There is no question that the Boston Celtics have faced their fair share of injuries this season, but their biggest focus now will be on C Shaquille O’Neal. Last month O’Neal was dealing with an ailing right Achilles tendon, and now he is apparently dealing with soreness in his right foot.
The news surrounding O’Neal’s Achilles is fairly positive, but the uncertainty surrounding his foot is still a big question mark with just over twenty games left in the regular season.
When asked about when or if the Celtics can expect to have O’Neal back in the lineup, Boston head coach Doc Rivers expressed this uncertainty.
“Eddie (Lacerte – the Boston team trainer) just said don’t expect him anytime soon,” Rivers said.
This is bad news for the Celtics who are already short-handed in the front court after trading their starting C Kendrick Perkins two weeks ago. Much of their decision to trade Perkins was dependent on O’Neal’s health heading into the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, but with the latest news regarding the health of the Boston big man it appears the trade may turn out to be costly for the Celtics.