That title is both unsurprising and depressing all in one. Here we go again.
BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Celtics Insider" Blog Archive " O’Neal misses practice
Jermaine O’Neal was not at today’s Celtic practice. He was at New England Baptist Hospital earlier getting an MRI on his right knee. The results of the MRI are not yet available, and O’Neal is being listed as a game-time decision for tomorrow’s noon start against Memphis. O’Neal missed three games last week with a bruised left knee.
That's just frustrating. Hopefully he'll be alright and just needs some extra rest, but I can't must up much optimism there. What's more frustrating is that the team was just starting to look largely healthy again. Check out this stat from Paul Flannery of WEEI:
Coming into the game, the starting five had played together for a grand total of 99 minutes, per basketballvalue.com.
Get well soon Jermaine. (And get on the phone soon Danny, we need a center.)
0 recs | 57 comments
Paging Greg Steimsma...
…your 15 minutes of fame has been extended. For goodness sake Doc, just play the boy because it’s pretty obvious JO is going to be in and out of the IL for the rest of the season. We need Steimsma to grasp the defensive scheme as quickly as possible. it’s either that or live with a KG/Wilcox frontline for postseason.
yakyakyak - February 4, 2012
agree about givind stiemsma more time will need him come playoff time so might ass well get him rdy
EXER123 - February 4, 2012
You think JO was bad. If Stiemsma has to play big minutes, it will be awful
vinnie - February 4, 2012
Agree 100%
Considering Greg would be our only legit center on the roster if JO is in and out of the lineup this season, it would wise if he could get some minutes to better learn the C’s defensive game plan to prep him for possible extended duty the rest of the season.
Though I think his help defense is quite effective, he could use the extra minutes to also help him better learn to play one on one defense in the paint and how to better position himself defensively in the paint against opposing bigs.
I think if Greg can work on the above, considering he has size, length (260lbs & 6’11’) a long wing span, decent vertical leaping ability and solid shot blocking skills he can clog the paint and cause some havoc on the defensive end of the court, especially when teamed up with KG in the front court and be quite a useful player for the C’s, especially come playoff time when the game becomes more of a 1/2 court power game.
fordescort - February 4, 2012
Please trade Jermaine ASAP
Seriously, why have we waited so long? Even a 2nd round pick has more value at this point.
Celticsdude - February 4, 2012
I can not wait till this guy is gone from wearing Celtic green. The worst Celtic center center I’ve ever seen!
RS_ CELTIC GREEN - February 4, 2012
Don’t you remember Blount, to me that’s the worst ever.
forever_green - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I thought Mikki Moore was...
SparzWizard - February 5, 2012
Hahah
Hey, aren’t you the same RS_Celtic Green I see on the yahoo nba boards destroying those anti-Celtic fans, especially those Lakers?! :D
SparzWizard - February 5, 2012
Yes I am. lol
RS_ CELTIC GREEN - February 5, 2012
They should've done an MRI on Danny
For signing him.
Finkelskyhook - February 4, 2012
Exactly! He was suppose to be our third option Last year behing SHaq and Perk. He has done thing to win the starting postion.
RS_ CELTIC GREEN - February 4, 2012
Cut him.
Jesus, what a was of the MLE last year.
totheights - February 4, 2012
Oh
I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Just as sure of that,anyway, as I am that the rest of the old fogies will stay healthy.
; )
Al Woodal - February 4, 2012
Chris Kaman
GOGOGO.
SparzWizard - February 4, 2012
Celts tried to get rid of him
Now he is making them pay
vgarcia890 - February 4, 2012
O'Neal's just being himself.
I’ll bet the hand that signs his paycheck works just fine.
Finkelskyhook - February 4, 2012
Haha….funny posts finkel.
forever_green - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I know you don't like O'neal
and have stated other times that he is tanking, please tell why it’s hard to believe he’s actually hurt a knee he had surgery on last year? I mean do you see him moving around out there?
If the guy wasn’t trying do you think he’d be in the top 3 in the league in charges taken? That tends to be one of the first things a guy stops doing when the is tanking. When’s the last time Larry Hughes took a charge?
