Shaq's Coming Back... For Real (and he looks great)

by DRJ1 on Mar 22, 2011 8:28 AM EDT

Take a look at this video... watch for when you can see Shaq's body, esp when he bends (~0:25, after the ad). That man has LOST WEIGHT! Serious weight. He's in FIGHTING SHAPE:

http://www.csnne.com/pages/celticsvideo?PID=y2C_X1aM2620190O33_HPiIf5hpbywIl

Now, here's the thing: There is no way in hell this man has gone to this much trouble (no cake, even!) to end up not playing. That... is NOT gonna happen. He has said, and I totally believe, that if he must, he will ask for shots of WHATEVER he needs (roids, anesthetic, both?) to get his butt out on the court. (Not that I believe he was ever really injured, but that's another story, and who cares anyway?)

Can he do it through 16 wins? You bet. For one thing, it gets easier when you have less weight to lug around. For another, well... it's his destiny. He knows it. I know it. The team knows it.

It's happening. And it also happens to be the last piece that needs to fall into place, to bring on the Finals.

(I linked 'roids' only because I know if I don't, somebody's gonna come in here and rail about how steroids are "illegal", yadayadayada.)

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Hope we have both O'Neals healthy by playoff time.

We will be so hard to beat even by LA who’s already flipped-on the swtich & sending a message to everyone.

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

LA may go undefeated the rest of the regular season given their opponents & schedule...

& get homecourt against us but as long as we have the ONeal’s then we’ll be in good shape.

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Then we'll just have to go undefeated too.

Since we got a 1 game lead right now.

"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach

by Sizzlack on Mar 22, 2011 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions

It's possible but we have 4 tough road games left.

Not afraid of Spurs on 3/31, we can beat them even with Tim D but it will be hard fought.

However, the next day is in Atlanta, back-to-backs are very exhausting for an aging team especially after playing a very good opponent the previous day (not to mention the travel too.)

Then we play at Chicago on 4/7 & at Miami on 4/10.

Last but not the least, we have to beat teams were supposed to beat like how LA does.

We need to stop lossing to teams in the ranks of NJ, the Clips, Toronto, & ect.

We have to put them away early like how LA does instead of playing down to their level thereby giving these weak teams a chance to win even in our own turf.

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

The Atlanta game will be very rough

It’s almost equivalent to the Phoenix game.

San Antonio is on Mountain Time, which means Boston is 2 hours ahead of it. They will finish their game at around 11pm local time (1am in Boston, and for their body clocks), and probably get on a plane sometime around 2:30am local time (4:30am body-clock time), if they’re lucky. They will land in Atlanta at approx. 6:00am or 6:30am (probably even later) local time, because Atlanta is on Eastern time like Boston. They MAY get to a hotel where they can finally get some sleep at around 7:00am or 7:30am, if they’re very lucky.

I.e., the Celtics will be arriving at their hotel at the same time their bodies normally wake up. Which means it’s very likely that NONE of the people making that trip will get ANY reasonable amount of sleep, at all.

Good luck trying to play an NBA game on no sleep. Last time that happened was in Phoenix, and we got what we got. Atlanta is penciled in BY THE NBA as a loss for the Celtics, just like Phoenix was.

Yes, the season is too long. 10 fewer games and there wouldn’t be these kinds of RIDICULOUS and INEXCUSABLE schedule issues.

by DRJ1 on Mar 22, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

"We will take it easy, and walk on down our road at our pace with our focus ahead, and your focus on us." - Warrior Spirit, on what Celtics' Ubuntu is.

by mmmmm on Mar 22, 2011 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the detail...

…it sheds a light on how RIDICULOUS some back-to-back games are.

Does LA have this kind of a back-to back in their last remaining games?

If not, then seomthing’s fishy with whoever does the schedule!

They should have at least made our back-to-back games towards the end of the season closer to Boston.

Not complaining or a whiner but giving us 2 strong teams (Spurs & Hawks) makes it even more fishy.

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

+2

by mmbaby on Mar 23, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Neither team will go undefeated...

