Shaq out for Game 2

[anotherbanner]

Why try to play Shaq if we don't need him this series? I feel pretty confident that we can/will win without him. I don't feel we really need him against Miami, either. Chicago would be the time to bring him in, and again in the finals if we played LA or Dallas. But that's not to say it would be nice to have the option to use him...

I agree. He won't be in until Doc thinks we need him to play.

[the_Bird]

Why try to play Shaq if we don't need him this series? I feel pretty confident that we can/will win without him. I don't feel we really need him against Miami, either. Chicago would be the time to bring him in, and again in the finals if we played LA or Dallas. But that's not to say it would be nice to have the option to use him...

I agree. He won't be in until Doc thinks we need him to play.

Wishful thinking, IMO.  You can't take any opponent for granted in the playoffs.  I mean, we beat NY by what, two points at home?

Doc's not thinking past Game 2.

[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.

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.    

I don't know.  It could also be the approach that if Boston can't beat NY without Shaq, they certainly can't beat the elite teams with him. 

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he could at least play if the season was on the line. 

[Lucky17]

Why try to play Shaq if we don't need him this series? I feel pretty confident that we can/will win without him. I don't feel we really need him against Miami, either. Chicago would be the time to bring him in, and again in the finals if we played LA or Dallas. But that's not to say it would be nice to have the option to use him...

I agree. He won't be in until Doc thinks we need him to play.

Wishful thinking, IMO.  You can't take any opponent for granted in the playoffs.  I mean, we beat NY by what, two points at home?

Doc's not thinking past Game 2.

I agree. Shaq's not playing because he can't, not because he won't.

From the front page:

"He's not going to do anything, he's not going to play tomorrow ... Dr. McKeon came to me about an hour ago and said we aren't even going to put him on the floor, we aren't even going to try it ... Now is the time that if you can play, you're going to play. Shaq can't play." -Doc Rivers on Shaquille O'Neal

I don't think there are any mind games going on here. Shaq simply can't play.

[j804]

Why try to play Shaq if we don't need him this series? I feel pretty confident that we can/will win without him. I don't feel we really need him against Miami, either. Chicago would be the time to bring him in, and again in the finals if we played LA or Dallas. But that's not to say it would be nice to have the option to use him...

Same reason they tried to play him in Detroit. They want to know what they have in him.

They know what they have in him, so why not let him heal up?

I'm saying considering his injuries. I'm sure they'd rather gameplan for the Heat knowing what minutes wise they can expect out of him.

We won the series already? LOL

[fairweatherfan]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

Not necessarily - the team's gonna do the same misinformation thing they usually do.  What the team tells the media the timetable is isn't necessarily what the med staff is telling them.

[the_Bird]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

Not necessarily - the team's gonna do the same misinformation thing they usually do.  What the team tells the media the timetable is isn't necessarily what the med staff is telling them.

I hate to keep coming back to the trade, but I really don't think Danny would have pulled the trigger unless he'd gotten a lot of assurances (by the medical staff) that Shaq was going to be on the floor well in advance of the playoffs.  He talked all along about how the trade was predicated in large part by how well the team played with Shaq in the lineup.  If he was worried that we'd still be talking about Shaq's Achilles on Patriots Day, I'm not sure he does it.

[hpantazo]

Medical staff has to be feeling the heat.

the medical staff did pretty well with JO

Did they?

If I remember correctly, they flubbed it the first time (from the beginning of the season til his return and subsequent absence for the same knee). After the swelling and pain returned, he got multiple opinions on it (I think from a Miami doctor he was familiar with and another place in addition to Boston) before he ultimately defided to have the surgery.


I can't say they mishandled Shaq per se, but they know the Achilles needs time and they probably let him come back too soon without enough practice, and he overcompensated and hurt the calf too.

If he hurt it a week or two later, that's one thing, but he hurt it minutes into his first game back. It's obvious he wasn't ready.

I was fully confident he would return soon, but now nobody knows (that's saying anything).

from what I had read, the medical staff was insisting on the surgery from the beginning and it was JO who didn't want it, he wanted to try to rest and see if he could recover even after they told him it wasn't the best idea.

[PseudoElite]

Yawn,

I've forgotten Shaq is even on the team.

Originally I thought this was all part of Ainge and Doc's "MASTER PLAN" to save Shaq for the later rounds in the playoffs but now I'm not so sure anymore, feels like wishful thinking.

[MVP]

I would be surprised if we see Shaq at all during this series. If he can't pass a running test, then how would he be ready to play in a playoff game. It would be one thing if he participated in an intense practice and didn't feel quite right, he couldn't get to that point. Shaq has a little less then 2 weeks to hopefully get well enough for Miami if we get past the Knicks.

[StartOrien]

Why try to play Shaq if we don't need him this series? I feel pretty confident that we can/will win without him. I don't feel we really need him against Miami, either. Chicago would be the time to bring him in, and again in the finals if we played LA or Dallas. But that's not to say it would be nice to have the option to use him...

Same reason they tried to play him in Detroit. They want to know what they have in him.

They know what they have in him, so why not let him heal up?

I'm saying considering his injuries. I'm sure they'd rather gameplan for the Heat knowing what minutes wise they can expect out of him.

We won the series already? LOL

I knew I couldn't get away that wording w/o getting a comment like that.

Yes. In my opinion I think the Celtics will end up winning this series semi-easily and its more important to test Shaq out now.

[Bahku]

They're not going to use him until they absolutely have to, especially when Jermaine is playing like he did yesterday.

[Cman]

They're not going to use him until they absolutely have to, especially when Jermaine is playing like he did yesterday.

Ditto.

[celtics2]

Uuummmm, no kidding, he can't make it? Well what's new Pilgrim? The big old bear has to be the joke of the League.

[chambers]

he bogs the offense down so much and i don't know why he has the ball in his hands late in the shot clock

Because the other 4 players on the court have lollygagged for 22 or so seconds, and need a bailout shot.

I counted at least 2-3 possessions on which Davis was forced, by no fault of his own, to take a suboptimal jumper to avoid the shot clock violation.

I understand it's modern to scapegoat Davis these days, but the rest of the team needs to be held accountable, too.

TP for stating something so obvious, which NO ONE seems to fathom. He is taking so many bailout shots.
I can't wait till he wins another playoff game for us at a crucial time and everyone loves the big fella again and always did love him.