The Celtics met up at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., for practice on Monday afternoon. In addition to regrouping after a Game 1 loss and preparing for Game 2 on Tuesday night, the C's will use the practice session to help determine whether Shaquille O'Neal is ready to make his return.
"It'll determine a little bit," coach Doc Rivers said Monday. "I think right now there's a chance of [Shaq playing]. We'll see. I know he's feeling a lot better, so we'll see."
Shaq practiced very little last week back in Boston — the C's had a couple of days off and a couple of light practices, mostly film sessions and walkthroughs. The 39-year-old big man has yet to test his body with a full-contact workout.
How he responds to practice Monday will determine his future.
"That's the whole key for me," Rivers said. "Whatever we do today, if his body doesn't react well, then we can't play him. I'm just not going to take that risk, for his sake."
It remains to be seen how Shaq will handle the aerobic workout. So far he's done nothing in the way of running up and down a basketball court.
"About as much as you and I have," Rivers told reporters. "I'm just going to take a guess and say that's not much."