I just don’t see it happening. I don’t think a “soft” schedule will prevent the Lakers from getting a couple or a few losses (they, just like us have lost to inferior opponents, even if they are “rolling” right now). Plus I don’t care about them, I only care about the C’s and their health heading into the post season. Once that starts I will root for the C’s and whoever is playing the Lakers. Go C’s!

by green18, 19, 20... on Mar 22, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

"Agree 100%"

For C’s fans who worries too much about homecourt especially against LA…

…it will actually be GREAT if we beat them in Staples in Game 6 or 7, that will be the ultimate revenge!

And though Fakers fans will say “you’re nuts” or “you’re hallucinating,” the truth is…

…our C’s are so much BIGGER, STRONGER, DEEPER, & overall, BETTER than last year that we can really win it in LA as long as we’re healthy.

Who did the Lakers added this year?

Haven’t heard much about Barnes & Ratliff while Steve Blake was a minor addition.

Look who we added this year?

Besides, KG is so much stronger this year while Ray, Paul, Rondo, & BBD are the same & as solid as ever (no trace of decline yet for the Big 3).

Overall, we’ll be playing the same guys of Gasol, Bynum, Kobe, Artest, Odom, Fish, Brown, & Luke which is basically the same LA players as last year.

And so, bring it on! We’re ready to celebrate in LA in June. Really hope they get homecourt as revenge will be so much sweeter!

Now that’s “true faith & confidence in our beloved C’s,” we’re undeniably a much bettter team this year while LA’s pretty much the same team as last year.

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

the key to #18

by gocanes1 on Mar 22, 2011 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

A healthy squad = banner no.18. Everything else is rhetoric..

Lygafe

Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix | International Hockey Forums > Europe > ISRAEL
Israel Recreational Hockey Association 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 [ Lygafe ] | Israel Ice Skating Federation - From the Media [ Lionel Gaffen ]

by lygafe on Mar 22, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

100% agree!

Even if Chicago, the Spurs, & LA gets homecourt advantage against us…

…if we’re healthy, Banner 18 ours!

by Prester John II on Mar 22, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

He does look like he is in much better shape.

It’s hard to dispute that.

I expect to see him for the last 10 games or so. Just enough time to get back into game rhythm for the playoffs. He could play now I bet, but really, what’s the point? If anything more time for Krstic is good for the team in the long run, as he will be an important part of the second unit once Shaq returns. We know Shaq can fit in well, we saw how good this team was with him out there, no need to rush it.

by Sizzlack on Mar 22, 2011 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

'Till I don't see him on the court..

..I’m not gonna buy it. Living day by day.

"Rondoooooo!!!"

by Celtic in Rome on Mar 22, 2011 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

OMG look at the way he sliced through that cake

like he was slicing through an NBA defense.

You’re ridiculous. Everyone looks thinner when they aren’t wearing a tank top. Put a hoodie on him and Glen Davis is downright svelt.

by sofutomygaha on Mar 22, 2011 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

Pay closer attention.

And he’s entitled to his opinion, doesn’t make him “ridiculous”.

But seriously, black colors and baggy clothes may be slimming, but there’s a big difference between looking a bit “slimmer” and looking like you’ve dropped about 20lbs, which I’d have to admit, he clearly looks more the latter.

But I guess that’s, ridiculous?

by Sizzlack on Mar 22, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

This requires eyes AND ears

1) The story is telling you that Shaq’s been on a “strict diet.” There is therefore a reasonable expectation that hey, he might have lost weight.
2) There have been media reports that he’s lost 20-25 pounds. (Looks like more to me.)
3) I think “tank top” is (a) mostly for women, and (b) not what shaq is wearing. A tank top would be a glorified t-shirt.
4) Hoodies make people look thinner? Really? How do you know this? Source? Fashion expert?
5) When Shaq bends down, at exactly 0:26, the clothes bend and you can see his torso quite clearly. At that point, the change is SO obvious, that it might just be “ridiculous” to deny it. Not that I’m calling you ridiculous or anything.

by DRJ1 on Mar 22, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

He has more time to get ready because

If we have to have a healthy Shaq to get past the first round of the playoffs, we won’t be going very far. Ergo, the first round is more games for him to get in shape in. Assume a first round win for the C’s in either 5 or 6 games. No back to backs….so another ten days or so to get up to full speed.

by Dipper on Mar 23, 2011 5:58 AM EDT reply actions