That opener between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat just got more interesting, especially if Shaquille O'Neal indeed signs with the Celtics. Sources tell ESPN.com that O'Neal will join the Green Team and this will help stabilize the Celtics frontcourt since starting center Kendrick Perkins will miss at least four months in the regular season due to knee surgery. That means...
Shaquille O'Neal has many young fans.That opener between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat just got more interesting, especially if Shaquille O'Neal indeed signs with the Celtics.
Sources tell ESPN.com that O'Neal will join the Green Team and this will help stabilize the Celtics frontcourt since starting center Kendrick Perkins will miss at least four months in the regular season due to knee surgery.
That means Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal will hold it down until Perkins returns.
With the addition of Shaq, the Celtics would have the sort of height Ainge only dreamed about during flirtations with Robert Swift. Suddenly, Boston would boast a 7-foot-1 body it could mix and match with Jermaine O'Neal (6-11), Glen Davis (6-9), Kevin Garnett (6-11), Semih Erden (7-0) and (when healthy) Perkins (6-10). Heck, Boston might even have the most intimidating frontcourt in the East if Wallace (6-11) decides to come back for one more rodeo.
But Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com writes this union with Shaq could also blow up in the Celtics' faces.
After all, O'Neal didn't exactly integrate seamlessly last season with Cleveland -- a team that won 61 games and earned the top spot in the East (before being bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Celtics). Isn't winning supposed to cure all that ails?
And can Shaq truly be happy coming off the bench? It might work only because Shaq knows his time is running out and if he wants to win another ring, he has to do whatever is necessary. Plus, it is likely Shaq will respect coach Doc Rivers.