NBA Playoffs Injury Report: Boston Celtics Without Shaquille O'Neal in Game 1
How big will this impact their confidence against the Knicks? Without Shaq’s big body, the Knicks will be comfortable enough to not only drive to the basket, but they will also have their pure scorer, Carmelo Anthony, on the outside looking to take any open shot he can.
The entire world understands how powerful Boston can be, but no one is blind to the fact that they are a shadow of their former selves.
Shaquille O’Neal may not be able to play a solid game for the Celtics, but he can wear out the starters that the team is facing with his body checks and his defensive rejections.
Self-assurance take a front seat in intangibles that will allow you to adequately compete in an intense situation like the NBA Playoffs. Therefore, with the size still lacking going into a renewed rivalry against the Knicks, the Celtics will be forced to use every piece of their bench to beat out New York in a seven game series.
Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are the worst active players in the league to give a boost of energy or momentum.
The light bulb in Anthony’s head has been lighting up for the last four games that he has played and he has been shooting amazing at the free throw line, only missing one in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. His three-point percentage is 42.4 percent, something that the Knicks have had to smile about as their regular season closes.
Stoudemire has a chance, with this new development in Boston’s camp, to battle successfully on the boards. Kevin Garnett will still be there, but the Knicks have the advantage of having Toney Douglas to shake the defense with his quick post moves and a jumper to capitalize off of.
Douglas has been one of the driving forces to a New York rebirth in the postseason and is never given the credit he deserves as one of the irreplaceable pieces. He is what many analysts refer to as the X-factor of the game.
If he shows up and can still get to the line and keep the poise that he has played with in the month of April, the New York Knicks will give the Celtics a run for their money.
