Shaq will not play in game 2- limping again

[vinnie]

I keep remembering all of the posts here praising the Celts for keeping Shaq out for the last two months of the regular season so he would be ready to go for the playoffs. Pfffffft. And, am I wrong in thinking that just two weeks ago Danny said that Shaq was definitely going to play in the first round and even held out the slightest hope that he could play in game 1 of that round?

[j804]

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..  

I agree and think the winner will eventually go on to represent the East this game is huge

would love to have shaq..but would gladly settle on JO getting more minutes. they are better defensively with him

looking forward to his 4pts and 2 rebounds

[vinnie]

According to this guy, Doc says Shaq is likely to play in game 3: http://www.twackle.com/articles/Shaq-481Out-For-Game-2--Likely-For-Game-3---NBA

[Fafnir]

I keep remembering all of the posts here praising the Celts for keeping Shaq out for the last two months of the regular season so he would be ready to go for the playoffs. Pfffffft.

I really hate statements like this. Dismissive, unspecific, and unproductive. Bagging on generic posters, you can do better.

We get that you think the Celtics staff is lying about Shaq, why the pots shots at everyone else?

[the TRUTH]

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.

I agree that there must be some kind of hope if he's still practicing. But you made my point for me - why is he 350 lbs? Why hasn't he taken his job more seriously? Why isn't he in better shape? I can't stand Kobe, but he was right when he blasted Shaq for always coming to camp out of shape.

[Tai]

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.

I don't think they really need him against the Heat. That's just me, intelligent minds can agree to disagree on that.

Like I said before, I don't think Shaq, for example, helps against James Jones being hot for one night. And are we really scared of Big Z and Anthony? Maybe Shaq could bully both of them on the offensive end, no doubt, but as far as the perimeter guys, I think JO has done his part to keep them outta the paint. Wade, for example, made a ton more jumpshots than I expected him to take, as opposed to take it to the hoop. Same for Lebron, who got most of his points in transition due to dumb turnovers.

[vinnie]

I keep remembering all of the posts here praising the Celts for keeping Shaq out for the last two months of the regular season so he would be ready to go for the playoffs. Pfffffft.

I really hate statements like this. Dismissive, unspecific, and unproductive. Bagging on generic posters, you can do better.

We get that you think the Celtics staff is lying about Shaq, why the pots shots at everyone else?

I guess I could go back and do the research and find those posts. Are you denying that there were not a lot of posts like this over the last month or so of the season?

[wdleehi]

If no Shaq, I wouldn't mind a few minutes of Krstic with the following rule for him:  No free passes to the hoop.  Go out there and drop some physical fouls on the Heat drivers. 

[Chris]

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.

For the record, I have always felt the JO was the key to this team's success more than Shaq.  I think Shaq can be a difference maker, but JO's defense is much more critical.  

I especially think it against the Lakers, but it is also true against the Heat.

The one matchup where I think Shaq would be the most crucial would be against the Bulls, who have a much disciplined defense than the Heat, however, as it seems they don't have another gear for the playoffs, I am not even sure that is the case anymore.  

Don't get me wrong, Shaq makes this team better, but they are still a very strong contender with the guys they have healthy right now.

[Chris]

If no Shaq, I wouldn't mind a few minutes of Krstic with the following rule for him:  No free passes to the hoop.  Go out there and drop some physical fouls on the Heat drivers. 

While I think this team needs to drop the whole toughguy act in general, I hope KG pulls Krstic aside and challenges him to get a flagrant foul tonight on either Wade or Lebron.  The regulars need to stay above that stuff and concentrate on executing basketball plays, but Krstic would be the perfect guy to play the goon, and possibly sacrifice himself for one of the superstars on the Heat.

[ejk3489]

I keep remembering all of the posts here praising the Celts for keeping Shaq out for the last two months of the regular season so he would be ready to go for the playoffs. Pfffffft.

I really hate statements like this. Dismissive, unspecific, and unproductive. Bagging on generic posters, you can do better.

We get that you think the Celtics staff is lying about Shaq, why the pots shots at everyone else?

I guess I could go back and do the research and find those posts. Are you denying that there were not a lot of posts like this over the last month or so of the season?

Does it really matter at this point? I mean, are you happy that you were right about Shaq and everyone else was wrong?

[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.

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.

I wouldn't expect much at all from a 39 year old coming back from an injury.  The problem I have is that the Celtics organization keeps telling me otherwise.

[wdleehi]

If no Shaq, I wouldn't mind a few minutes of Krstic with the following rule for him:  No free passes to the hoop.  Go out there and drop some physical fouls on the Heat drivers. 

While I think this team needs to drop the whole toughguy act in general, I hope KG pulls Krstic aside and challenges him to get a flagrant foul tonight on either Wade or Lebron.  The regulars need to stay above that stuff and concentrate on executing basketball plays, but Krstic would be the perfect guy to play the goon, and possibly sacrifice himself for one of the superstars on the Heat.

I am not even looking flagrant.  I want clean hard "here I am" fouls.  


Guys like Krstic are the ones to sacrifice.  Even Davis can throw his weight around.  KG and JO need to be more careful.  Good fouls only.

[stylo617617]

According to this guy, Doc says Shaq is likely to play in game 3: http://www.twackle.com/articles/Shaq-481Out-For-Game-2--Likely-For-Game-3---NBA

i sure hope so =/ ahh this bums me out seriously

[StartOrien]

I want absolutely nothing to do w/ Nenad Krstic getting anymore meaningful minutes this playoff.