He’s oft-injured, inconsistent (some nights he’s pretty darn valuable IMO), and we can’t rely on him being healthy for the postseason, but I think it’s unfair to claim he is giving it anything less than 100%. I for one think we’re better with him on the floor, but the injury history means we really need another big besides wilcox (and it’s not stiemsma)
WillyBeamin - February 4, 2012
I have about as high an opinion...
Of the statistic number of flops given as I do O’Neal’s dedication to playing basketball.
Finkelskyhook - February 4, 2012
I just don't understand how you can watch the kinds of charges JO takes
and call those flops… the guy gets DRILLED taking charges
WillyBeamin - February 5, 2012
agree with u willy
EXER123 - February 4, 2012
Enter Rasheed Wallace
Head explosions will commence in 3…2…1…
paul7x5x - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I've liked JO's work so far
He seems to be working hard, and highly motivated too. We need a guy like that. Note: Getting an MRI does not = injury. They probably just wanna make sure there’s not something going on that’s worse than expected. Call it a ‘defensive MRI.’
JR99 - February 4, 2012
JO has always been a hard worker, but is often injured. Some people are more brittle than others.
He may not have much left in the tank, but whatever is left, he always gives of himself.
He is one of the leading charge takers in the league, and is not caught out of position very often at all.
Knee injuries have been a problem for him for a number of years, but don’t ever count out his playing with heart.
He should be wearing protective pads on both his knees, and not just on the one that was most recently injured.
lygafe - February 4, 2012
Please -- the guy has had 2 or 3 good games the entire season
He is a huge bust
vinnie - February 4, 2012
Agreed
RS_ CELTIC GREEN - February 4, 2012
He's been a disappointment
But this could be a very good development. It force feeds Stiemsma some minutes. He has not been terrible in the few minutes he’s played. Quite intriguing in fact. And he needs minutes.
JO is not a dog but he hasn’t been playing up to his ability. Maybe it has been mobility and push on the knee. If JO can then get healthy for last few weeks of season and realize that it’s “last roundup” time he could have much more impact than PJ Brown did. And PJ was awesome.
Wildblu1 - February 4, 2012
It was a matter of time...
Every time I hear the words injury and Jermaine O’Neal I get frustrated. It baffles me why Danny Ainge hasn’t found a back-up Center when every sports writer and Celtics fan in and out New England has called for Ainge to either get rid of JO or find an adequate back up center. Since 2010 this has been an injury prone team and now in this compacted 66 game season this team doesn’t need injuries especially to key players.
Just when it looked as if this team was starting to jell, this unfortunate news about JO emerges. It never ends with this team. That is why I can’t put too much stock into this season because of injuries, inconsistencies and age factor.
C'sFanfrmNy - February 4, 2012
if their was ass many center ass guard we would of have one but true is alot center are un productive and get payed way too much
EXER123 - February 4, 2012
Trade rondo for hibbert and collison
jurrasicearl - February 4, 2012 via mobile
lol have u learn anything from perkins trade???
EXER123 - February 4, 2012
Not gonna happen!
They way Indy is playing now no way they’re gonna trade their core players.
C'sFanfrmNy - February 4, 2012
I actually wouldnt mind this trade...
StarzNBarz - February 4, 2012
v
GuacamolePR In Your Face! - February 4, 2012
I think that the sooner he is out the better. At this moment in his career any other big could run the floor a lot better than him.
GuacamolePR In Your Face! - February 4, 2012
Here we go again
C’mon Doc, play Steimsma
Clench - February 4, 2012
+1
I hate to see Greg get minutes out of necessity and on account of JO being injured, but apparently and unfortunately it appears thats is the only way Doc will give him minutes.
fordescort - February 4, 2012
Stiemsma
Actually, I’m glad Steamer will get some playing time. Everybody knew JO wouldn’t hold on for the whole season. We were all thinking about that before the games started.
Go Steamer!
braz - February 4, 2012
I cannot think of any other free agents or players who will be free agents next season
who is available at the center position. only kaman but his price is too high, we really need a center who can rebound, run and block.
ball is green - February 4, 2012
Maybe someone like....
