Shaq Needs to play..

[wdleehi]

I am coming around to this.  Miami is just too good at capitalizing on mistakes.  They need to be made uncomfortable on defense, so the C's can force them into making mistakes, and Shaq is the one guy on the roster who can do that.  He is just such a force inside, and such a good passer from the post, he really would make a difference. 

Exactly.  We're trying to slow things down, but to slow things down you really need an inside presence.  KG and Glen Davis are too scared to get in the post.  Jermaine O'Neal isn't very good down there.  We need Shaq so we can start getting some points inside and take away some of the bad jumpers we're taking.

For the record, I don't think KG and Davis are scared to get in the post.  I just think the Heat's defense has taken it away with quick double teams (well, on KG...Davis is just not a great low post player).

But Shaq is just so much bigger, and he takes up so much space down there, he can deal with the doubles much better, and can make the passes out of them better.

Not to mention Anthony is to light and short to bother Shaq down low. 

[cman88]

He's not in game shape.  He may give it a go...but it's just going to be another disappointment

yea because those 6 points and good defense in the 5 mins he played before he got injured against Detroit was a disappointment right?

The Calf injury wasn't due to him not being in game shape it was because he was favors his achilles.

He wasn't in game shape then and looked great before getting injured, if his injuries are now mostly healed he should be able to go for at least 10 mins a night and get the crowd and his teammates pumped up with monster dunks and changing/blocking shots and laying out hard fouls to anyone that enters the paint.

He would be a big boost if only for 10 mins a game

I don't see how what he did in 5 minutes against the Detroit Pistons has anything to do with this current situation.

He can't get through practice, he is nowhere near ready to play.

huh? he got through a full practice and doc said he looked "phenominal"

[Marcus13]

He's not in game shape.  He may give it a go...but it's just going to be another disappointment

yea because those 6 points and good defense in the 5 mins he played before he got injured against Detroit was a disappointment right?

The Calf injury wasn't due to him not being in game shape it was because he was favors his achilles.

He wasn't in game shape then and looked great before getting injured, if his injuries are now mostly healed he should be able to go for at least 10 mins a night and get the crowd and his teammates pumped up with monster dunks and changing/blocking shots and laying out hard fouls to anyone that enters the paint.

He would be a big boost if only for 10 mins a game

I don't see how what he did in 5 minutes against the Detroit Pistons has anything to do with this current situation.

He can't get through practice, he is nowhere near ready to play.

huh? he got through a full practice and doc said he looked "phenominal"

and then he rode the golf cart toe the team bus because he was too sore to walk

[MBz]

I am coming around to this.  Miami is just too good at capitalizing on mistakes.  They need to be made uncomfortable on defense, so the C's can force them into making mistakes, and Shaq is the one guy on the roster who can do that.  He is just such a force inside, and such a good passer from the post, he really would make a difference. 

Exactly.  We're trying to slow things down, but to slow things down you really need an inside presence.  KG and Glen Davis are too scared to get in the post.  Jermaine O'Neal isn't very good down there.  We need Shaq so we can start getting some points inside and take away some of the bad jumpers we're taking.

For the record, I don't think KG and Davis are scared to get in the post.  I just think the Heat's defense has taken it away with quick double teams (well, on KG...Davis is just not a great low post player).

But Shaq is just so much bigger, and he takes up so much space down there, he can deal with the doubles much better, and can make the passes out of them better.

Yeah I dont know, you're probably right.  I know Shaq is bigger, but KG should be able to pass out of double teams.  Though I do think that guys around the perimeter are standing still which makes it more difficult.  I understand KG is a good shooter from 18 feet or so, but that little turn around jumper of his from 8 feet is unguardable.  I want to see more of that, if they start to double he needs to do a better job of finding guys and those guys need to do a better job of making themselves available.

[cman88]

so, you overlook the fact that doc said he looked "phenominal" and was "likely" to play game 3....I think its expected that shaq would be sore considering it was is first full practice in months....doesnt mean the guy cant give us a solid 10-15minutes a night.

doc still seemed pretty confident that he'll play in game 3 after that practice...even with shaq being sore

I bet we see him have a productive return in game 3. shaq coming back could be a game changer for what he can bring against this miami team..not to mention boost the morale of the starters

[Mr October]

Yeah we need Shaq. One thing continues to remain clear: Miami has a weakness against big 4's and 5's. The Celtics mostly looked good with KG and JO on the floor on both ends.

Shaq could help. The C's would get even more size in the paint, and just turn this series into a pounding grinding match down low.

[snowball]

There is no doubt, that IF Shaq is legitimately
healthy enough to play 20 minutes per game,
he will change the complexion of this matchup
with the Heat. Two wins with Shaq at starting center
would do wonders for our confidence.

[MBz]

Just saw on rotoworld that Doc said Shaq's return for game 3 is becoming likely.  I understand it's a I'll believe it when I see it kind of thing now, but hopefully it's true.

[bmxgitch]

The "original" big 3 would have and did play hurt ! Time to suck it up Shaq !

[vinnie]

He's not in game shape.  He may give it a go...but it's just going to be another disappointment

yea because those 6 points and good defense in the 5 mins he played before he got injured against Detroit was a disappointment right?

The Calf injury wasn't due to him not being in game shape it was because he was favors his achilles.

He wasn't in game shape then and looked great before getting injured, if his injuries are now mostly healed he should be able to go for at least 10 mins a night and get the crowd and his teammates pumped up with monster dunks and changing/blocking shots and laying out hard fouls to anyone that enters the paint.

He would be a big boost if only for 10 mins a game

I don't see how what he did in 5 minutes against the Detroit Pistons has anything to do with this current situation.

He can't get through practice, he is nowhere near ready to play.

huh? he got through a full practice and doc said he looked "phenominal"

Doc later said he was "phenomenal" during one stretch of practice and that he could hardly walk at the end of the practice. Doesn't sound like a guy who is going to bring too much to the table.

[mc34]

Shaq's been too good for too long to let his team go down 0-3 with him watching from the sidelines... I truly believe he'll play in game 3, which is a must-win regardless. But I'm more concerned about Paul's achilles injury. He needs to be as close to 100% as possible if we're gonna win this series, or anything past that.

[cman88]

im betting right now that shaq dresses for game 3 and puts it all out there on the court this saturday giving us meaningful production..

only Doc knows how good(or bad) shaqs been. most of this board was wrong about JO and what he could bring us..hopefully they are also wrong about shaq