So Shaq is out of the lineup for another undisclosed time after pulling up lame in the second quarter in a Celtics victory over the Piston’s yesterday. O’Neal hasn’t played for over two months because of an Achilles’ tendon injury. This injury, we’re told, is an unrelated strained right calf.
I”m not surprised.
And I’d like to say it matters to the Green team — but it really doesn’t.
They’re toast this year.
I told anyone that would listen at the end of last year’s playoffs that the Celtics were just too old. Face it, they had the final game of the series in the bag at half-time but were too tired and winded to maintain the intensity to go on to victory.
The big three can’t do it any longer. It was clear that Boston needed a massive dose of YOUNG players to give Allen, Garnett, and Pierce some much needed rest throughout the season so they would be fresh for the playoffs.
Did that happen? No.
Instead we got players like 39–year old Shaq O’Neal. How is that a good move? Shaq was a great player when he was young — but a 39–year old NBA player can only contribute so much.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Celtics and would like nothing better than for them to go all the way in the playoffs. But they won’t, they can’t. They’re alreadly losing left and right to close out the year because the big guys are just too old and too tired and don’t have the quality young players to back them up.
I want to be wrong. But I think that the C’s will be lucky to get through the first round. My prediction is that they won’t get past the second round.
It’s too bad. As the Celtics gasped their way though the playoffs with the Lakers last year, it was crystal clear what needed to be done. Yet here they are again — in the exact same position as last year.
Too old. Too tired.
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