Wojnarowski : Shaq physically ready to play but Doc reluctant to play him

[kozlodoev]

He better play Shaq in game 2 if this is true. We need a big presence in the middle, and we need his inside scoring and ability to draw fouls in our 2nd unit. If Doc plays Glen Davis-Jeff Green frontcourt instead of Shaq then he's throwing the series.

The difference is that you don't know whether he'll be an asset or a liability. When you're ahead in the series, you risk less when you bring Shaq along slowly.

[cman88]

He better play Shaq in game 2 if this is true. We need a big presence in the middle, and we need his inside scoring and ability to draw fouls in our 2nd unit. If Doc plays Glen Davis-Jeff Green frontcourt instead of Shaq then he's throwing the series.

The difference is that you don't know whether he'll be an asset or a liability. When you're ahead in the series, you risk less when you bring Shaq along slowly.

but then do we never play shaq? game 2 is a must win for us to go back to boston with 1-1 series tie..how long do we wait?

granted, the heat play alot of small ball so i dont see shaq playing more than 10mins against Joel anthony/Big Z anyways..hell destroy their frontline of the 2nd unit..so we can win without him, but i just feel he might be an asset to win game 2

if he can play like he did in those 5 minutes, come out put points on the board go back to the bench he wont be a liability.

[GreenEnvy]

I think I rather hold him out until Game 3, give him and extra 4 days of rest and maybe get a few practices in their, especially to get familiarized defensively.

The shorter rest between games 3-6 is something to worry about, but we really only need him for like 6 minutes a half.

Rushing him back and suffering another setback is the end of his season this time. Let's make sure he is healthy before he suits up.

[Tai]

IMO, the Celtics need Shaq to beat the Lakers. They don't need him to beat Miami, so my guess is they're sending a message to the team: beat the Heatles with this current group, Shaq may be walking through that door... or not.

I expect them to play Shaq at home, in limited minutes (8-10 a game), but the Celtics better start playing like Celtics, and win game 2. Shaq is a bonus, and we need to win without him.

Of course, it would be better if Shaq was available and playing since game 1, but that's not the case.

Go Celtics!!

Wrong. We need Shaq to beat the Heat. At this point he is either ready or not. He lobbied to play so let him play Doc.

I dunno if Shaq can really guard James Jones. Just saying.

[Lucky17]

IMO, the Celtics need Shaq to beat the Lakers. They don't need him to beat Miami, so my guess is they're sending a message to the team: beat the Heatles with this current group, Shaq may be walking through that door... or not.

I expect them to play Shaq at home, in limited minutes (8-10 a game), but the Celtics better start playing like Celtics, and win game 2. Shaq is a bonus, and we need to win without him.

Of course, it would be better if Shaq was available and playing since game 1, but that's not the case.

Go Celtics!!

Wrong. We need Shaq to beat the Heat. At this point he is either ready or not. He lobbied to play so let him play Doc.

I dunno if Shaq can really guard James Jones. Just saying.

A face rub from Shaq would be devastating.

[Papatrichs]

Doc, it could be worse!

[barefacedmonk]

If this is true, what is Doc waiting for?

[OsirusCeltics]

IMO, the Celtics need Shaq to beat the Lakers. They don't need him to beat Miami, so my guess is they're sending a message to the team: beat the Heatles with this current group, Shaq may be walking through that door... or not.

I expect them to play Shaq at home, in limited minutes (8-10 a game), but the Celtics better start playing like Celtics, and win game 2. Shaq is a bonus, and we need to win without him.

Of course, it would be better if Shaq was available and playing since game 1, but that's not the case.

Go Celtics!!

Wrong. We need Shaq to beat the Heat. At this point he is either ready or not. He lobbied to play so let him play Doc.

I dunno if Shaq can really guard James Jones. Just saying.

A face rub from Shaq would be devastating.

TP

Hahahaha

[clover]

He better play Shaq in game 2 if this is true. We need a big presence in the middle, and we need his inside scoring and ability to draw fouls in our 2nd unit. If Doc plays Glen Davis-Jeff Green frontcourt instead of Shaq then he's throwing the series.

The difference is that you don't know whether he'll be an asset or a liability. When you're ahead in the series, you risk less when you bring Shaq along slowly.

but then do we never play shaq? game 2 is a must win for us to go back to boston with 1-1 series tie..how long do we wait?

granted, the heat play alot of small ball so i dont see shaq playing more than 10mins against Joel anthony/Big Z anyways..hell destroy their frontline of the 2nd unit..so we can win without him, but i just feel he might be an asset to win game 2

if he can play like he did in those 5 minutes, come out put points on the board go back to the bench he wont be a liability.

The way Doc said before game 1 that'd be either game 2 or 3, I took it to mean he'd likely play in 2 if they lost, and they'd likely play it a few days safer, holding off to game 3, if they won.  So now I'm guessing we'll see him on Tuesday, though it would be unfortunate if that gave the team the mentality that they can't beat the Heat without him.  Surely, if they'd just play smarter, they could.

[j804]

Don't tell me Doc is seeing this like the Rafer Alston/Jameer thing from the finals a couple years ago where he doesn't want to mess with rotations into the series thinking it could be worse going with him, as when SVG replaced Rafer with Jameer it went all downhill from there.

This is completely different we don't need him to start and replace JO bring him in off the bench.

[ScoobyDoo]

I wouldn't play Shaq in game two for a couple of reasons:

1. If the current team should be able to beat this Miami team in game two without Shaq if they decide they are interested in playing the game of basketball.

2. The mental impact for Miami of being beaten at home, without Shaq, and then having to go up to Boston for games 3 & 4, with Shaq coming back?....is not a good mental scenario for Miami.

Pshychologically, the best move is to win game two without Shaq.   

[StartOrien]

Doc, it could be worse!

Kinda like this?

[manbehindtheman]

If article is factual Doc made a huge mistake. I don't get this Shaq deal at all. Play him and wreck him if necessary. It's not like it would be career ending because his career has been over for a long time. What are we saving him for? The Losers Parade!

heheh that is a good one...there is no reason to save him, although i don't think he will be much use in this series...he is on the squad strictly for a showdown with the lakers where he might be of some use for a few minutes a night...

[scootman]

yeah, they didnt seem to care running him out there with no practice or shoot around before. when those games didnt mean anything. now that the games count they are hesitant?
i dont get it.

[Roy H.]

This makes no sense to me.  If Shaq was fully healthy, then I've got to think that Doc would have played him.  Doc's not an idiot, and he knows that 12 minutes of Shaq is better than playing BBD heavy minutes, or Krstic at all.

Now, if Doc was worried that Shaq will only be able to give a certain number of games in the series, or was worried about reinjuring him by bringing him back too soon, that makes sense.  However, the thought that he could have played Shaq but didn't for rotation reasons is just crazy talk.