aren't trying to replace Perk - JO has that covered. I think we're looking more to replace Rasheed.

[jdpapa3]

Team didn't even have him try to work out. I wonder if it would've been a different story had we lost.

[SHAQATTACK]

Thats not unexpected. His practice attempt was such a failure for game one, expecting a couple days to make a diff isn't going to happen with a 40 yr old man. I'm sure his heart is in it , but his body is not answering the call.

From what I gather , there is no operation fix like KG or JO .  Its a matter of natural recovery (time) , PT , and more PT and alot of patience.  He's old ( like me)  ::)and chit takes a while to fix itself.

It may take several months for it to clear up and he can get back to his best .

Staying active in the weight room and eating right, losing weight , according to my PT will help him as much as anything.

I'm hoping Krstic can PLEASE play more agressive D  and block the lane just a little for once. At least grab the player going for a dunk and pull him down.

I thinking maybe a final round appearance is the best we can hope for in the short tern from Shaq.  I think he'll disreguard all advice and play one -legged if gets down to a BOSTON/LA final series.  

[StartOrien]

It would be fantastic to wrap the series up in 4 games, get extra practice and rest for everyone, and take some pressure off Shaq. The last thing I want is him returning too early.

Give it up. He will not return. Even if we win in 4, they will say he just needs a practice and then he won't be able to practice again after like a month of rest since his last game. I can already see it: "Shaq out for Game 1 against the Heat Pacers."

Fixed that for you

[the_Bird]

Somebody said something about this a month or so ago, and I kind of dismissed it out of hand, but now I wonder....

Was Danny getting bad advice from the medical staff regarding Shaq's recovery?  I mean, they wagered heavily on his being back in the lineup by now, but it sure seems that Shaq's nowhere close to being ready to return.  It's getting harder and harder to see how he *ever* returns.

Were the medical guys seriously underestimating the impact that 400 pounds has on an Achilles tendon?

Of course, it looked like all hope was lost with JO, so maybe Shaq will be able to contribute.  Let's hope, JO can't do it alone.

[StartOrien]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

[Jon]

I still wonder if the C's aren't intentionally keeping him out.  I'm not saying he's not hurt; however, I don't buy Doc's line that it's the playoffs and everyone plays.  I'm thinking if this was the Heat or Bulls, Shaq might be playing.  

And even if I'm wrong about that, I wouldn't be surprised to see them sit him the rest of the series if they win tomorrow even if he can come back earlier.

[the_Bird]

I still wonder if the C's aren't intentionally keeping him out.  I'm not saying he's not hurt; however, I don't buy Doc's line that it's the playoffs and everyone plays.  I'm thinking if this was the Heat or Bulls, Shaq might be playing.  

And even if I'm wrong about that, I wouldn't be surprised to see them sit him the rest of the series if they win tomorrow even if he can come back earlier.

Not buying it at all.  If they hold back Shaq and they lose Game 1, they've lost homecourt, which they were fighting for all season, and they've lost momentum.  If Shaq could play, they'd play him and maximize their chances of getting the series over in four or five games, instead of six or seven.

It's wishful thinking, I believe, that Shaq COULD play if needed.    

[hpantazo]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

the medical staff did pretty well with JO

[anthony83]

Hopefully he can be ready, if we play against Heat or Bulls, Shaq will be important, but first the Knicks, I think he can be for the 5 th game in Boston.

[Lucky17]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

Perhaps they're just not feeling bullish on his imminent return. We know the staff has been watching him like a hawk these last few weeks.

It's not like they can work some kind of magic spell, and have him ready in the nick of time.

These kinds of injuries heal at their own pace.