And So It All Comes Down to Shaq...or lack therof

[MG1]

Shaq is out for the playoffs, I wish Doc would just admit that he's not going to play.

If this is the case, celtics are done, plain and simple. It is more than obvious now we can not beat Heat without Shaq.

[GrandTheftRondo]

If Shaq plays 1 minute this post season I'll give up all my TP's. I just don't see it happening. I never did. I was shocked when he played in April and he was done within 5 minutes. This is who everyone is depending on? Seriously? 

[Drucci]

Doc has better told the truth about Shaq "definitely" (I'm quoting him) playing game 3.

[birdwatcher]

gotta say, if Shaq ever does play, even if he's useless on offense, he's not afraid to knock someone on his ass! That's what we need-some playoff toughness, no layups, earn it. And if we are gonna lose this series, I want to see someone peeling the Miami jerseys off the floor.

[WedmanIsMyHero]

If Danny had to do it over again, with the lockout looming (since the C's title window will certainly be closed after that), does he do the Perkins trade again?

[GrandTheftRondo]

If Danny had to do it over again, with the lockout looming (since the C's title window will certainly be closed after that), does he do the Perkins trade again?

Only if he's criminally insane like he must have been when he made the trade the first time.

[MG1]

Sadly to say, I just don't see we have any chance to beat Heat without Shaq.

[LilRip]

Shaq will make a difference if he was playing. Heat have been playing small and we cant punish them enough by going big. Shaq could punish small players (like Bosh or Lebron guarding him)

[CoachBo]

The center position has nothing whatsoever to do with this series being 0-2.

Rondo isn't attacking enough, the simple perimeter screens for Ray aren't there, the defensive rotations to the weak side are atrocious, Rivers is playing the wrong people - Davis - WAY too many minutes off the bench. ...

Shall I go on?

[snowball]

Having Shaq Bacq and winning a game
would be a big uplifting experience for
the team and all of us.

[Marcus13]

The center position has nothing whatsoever to do with this series being 0-2.

Rondo isn't attacking enough, the simple perimeter screens for Ray aren't there, the defensive rotations to the weak side are atrocious, Rivers is playing the wrong people - Davis - WAY too many minutes off the bench. ...

Shall I go on?

While I don't think he's quite as big of a deal as others do, I will say this..

He sets far better screens than JO, BBD, and Kristic do to get Ray open.  And he's better on help defense than BBD and Kristic for when Wade is blowing by Ray on the perimeter

[Assassin70]

If Shaq plays 1 minute this post season I'll give up all my TP's. I just don't see it happening. I never did. I was shocked when he played in April and he was done within 5 minutes. This is who everyone is depending on? Seriously? 

He will play send your TP this way

[GrandTheftRondo]

If Shaq plays 1 minute this post season I'll give up all my TP's. I just don't see it happening. I never did. I was shocked when he played in April and he was done within 5 minutes. This is who everyone is depending on? Seriously? 

He will play send your TP this way

When it happens I will gladly do so lol

[ballin]

I seriously question the basketball knowledge on display in this thread.

Shaq wouldn't make a difference?? I don't think that any of you understand how big of an upgrade Shaq is over guys like Krstic and Baby at center. The difference is unreal.

This team's offense is insanely good when Shaq is in, and since we pretty much lost today's game due to an ugly offensive showing, I really don't understand how you can argue that Shaq's presence isn't going to have an impact if he's healthy.

If we play Shaq for 25 minutes instead of Big Baby, we're going to dominate the rest of this series. If we get Shaq for 10 minutes, then we're probably still screwed.

[vinnie]

I am baffled by people saying Shaq would not make a difference in this series. The Celts were 2-0 verus the Heat with Shaq as the starting center. Get the ball inside to him early, he puts up 8-10 quick points, and the whole game changes. I know there are a lot of smart basketball people on this board, much smarter than I am, but with Shaq as an offensive threat in the first quarter, it could completely change the game. Is a center tandem of JO and Big Baby really going to get it done? I think the answer is clear after the first two games. As for Krstic, he is playing the 5 minutes he deserves and contributing what I expected --- NOTHING.