Gerry Callahan says “the Celtics should treat the next 17 games like practice”
Let’s pretend Shaq’s really not hurt. Let’s pretend, as Gerry Callahan insists, he’s simply “the most accomplished actor in NBA history” and “pacing himself, picking his spots and giving himself the best chance to be ready for the playoffs.” Let’s pretend there are 17 games left in the regular season and Shaq does not have any intentions of getting into game shape by the playoffs, so he’s sitting games out for now.
Can you just please tell me why?
“Last night at New Jersey didn’t matter,” wrote Callahan. Ah, right. I forgot. It’s not like the Celtics fell into a tie with the Chicago Bulls after last night’s defeat. It’s not like the Bulls have a cupcake schedule the rest of the season, and now have the inside track on the number one seed. It’s not like the Bulls scare the living bejesus out of any Celtic fan who knows basketball. It’s not like Chicago’s home record is 29-4. Hold on. Yes, they did, or yes, they are, or yes, they do. On all accounts.
“This team has nothing to prove until the playoffs,” wrote Callahan, which is actually true, no sarcasm involved this time. But they do have something to earn — a number one seed, home-court advantage at least until the Finals, and the right to play Orlando (rather than Miami) in round two.
“The commissioner might not like it, but the Celtics should treat the next 17 games like practice,” wrote Callahan. Does he not realize the lack of home-court advantage killed Boston last season at the worst possible time? Does he not realize Boston bucked every trend in NBA history during last postseason, and that it’s unlikely to happen ever again? Does he not realize how dangerous the Eastern Conference could be, especially now that the Heat have regained their mojo?
Now, let’s talk about Shaq as if he might actually be injured — which makes at least a little sense, considering he has missed every game for the past month and change, and was spotted wearing a walking boot in Boston’s locker room on at least one occasion. If you were getting yourself ready for the playoffs (even if you were 39 years old and the size of a Redwood tree), wouldn’t you want to get yourself into game shape first? We’ve all seen how long Troy Murphy has taken to get himself back into game shape, after missing a month… and he’s a 30-year old who is entirely healthy. Granted, Shaq does not need the same mobility Murphy does, because he’s so freaking ginormous. But game shape doesn’t come quickly, even if you spend hours on the treadmill each day. Playing in an NBA game is different, as any player who has returned from injury will tell you.
So no, the Celtics should not treat the next 17 games like practice. No, I don’t believe Shaq is just resting himself for the playoffs. At this point of the season, with so little time left before the playoffs, that theory hardly makes sense. If he wanted to get ready for the playoffs, playing in games seems like the most reasonable route. No?
Even if he is sitting out simply to rest his legs (which is certainly possible; I don’t claim to know everything), don’t let Gerry Callahan — or anyone else — tell you these games mean nothing. The prospect of playing Miami and then Chicago was already scary enough, and now the Celtics might have to do it sans home-court advantage.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | March 15, 2011
Very well said, my friend.
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Callahan’s an idiot. And Shaq will be back in plenty of time to get in ‘game’ shape as he has already stated that if these games were the playoffs he’d be playing. Enough said about Shaq. The current lame play (exacerbated in last night’s showing) falls solely on the core 4 and especially Rondo (PP & RR were 3-20 shooting last night). I will not repeat my comments from the last several posts but either he’s injured (then rest him) or pouting (sit him). With West due back tomorrow and CA available a few games off might just fix his attitude which I think is hurting the team (2 FTs in the last 5 games says it all). These games should be played with the sole focus of gaining the home court advantage. When it’s in hand then rest. But until it is I want to see the defensive effort from the Milwaukee game and much, much better offense from the core 4. Go Cs…
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I just can’t get over the mythology that has built up around The Return of The Shaq. Interestingly, folks defending The Trade have accused the increasingly slim numbers of trade refusniks of fetishizing Perkins. Ok. There may be some of that. But do you not see the way you are fetishizing “Stitch” and “The Green Lantern” and – most ludicrously – SHAQ!
The Big IF. !!
Come on, people! What we’ve learned about Shaq over the course of this season is that, when he’s motivated and feeling good, he can still be a FORCE in this league, especially with Rajon Rondo feeding him. We’ve learned that Shaq could be the key to a Celtics championship, if used wisely, which means SPARINGLY. Shaq was brought on as a stopgap/insurance/backup. Used in that role, he’s a Beast. He reminds of Bill Walton in 1986. But for us to imagine him leading us to a championship as a starter, as our defensive anchor, as our Main Man at this point is sheer fantasy. We’ll be lucky if he comes back at all and maybe gives us a few good games, but I wouldn’t even count on that very much.
And sitting Rondo is not the answer. Rondo is the key to this team. He is the leader of this team. Ainge needs to deal with Rondo as a man, needs to talk to him in a real and honest way about what is going on. Sure, we could replace Rondo with West/ Arroyo. A rotation of West and Arroyo would probably be an improvement over Rondo at this point. A lot of teams would probably like to have such a rotation. But the rest of the league also sees what we fans are refusing to see: that the Celtics are becoming just another team. They are losing the cohesion, the motivation, the inspiration that raised them to another level. The team that is all about heart is losing heart. The rest of the league knows that Rondo isn’t just another good player, that he’s a difference maker. Rest assured, they’d be happy to see The Kid benched. Think about it. Facing a team powered up with the Big Three, other teams gameplan around Rondo. THAT is the sincerest form of flattery.
Callahan’s advice about the rest of the season makes sense, but not for the reason he seems to cite. Basically, because of the way Ainge changed this team on the fly, the Stretch Run has been turned into a Second Preseason. This is a team that has gone back to square one — trying to figure out rotations, trying to bring the new guys up to speed, trying to find and define chemistry, etc.. They really have no choice but to treat the rest of the season as a series of exhibition games. That’s not a good thing. It’s not some clever strategy. It’s an unfortunate quagmire.
The notion that home court advantage doesn’t matter, that establishing good habits as we battle down the homestretch doesn’t matter, that establishing an intimidation edge over other teams doesn’t matter, is raving nonsense, yet it seems to have become dogma since last season’s blazingly improbable championship run. What happened last year was an amazing achievement by a team with more heart than Secretariat. What is happening this year seems to be a team losing heart.
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I totally agree with Shaq faking the injury (with Danny and Doc also being on board) to make sure he’s good for the playoffs. But no way can we pull a 2009-10 and try to breeze into the playoffs. Not with offense this bad, not with these new guys who don’t get the system, not when it failed last year.
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paul…what’s the “mythology about the return of Shaq”? Did you not read the post and articles whereby he said he was at 85% and that if it was playoff time he would be playing? What’s not to understand from the Big Shamrock’s own mouth? But you continue to question his injury and status. Why???
Then in your next PP you say “sitting Rondo is not the answer” but then 4 lines down you say “A rotation of West and Arroyo would probably be an improvement over Rondo at this point”. So which position are you taking?
Lastly, why should these next games be considered as…”They really have no choice but to treat the rest of the season as a series of exhibition games”. Why? The core 4 are still all healthy (except maybe RR) and are still capable of playing hard but they have chosen not to on too many occasions, as evidenced by last night’s game. If Rondo would snap out of his funk or depression or sit because he’s injured then this team could and should win the coveted home court advantage. But the core 4 need to play better offensively. The bench is better, their overall rebounding is better, and while the new players are getting more and more acclimated there is no reason whatsoever that they should roll over and play these games ‘exhibition’ style. I expect more. Maybe Doc’s part of this problem, too? Go Cs…
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