Shaquille O’Neal: Boston Celtics need an inside presence – NBA Update
NBA legend and former Boston Celtics centre Shaquille O’Neal has said that the side is not the force it used to be and misses a strong base to build upon. Shaq, who now works as an analyst for TNT, made the remarks during the NBA All Star Weekend.
O’Neal played for the Celtics last season but his campaign was plagued with injuries that eventually forced him to retire. The Celtics also traded away centre Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder the same season, a move that drew much criticism
for President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge.
Now Shaquille believes that Celtics are suffering due to the lack of strong men inside.
“It’s a different team,” said O’Neal, “They miss me. They miss (Kendrick Perkins [stats]). It’s a different team. Hopefully guys like Brandon (Bass) will step up and give Kevin (Garnett) some relief.”
Boston currently rely on oft injured veteran Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass to carry the burden inside. Those players have simply not proved enough, with Garnett coming under increasing stress.
KG has missed games as well, so has club captain Paul Pierce and super star point guard Rajon Rondo. Boston lost exciting forward Jeff Green to injury before the even started and currently look extremely weak and short of numbers.
Therefore, O’Neal sees them as a far cry for the team that took Los Angeles Lakers to the 7th game in the NBA Finals in 2010. Instead, Boston are currently struggling to make into the playoffs, and if they do, it isn’t clear how far they would
go.
O’Neal believes that the Cs will eventually make it to post season, their progress however, is dependent on the draw they get.
“The good thing about their team is they’re not in a situation where they’re trying to get home court advantage throughout (the playoffs) and all that stuff,” he said. “You know, (coach) Doc (Rivers) made a good point the other day that they don’t want to
be in the eighth spot and face Miami."
The Celtics have blown hot and cold throughout the season and will require a marked improvement in results after the All Star break if they are to hold down a respectable slot in the Eastern Conference.
It is clear already though that the Boston management is looking at the next season. With no trades apparently on the horizon this season, the Celtics appear to be planning for the summer, when they will have plenty of room in the salary cap.
Contracts of veteran stars Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett will run out in the summer of 2012, meaning that Boston have plenty of room to target high value free agents. The likes of Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard and New Jersey Nets star Deron
Williams could be available come offseason.
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