Jermaine O’Neal injury update: Celtics preparing for season without JO
Sometimes I get the feeling Jermaine O’Neal’s daily routine goes like this:
1) Eat a bowl of Lucky Charms
2) Save all the marshmallows for the end because, duh, best for last
3) Drink the leftover milk, which — I lied about best for last — is the best part of any bowl of cereal, though marshmallows are a close second
4) Take a shower, being careful not to scrub too hard because damn it, that hurts
5) Contemplate season-ending surgery
Perhaps O’Neal doesn’t always follow through with steps 1-4, but the Boston Celtics center is definitely pondering season-ending surgery as the Celtics surge without him. Doc Rivers said Tuesday that he is preparing for life without JO the remainder of the season. (MetroWest Daily News)
Rivers told the media that it “obviously doesn’t look good” for his chances of returning to the Celtics the more time O’Neal debates whether to have surgery on his wrist, and he’s prepared to ride this rotation out under the assumption that whether O’Neal has the surgery or not he won’t be available to the team down the stretch.
“If he plays for us,” Rivers said, “it’s a bonus.”
When the Celtics began the season with O’Neal as their only natural center, I thought to myself: “What will happen in early March when O’Neal is contemplating season ending surgery?” But now that O’Neal IS contemplating season-ending surgery, it’s unclear whether the Celtics really need him.
A real center, especially one who can block shots and take charges, would be a luxury off the bench, but Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett and Chris Wilcox have all filled in well at the five. (Note: Please let me try to forget yesterday’s 57-38 rebounding deficit, and especially Samuel Dalembert’s part in it.) With Doc Rivers preaching a nine-man rotation, O’Neal might have an uphill battle to rejoin the rotation even if he does return.
I hope O’Neal comes back. His interior defense is useful. But due to how well others have adapted to manning the middle (plus the fact that very few potential playoff opponents have legitimate post men), his importance isn’t as high as I once perceived it to be.
On the other hand, KG has now played a combined 79 minutes in back-to-back games. May the lord have mercy on his body.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | March 7, 2012
I don’t know why they don’t cut JO. He gets paid to perform, he gets paid to take a beating. He has been in and out of the lineup too many times for my liking and I guess I’ve just lost patience.You want a shot blocker? Playing GS will be better for the team than this broken down heap of a player. In saying that, I know what a quality player JO was. Probably one of my favorite big men on the east (along with KG) when he played with Indiana. I hope he can contribute even a couple of minutes here or there for us. The sad thing is, is that his time for a title is almost over. He came so close with Indiana only to have his team interrupted by long suspensions. I believe that team when they had Artest, O Neal and Reggie Miller was primed to win the title. Would be good to see him win one. His pal Ron Artest(not that stupid new name) won one at our expense and that made me vomit. I think that perhaps JO’s absence is a blessing in disguise as it has created room on the roster. Rivers has done a good job since all star break of rotating his players. We’ve got some chemistry now and I feel it’s only gonna get better. And yes, Mr O’Neal, possibly a championship coming your way soon. To see PP and RR working in unison is of particular note. I wondered whether there was some kind of animosity but it looks like if there is or was, now it’s history. Great to see. IT’S ALL ABOUT BANNER 18…
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We are so lucky to have JO out and I hope for ever. The C’s have been performing much better with him out. KG is great at the center. Doc should have made this move a long time ago. It’s not too late yet. The bench in doing great.
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O’neil is the biggest QUITTER i have EVER SEEN!!!!!!
nOT A PRO AT ALL !!
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THIS GUY IS A COMPLETE BITCH HE NEEDS TO TAKE OUT THAT TAMPON OUT HIS ASS AND DO HIS DAMN JOB THATS WAT HE GETS PAID ALL THAT MONEY FOR!
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