Shaq will not play in game 2- limping again

[Who]

We need to win tonight, if we are down 0-2, I don't think having shaq is going to bring us back.

Yeah, it'll be extremely tough to beat this Miami team 4 out of 5 games.

Winning game 2 is very important. Without it, the chances of beating Miami become very small.

[StartOrien]

I thought he was going to play game 3 "for sure"...

I can't agree with the "this is to be expected" talk. It might be a practice, but I can't imagine they tried anything that would've required Shaq to be at game speed for all that long.

[vinnie]

The sham/scam continues. Shaq is not going to play again or if he does play it will be for another 5 minutes and he will be done.

[stylo617617]

yeah even me has lost all hope of shaq being back

[ejk3489]

I wouldn't read too much into this...probably just regular soreness from practice. Didn't think he would play until game 3 anyways, but we'll see.

Also from Sherrod's twitter:

Doc said Shaq looked 'phenomenal' in practice yesterday. But he 'doubts' Shaq will play tonight. Doc said Shaq was sore after the practice which featured his first scrimmage since injuring his calf against Detroit.

And before that Doc, accurately I believe, said that the real test for Shaq would not be practice but how he felt afterwards.

This still sounds to me like bad news.

Possibly, but I just think it's expected after not practicing for months that there would be some noticeable soreness. It's obviously not good news, but I don't think this means that he's never coming back.

[Chris]

We need to win tonight, if we are down 0-2, I don't think having shaq is going to bring us back.

Yeah, it'll be extremely tough to beat this Miami team 4 out of 5 games.

Winning game 2 is very important. Without it, the chances of beating Miami become very small.

Yeah, I'll take it a step further, I think the winner tonight wins the series.

With that said, I also do not think the C's need Shaq to win (he wouldn't hurt, but they have plenty without him).

I also would not be shocked if he actually plays tonight (although I certainly wouldn't bet on it).  There is more conflicting info out there, and if he gets some treatment, and feels better in a few hours, he could certainly give it a go.  

[wahz]

The thing is that it makes sense for him to play NOW because then there are 3 days until the next game. If he could practice, how can he not put in say 8 minutes? Its ok if he is limping as long as he isn't going to tear the achilles he should be able to go.

I know, I know. There is no way to know how much pain he is in and how slow he is limping. But if he look decent let alone "phenomenal" in practice, play in game 2 because there is more rest between 2 and 3 then 3 and 4.

[vinnie]

Something I find interesting is that so many now seem to believe that the Celts don't need Shaq to win. That is the coomplete opposite of what people were thinking/saying 2-3 months ago. The guy led them to the best record when he was starting and the guy can put up points quickly in the paint. Yes, JO is back, but he is a totally different kind of player than Shaq. And, he only had 3 rebounds in game 1. Shaq is critical to this team having a shot. No Shaq = no championship.
And remember -- the Celts are 0-2 versus Miami with JO as the starting center, 2-0 with Shaq and 1-0 with Perk.

[CDawg834]

I'm getting so sick of this nonsense coming out of the Celtics front office.  It's embarrassing and is becoming a distraction, IMHO.  They should have just come out 3 weeks ago and said Shaq is done for the season.  I'm not trying to be a pessimist or a troll here but I truly don't believe he's coming back.

I think Danny is trying to keep a glimmer of hope for his return because he based part of the Perk trade on Shaq being available.  But the manipulation of the fan base with the constant "Shaq will be ready any day now!" stuff is just ridiculous at this point.  He's the only player I've ever heard of who has been "day to day" for 2 whole months.

[vinnie]

I'm getting so sick of this nonsense coming out of the Celtics front office.  It's embarrassing and is becoming a distraction, IMHO.  They should have just come out 3 weeks ago and said Shaq is done for the season.  I'm not trying to be a pessimist or a troll here but I truly don't believe he's coming back.

I think Danny is trying to keep a glimmer of hope for his return because he based part of the Perk trade on Shaq being available.  But the manipulation of the fan base with the constant "Shaq will be ready any day now!" stuff is just ridiculous at this point.  He's the only player I've ever heard of who has been "day to day" for 2 whole months.

Actually, he has been day-to-day for 3 months, but at this point, who is counting. It is typical Celtics crap though.

[Chris]

I'm getting so sick of this nonsense coming out of the Celtics front office.  It's embarrassing and is becoming a distraction, IMHO.  They should have just come out 3 weeks ago and said Shaq is done for the season.  I'm not trying to be a pessimist or a troll here but I truly don't believe he's coming back.

I think Danny is trying to keep a glimmer of hope for his return because he based part of the Perk trade on Shaq being available.  But the manipulation of the fan base with the constant "Shaq will be ready any day now!" stuff is just ridiculous at this point.  He's the only player I've ever heard of who has been "day to day" for 2 whole months.

While I agree, they need to stop addressing this stuff, I don't buy that they are doing anything for the team.  The players know exactly what is going on.  They talk with Shaq, they are with him in practice.  If this is for anyone, it is for the fans.  But mostly, I just think these guys are being honest, and they just don't really know what is happening with him from day to day, and they are making the mistake of giving their opinion based on what they know...yet no one actually can predict the future of how he will feel.

[wahz]

Meanwhile, The Lakers lose, the Bulls lose and Rose is truly injured, he looked bad and looked unbalanced and then twisted heck out of his ankle again at the end of the game. I think both those teams are in deep trouble and besides Mia, they are the greatest threats. If we win tonight I think we go to 60/40 to win this series. Not saying it will be easy beyond tonight because it will be brutal BUT this may be the most important game the year we'll see. We win and I think the title is ours

[ejk3489]

I'm getting so sick of this nonsense coming out of the Celtics front office.  It's embarrassing and is becoming a distraction, IMHO.  They should have just come out 3 weeks ago and said Shaq is done for the season.  I'm not trying to be a pessimist or a troll here but I truly don't believe he's coming back.

I think Danny is trying to keep a glimmer of hope for his return because he based part of the Perk trade on Shaq being available.  But the manipulation of the fan base with the constant "Shaq will be ready any day now!" stuff is just ridiculous at this point.  He's the only player I've ever heard of who has been "day to day" for 2 whole months.

If he was truly done for the season weeks ago he wouldn't be practicing right now.

I mean, I'm not sure what people expected a 350 pound 39-year old to feel like after coming back from an injury.

[celticinorlando]

if miami wins tonight..i believe they will win the series in 5 games. To me..this is pretty much the series tonight..and the thing is the bulls look like they peaked in the regular season..and the lakers look on the downside...winner of tonight prolly will be the NBA champ IMO

[the TRUTH]

Haven't had a chance to post in awhile, but this is just getting silly. I like Shaq as a person, as he's done some great things off the court, and he can be hilarious.

That being said, this guy is a lazy pansy as a player. We gave him dozens of games off with the understanding that he'd be ready for the playoffs. Celtic Nation has been counting on him. Here we are, facing a possible 2-0 hole, and he'll sit there in a suit with that lame grin on his face tonight. At this point in his career, he should literally be dragging himself out there on the court in order to help us. What I'm about to say isn't meant as an argument against or in favor of the trade, but Perkins busted his behind like no other to return from a BLOWN OUT KNEE. How bout Shaq? Thanks bud!