Ryan Hollins?
StarzNBarz - February 4, 2012
News today
is that Kaman is off of the market. I’m not sure what that means; I imagine they’d still be happy to listen to an offer, but a buyout seems more likely now than ever.
Tugboat - February 4, 2012
actually there are one or two available now!!
krylo fesenko? free agent. greg smith nbadl? all we really need at the center position issix hard fouls and a few boards!!! Neither of these guys would cost us much, just a roster space and some cash from wyc!!!
greensince72 - February 4, 2012
Everytime MRI & JO get mentioned.....
In the same sentence, I cringe! With the steamer being a rookie, might as well consider JO as our lone center in the roster.
We need JO. He is essential. I never believed playing small ball is our biggest strength. Despite the current success, Boston is still not considered a title contender. We are still having problems rebounding. Take JO out, it gets worse.
Now this is the risk of having only 1 sxperienced center. We get nervous if ….errrrr… WHEN JO gets injured and sits an extended period of time.
LarryBird33 - February 4, 2012
Big surprise
Just an awful signing by Danny. I wish he would retire
vinnie - February 4, 2012
Why are people asking for more Stiemsma?
If he has to play big minutes, this team is worse than toast. Other than blocking shots, he cannot guard anyone on defense. TIme to find ANYONE to play center, Danny
vinnie - February 4, 2012
Well hopefully...
its just a simple acute bruise injury that will eventually heal and has nothing to do with JO’s more serious chronic bone to bone issues with his knees.
If JO has to sit out a few games I home Doc will turn to the Steamer to give him a chance to play some serious minutes this season.
As we saw when Rondo sat, Bradley got a chance to show us what he can do and also got some very valuable playing experience that helped his growth and development.
The same hopefully can happen if Greg needs to replace JO for awhile.
fordescort - February 4, 2012
It would not hurt us if we play Greg
Greg can block shots
celtics2011 - February 4, 2012
JO is made of glass
Hey JO was the “training camp MVP” according to Doc so that has to count for something. At least we got something out of the full MLE. Great move Danny…
warnerjohn - February 4, 2012 via mobile
sign fesenko !!!
he is a free agent with i think three years in the league. sign greg smith from the nbadl, low cost, maybe high reward???
greensince72 - February 4, 2012
Well at least do we have the record in the league for most injuries in the last couples years.
celt4ever - February 4, 2012
Jo is no warrior
The guy is soft but we have to coddle him and hope he can give us something in the playoffs
Red2 - February 5, 2012 via mobile
It's 'negative nanny ' time again. Kick the man while he's down- seems to be the motto of the negativists on this blog.
lygafe - February 5, 2012
right there with you lygafe
Half the people on here turn my stomach with their fair weather opinions. It’s literally game to game, rondo played a little less than his abilities the other night (coming back from a 2 week injury and taking thT nasty poke to the eye), “rondo sucks, trade rondo, he’s all done” now he has a quality game today and later you’ll be hearing “rondo is the best, he carries the team, we can’t compete without him!”. Sickening.
Mikey Bizzle - February 5, 2012 via iPhone app
Agree with both.
The “kick ’em while they are down” syndrome is just too irresistible for some folks.
JO looked good tonight – 7 rebs, 2 BS, a +10 rating and some very nice defense in 25 minutes – against the ‘much younger and athletic’ Gasol.
Some folks get a negative first impression and never, ever let it go and will defend it to the point of irrationality. Not a happy way to go through life, but whatever.
mmmmm - February 5, 2012
Take any bad game, or even a close one- always a couple of hundred negative comments.
Now take a good win- great team effort, etc.- how many people bother to come out with some positive remarks? About 1/4 of the negative nannies on this blog.
lygafe - February 5, 2012
JO is OK....
Celtics Vs. Grizzlies: Jermaine O’Neal Will Play For Boston On Sunday – SB Nation Boston http://sbn.to/AoZ2Ot
David Henderson - February 5, 2012
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