While the Celtics were away over the last week, beating three of four opponents on a tough Western Conference road trip, Shaquille O'Neal was working on rehabbing his inflamed Achilles tendon.
C's president of basketball operations Danny Ainge says he's encouraged by what he sees from the 38-year-old center.
"Shaq looks good," Ainge said Wednesday. "My concerns are lessening each day. I've seen him work out the last two days, and I'm very encouraged by what I've seen from Shaq. I'm not worried. I think Shaq will be there, and same thing with Jermaine [O'Neal]."
Both injured O'Neals have been out for a lengthy period of time — Shaquille since Feb. 1 with the Achilles, and Jermaine since Jan. 10 with a sore left knee. Ainge is confident both will return at full strength, but he's not ready to share the specifics on when.
"I'm not sure," Ainge said. "I don't have any timeframes, but I'm not concerned about that, really, whether they come back tonight or a week or two weeks from now. I'm just concerned with what they'll be as the season ends. I'm very optimistic about Shaq and Jermaine both."
