Jermaine O'Neal Sat Out As A Precaution
by Jeff Clark on Jan 3, 2012 6:07 AM EST
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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PrintUpon hearing that Jermaine O'Neal was going to miss last night's game, the immediate and understandable impulse is to roll your eyes and say "yup, it was only a matter of time." In truth, I'm assuming that we're on borrowed time with him too. But apparently he was feeling well enough to play and got the DNP-CDWTI (did not play, coach's decision with trainer input).
J.O. downplays hamstring, ready vs. N.J. - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston
"It’s not an injury. I got here with intentions of playing and [team trainer] Ed Lacerte went through the regular routine of my pregame [workout] and I was still sore," O'Neal said. "He preferred for me not to play. I came to the arena with thoughts and intentions that I was playing, but he had a conversation with [coach] Doc [Rivers] and sometimes players get trumped. "It’s not a hamstring pull or anything like that. In fact, I’ll be ready to go come Wednesday."
Team plays it safe, sits hamstrung O’Neal - BostonHerald.com
"It’s not bad," Rivers said. "(Trainer) Eddie (Lacerte) just came to me and suggested that he not play. He didn’t say no, he can’t play. But with the hamstring you don’t want to take any chances, and JO has been doing so well, we figured he could get a rest tonight, tomorrow and then maybe play the next game."
That's good, because he was playing very well recently and the team is better with him in there than without (outstanding Stiemer performances not withstanding).
I think you are going to see a lot of these coach's decisions on the 2nd night of a back to back - even with some of the other "healthy" starters.
On a related note: Paul Pierce mentioned that he's only at 80% or so. He looks good, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see him get a DNP one of these days just for rest and recovery.
Related: Rest might help KG - CSNNE
CSNNE.com is the website for Comcast SportsNet New England. CSNNE.com provides comprehensive local professional sports coverage for New England. CSNNE.com has local sports news, scores, blogs and video covering the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. Let him rest his legs on the second leg
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90% chance...
I say there’s a 90% chance that JO is not with this team come playoff time , whether it’s because of trade or injury. Our center spot is our weakest position and I don’t see Ainge letting the big three’s final season rest on the aging back of a center who has been past his prime for 5 years.
I believe JO has worked hard to be where he’s at, but he’s a back up center. He’s not a starting center on a contending team. No one’s intimidated by our interior defense. Even less are worried that JO can change a game’s direction with his offense.
If putting our season on Shaq’s back last season was foolish, having JO in the starting line up for the playoffs is a recipe for an early exit.
At least I hope we’re done with attaching our hopes to guys (Sheed, Shaq, JO) trying to get one more glorious season out of their aging legs.
I can’t wait to see Steamer against some elite competition to see exactly where he’s at. Is he as good as he’s looked the last few games or are we just dreaming of anyone who can take JO’s place when he goes down?
I'm all for giving the Vets.....
the second of a back to back off whenever they’re not 100%.
Assuming this isn’t all spin and it really was bad.
I agree.
Doc already said earlier that this season all these decisions are in Eddie’s hands and he’s not going to let player’s convince him to let them play if Eddie says “No”.
And I think that’s the right, conservative approach.
It would be good to look for ways to give ALL the guys an occasional day off, young or old, whenever it makes sense and especially if anyone is even slightly ‘sore’.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
Agree
I doubt JO will be 100% healthy this season. I think the most Doc can expect from him is a solid 25mpg with every 4th or 5th game off.
Stiemer is still a rookie, so I wouldn’t trust him for 40mpg, but he’s proving to be a capable backup.
Interesting to see if Ainge can turn JO’s expiring deal, some picks & a rookie into Cousins….
I too doubt JO won't break down during the course of the regular season,
But it’s a good move to be cautious. Specially against so called “light” teams.
Just a hamstring that tightened up.
It happens to young guys too, and far more often when you’ve played over 10k career minutes.
Not a big deal. I’m actually surprised Doc played KG as much as he did last night. I expected to see JJ out there a bit, or a lot more of Bass.
"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
If the game were not so close, we probably might have seen JJ.
Doc said after the game that he ended up breaking from the KG’s ‘5 minute’ plan and left him in for the whole 4th because he looked so fresh at the start of it. But he then said that he thought his shot looked tired at the end and that he kind of regrets doing it. He added that the fact that they had the following day off was in his thinking.
