Jermaine O’Neal (rest) Will Not Play Tonight

Posted by Brian Robb on Apr 8, 2011 191130 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F04%2F08%2Fjermaine-oneal-rest-will-not-play-tonight%2FJermaine+O%27Neal+%28rest%29+Will+Not+Play+Tonight+2011-04-08+21%3A08%3A38Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D19113

A quick update from the TD Garden, where the Celtics will tipoff from the TD Garden in about a half hour. For those two or three remaining Troy Murphy fans out there, get your pom poms out, as Jermaine O’Neal will be getting the night off to rest his knee, before a busy week next week according to Doc Rivers.

“He wanted to play, but I didn’t think he should play,” Rivers said. “We have three games early next week, so I thought this would be a good game to rest him.”

Ultimately this move does make the most sense, especially since Rivers hinted at trying to rest Kevin Garnett for a game sometime next week earlier in the week. That decision will likely be based on how the team fares in Miami on Sunday, in its quest to wrap up the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, leaving tonight as the best option to give another O’Neal a blow in the midst of a five games in seven nights stretch.

Von Wafer will dress tonight in Jermaine’s place tonight, and Murphy will likely see his first significant action since returning from a sprained ankle earlier this week. One last gasp for the “prized” buyout acquisition to show the coaching staff something before the playoffs arrive. If he can’t put up points against the Wiz, he can’t do it against anyone.

My eyes however will be on Wafer, who I hope will see some floor action after battling a brutal calf injury the past few weeks. Von was playing well before he went down on both ends of the floor, and I feel his energy and athleticism could be of use to this team going forward.

Doc also addressed his postgame “meeting” with Rajon Rondo in Chicago but we’ll save that for the postgame.