Timing is Everything

Shaquille O' Neal's return to the lineup didn't last long Sunday. He limped off the court during the Celtics 101-90 victory over the Pistons with a "minor" right calf strain. 

And just like that, the Big Shamrock has left the building.

Playing his first game in a Celtics uniform in over two months, Shaquille O' Neal wowed the TD Garden crowd in his long-awaited return Sunday night before making an abrupt, troubling and unforeseen exit during Boston's 101-90 victory over the Pistons. Just 11 seconds into the second quarter, the Big Diesel came up lame near mid-court after running the fast break off a Jeff Green block of Detroit's Jason Maxiell.

Without hesitation, O' Neal motioned to the bench to call a timeout before hobbling off the court, hunched over in pain. He needed help to get to the tunnel. The team even brought out a wheelchair for him a la Pierce in the 2008 playoffs, but Shaq refused.

"That wasn't good, to see him [like that]," said Kevin Garnett. "He's been working his behind [off] to get back to this point. He had some momentum going, he definitely gave us a a spark. It was good to see him out there."

The injury felt tragic at the time because Shaq had been playing so well in his first game since February 1. After entering the game to an electric, standing ovation, the Big Aristotle looked terrific, scoring six first quarter points on 3-3 shooting. He looked young and athletic around the rim, converting a nifty up and under layup at one point. His defense was exceptional. He immediately rejuvenated the Celtics and provided them with the shot in the arm they've so desperately missed since he went down.

"It felt like pausing time, you know, it felt like just having his presence out there was big," admitted Paul Pierce after the game. "Even just having him for a few minutes, definitely a plus out there. It's tough."

At first glance, many Celtics fans couldn't help but think Shaq had seriously injured his achilles. And, for a 39-year-old, 350 pound man, that could very well mean the end of O' Neal's stellar career. However, after the game Shaq was diagnosed with a "minor" right calf strain. Head Coach Doc Rivers said that while it was not nearly as severe as Von Wafer's recent calf strain (missed 13 games in March), the newest injury to O' Neal no doubt puts the rest of his season in jeopardy.

"I don't know what to do, honestly," admitted Rivers after the game. "My inclination is not [to shut him down for the rest of the regular season], because he needs to play. We have to play at full-tilt in six or seven (games)."

Rivers has admitted that the Celts will need a healthy Nenad Krstic and at least one of the O' Neal's in order to hoist Banner 18 in June. So with Shaq back on the shelf, it appears Jermaine O' Neal is now the key piece to the championship puzzle.