Can Shaq and the Celts Make a Run at Banner 18?
Shaquille O'Neal is the latest 30-something player to join the Celtics. Can they make a run at banner #18?
Can Shaq and the Celts Make a Run at Banner 18?
I never thought that I would live to see the day when Shaquille O’Neal would wear a Boston Celtics uniform. From the day he broke into the NBA as a member of the Orlando Magic to his dominant days with the Lakers, there was no way Shaq would end up in Boston.
South Beach seemed like a good fit before he moved west to Phoenix for a brief stay. He joined forces with LeBron James in Cleveland hoping to help the King win an NBA title but his season came to an end on the parquet floor of the TD Garden this spring.
And now he will play his home games on that same floor.
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Shaq is a Celtic. Granted it’s not the same Shaquille O’Neal from his prime 10-15 years ago, but it’s still the Shaq Daddy.
We can debate whether he will slow this team down and prevent Rajon Rondo from being at his best by getting out in transition. That may be true, but he is not coming here to play 40 minutes a game.
Shaq is coming to Boston to be a role player. He reportedly agreed to a 2-year deal worth 3 million dollars to do what the Celtics ask him to do.
A 15-time All-Star, he once averaged close to 30 points and 10 rebounds per game. Now, in limited minutes, we can expect somewhere in the 12 points and 7 rebounds per game type of production . That would be fine with Doc Rivers who will need bodies to put out there at the center position with the retirement of Rasheed Wallace and the knee injury which will keep Kendrick Perkins on the shelf until February or March of next year.
Members of the Boston sports media will enjoy covering the team even more this season because of his colorful personality.
Shaq is 38. Ray Allen is 35. Kevin Garnett is 34, Paul Pierce 32 and Jermaine O’Neal 31. Ten years ago, this would have been an unstoppable collection of all-stars. Now they are five aging veterans trying to muster up enough energy to make a run at an 18thchampionship banner for the Boston Celtics.
Bring on Miami’s new “Big 3” opening night. It’s time to see if youth or experience will be served.