Shaq Will Not Play vs. Bobcats Tonight

Posted by Brian Robb on Dec 11, 2010 120442 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F12%2F11%2Fshaq-will-not-play-vs-bobcats-tonight%2FShaq+Will+Not+Play+vs.+Bobcats+Tonight2010-12-11+17%3A33%3A27Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D12044

The C’s depth will be tested once again tonight as veteran center Shaquille O’Neal will sit out his second straight game to rest a lingering sore calf injury. Here’s the report from the A Sherrod Blakely from CSNNE.COM down in Charlotte:

When Boston’s medical staff decided that O’Neal would not play in the C’s 102-101 win at Philadelphia on Thursday, the decision was made then to sit him out for tonight’s game.

“He should be able to play by the New York game (on Wednesday),” Rivers said.

 O’Neal wants to play, but the Big fella understands the big picture here in Boston.

“That’s considerate of them,” O’Neal said of holding him out. “We all have the same vision ahead of us. We’re doing good right now. It gives Semih a chance to get some burn (playing time), J.O. comes back soon. Further down the road, we’ll have our whole team back.”

O’Neal has said previously that he would take pain killers in order to play now, but the C’s have resisted the need for a quick-fix and have instead focused on him rehabilitating his injuries with time and rest.

“They’re saying, ‘get it right,’” O’Neal said. “That’s very commendable of the Celtics organization to say, ‘get it right.’ I’ll take these next couple of days off just try and get it right.”