I dunno – I KG only attempted two shots in the last six minutes (Made one. He also was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws), but he dealt some super killer assists to Ray that he created by actually attacking the lane. He, Ray and Paul really looked like the “Big 3” in the way they took control of the game at the end.
NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.
SURE...........
joking aside, they are probably right. God knows if he would have played he would be out 3 months with a ‘strained’ hamstring
please Doc...
we dont need your take on JO… we’d like to know what are your plans with JJJ & E’Twaun… both are talented young guns that can shoot!
+1
Play the Rooks…. lets see what we have
Celtic Chat Handle: Bird
by David Henderson on Jan 3, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Rookies off of college don't really get playing time with the C's...
…that’s just a fact. So, unless we start blowing out a lot of teams in the near future, don’t expect the 2 rooks to be having time in the rotation.
Speculated this yesterday
Wasn’t surprised, and am glad they did.
" Hell yeah I'm trying to gain an advantage out here. If you can't handle it, get off the court."- Kevin Garnett
"Stats are for losers."- Rahim Morris (FORMERLY-Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
...and speaking of injured players...
I do hope Pietrus would really have a “workable knee” that would last the rest of the season + playoffs. I’m pretty sure he’ll take weeks to get back in the groove of things…but those precious minutes to rest our starting vets would be awesome.
Jermaine O'Neal Sat Out As A Precaution .....
Hey Doc….Try playing him as a precaution.
I have no problem resting J.O...
last night or in future games to try to keep him fresher for later in the year and come playoff time when the games will really count and we will need him the most as long as the Steamer gets his starting minutes.
I think its a win – win situation in that we protect J.O and keep stress off of him and help give the Steamer some valuable playing time to better develop him prior to the playoff run and to also get a kick start on grooming him to be the C’s possible starting center of the future.
Agree with first post.
JO will be gone by the trading deadline. Danny was willing to deal him before the season so he has already contemplated going in another direction at C. I suspect he will be packaged with a pick and traded for a younger center. I am enjoying this version of the Celtics and they are the most athletic team we have had in the Big 3 era. A team of Rondo/Dooling Bass, Daniels and Wilcox is a fast lineup even though we lack some size. Throw in Bradley’s quickness and a hopefully healthy MP and that is a nice group of athletic players. But we are so soft in the middle, even with White Out playing center. Despite the promise he has shown, he can’t go for 48 miinutes!.
BTW, Bradley is a keeper. Only 21. Hardly any NBA experience. The dude is quick and gave John Wall fits the past two nights. We did not ask Tony Allen for much offense. Bradley can fill that role and be an absolute pest on defense.
Treat JO like Shaq last year
Give him nights off any time he’s tender to avoid bigger injuries as best we can. Especially in the compressed schedule, the old fellas need some nights where they get more rest than usual. Since JO is the most brittle of the bunch, give him the entire night off instead of just limiting his minutes. Against most teams Steamboat and Wilcox should be able to pick up the slack, and we may (just MAY) be able to have a healthy JO for the playoffs.
by Aluminum Penguin on Jan 3, 2012 2:55 PM EST reply actions
I agree with that, to an extent.
However, sometimes over-rest can be just as dangerous for injury as over-exertion.
You want to give him a chance to rest when he’s dealing with something, like the tight hamstring was. But on the other hand, you don’t want to over-do it, as he wont have the practice time he needs to keep on condition and that’s when injuries happen the most.
"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
Ha!
Well if he gets injured from too much resting then I guess you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Such is life with glass men on the roster. I imagine that Doc has enough experience with older players now though that he can rest guys intelligently. That’ll be a key part of his job this year, with JO and KG being the ones who he has to watch most carefully.
by Aluminum Penguin on Jan 3, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
ONeal's pretty much taking that over-rest stuff upon himself
Probably will never be much need to worry about over-exertion where he’s concerned
by Finkelskyhook on Jan 3, 2012 5:50 PM EST up reply actions
+1
And trade JO when DA gets the chance. We need some consistent play at center.
Jermaine aka Wally Pip II
Doc — Let’s not take any chances; Wally , uh I mean JO, could use a little more rest; Gehrig,oops I mean Greg S wouldn’t mind playing in that starting role. Think how JO would produce on the 2nd unit until Danny can find something better. Then JO could replace Shaq as the ambassadore to Cambridge.
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