Shaq not expected back this season according to Eagle Tribune

[celticinorlando]

Just bc it comes from a smaller paper doesn't mean it isn't right. I do think he is done personally and hope they can survive without him. But they have to get something out of krstic.

[angryguy77]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Marcus13]

I'll believe it when I see it.

We are in the process of seeing it..

[CNYCeltsfan]

I may be crazy...but i expect him to rip off his suit in game 3 of the miami series at home to help us come back and win the series.  that is my hunch.

[Rondo2287]

I'll believe it when I see it.

We are in the process of seeing it..

But we aren't seeing it. There is so much back and forth about, shaq will definitely play this series and now he's done for the playoffs.  If at the end of the playoffs he doesnt step on the court I will believe it, IF he is supposed to play friday I won't believe till i see him on the court.  

[Chris]

Just bc it comes from a smaller paper doesn't mean it isn't right. I do think he is done personally and hope they can survive without him. But they have to get something out of krstic.

I think this is the right mindset, and I personally believe this has been the mindset of the C's.  Much like when KG went down a couple years ago, I think there is always a little hope he will be back, but until he is on the floor, they can't count on him.

As for Krstic, I think he will be useful in later series.  This series is just not a good matchup for him, particularly with the defensive system they ran last night.

[BudweiserCeltic]

First of all, read the wording that they're using "the Celtics are going forward as if the affable center won't be returning to team for the playoffs", that's not any new news. They have already decided that so that the team could concentrate on what matters, playing with what they have. Shaq isn't any different, he's day to day. Consider that they're using evidence from what occurred on Saturday's practice, we already know about that and the status of the situation back then. Nothing has changed from a team focus perspective with the information that has become available to us.

This paper is not using any news that we don't know, other than maybe citing a source that is drawing some conclusions from information that isn't any different than what we already know.

[the_Bird]

I'm surprised some local newspaper in North Andover, MA is getting a source that Sherrod Blakely, Chris Forsberg, or even Gary Washburn can't.

If this has any truth, one of the main beat writers for the Celtics will confirm this sooner than later.

Yeah, that seemed a little odd to me too. Waiting for confirmation.

That's because its probably like a ballboy, or something like that, with not real inside information.

But does anyone really believe that the C's would be counting on Shaq to be coming back at this point?  These guys aren't idiots.

....  I'm not going to open up THAT debate again...

Seriously, Shaq's pushing the 40/400 club.  Going on 40 years old, going on 400#.  Making a major trade that was predicated on Shaq returning to health was foolish, I said it then, I've been saying it a lot recently, I'm going to keep saying it.

Wow, Shaq's not going to be able to play.  Who'd have predicted that?  

[Roy H.]

Dang it.  I was holding out hope that he'd be back, and I'll keep holding out hope until he's officially shut down.

I'm very, very disappointed by this news, though.

[OsirusCeltics]

He's going to play in the playoffs. That is a definite
This is his last opportunity for a ring, and you know he's working hard to come back to play in the later rounds

And btw, he was bought in as a back-up to Jermaine O'neal on a veteran's minimum. The title does not hinge on his return

With that said, theres no way he's sitting out this playoffs

[vinnie]

What a backfire this whole center position fiasco has been.

We will do just fine with a combination of JO and Krstic.

As long as Krstic can repeat what he did last night in his 2:59 on the court, the Celts will do just fine.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Dang it.  I was holding out hope that he'd be back, and I'll keep holding out hope until he's officially shut down.

I'm very, very disappointed by this news, though.

Other than it's not news? I mean, they're not telling us anything that we already didn't know. So why suddenly acknowledge their conclusions as truth just because it gets printed on a paper?

[vinnie]

He's going to play in the playoffs. That is a definite
This is his last opportunity for a ring, and you know he's working hard to come back to play in the later rounds

And btw, he was bought in as a back-up to Jermaine O'neal on a veteran's minimum. The title does not hinge on his return

With that said, theres no way he's sitting out this playoffs

Wait a minute. Shaq was brought in to backup Jermaine O'Neal? I don't remember it as that way. And now the title does not hinge on his return, despite what Danny and many others have said about how important Shaq is to this team. I love revisionist history.

[Drucci]

Dang it.  I was holding out hope that he'd be back, and I'll keep holding out hope until he's officially shut down.

I'm very, very disappointed by this news, though.

Other than it's not news? I mean, they're not telling us anything that we already didn't know. So why suddenly acknowledge their conclusions as truth just because it gets printed on a paper?

I agree with you, the fact that is coming out of a small newspaper, out of nowhere, and that it doesn't really tell us anything new except what the source is saying, it may be untrue. Still, it sounds more likely that such a scenario could happen but I'm definitely waiting on official word or to hear what's up from Sherrod & cie.

[the_Bird]

And btw, he was bought in as a back-up to Jermaine O'neal on a veteran's minimum. The title does not hinge on his return

No, he was brought in to be the third-string big man (or to be competing with JO for the backup role, behind Perk).  

If Shaq was going to play in the playoffs, he'd be out there.  Wishing and hoping doesn't get him on the floor.