Shaquille O'Neal makes debut as a Celtic
The Big Shamrock made his Boston Celtics’ debut last night.
Shaquille O’Neal, the man of many nicknames, scored eight points in his first game as a Celtic, helping his team defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 93-65.
O’Neal, who started but only played 15 minutes, made four of his five shots and grabbed two rebounds.
"I'm just trying to get into it with the guys," said the 38-year-old seven-footer after the rout. "Just trying to stay a thousand percent healthy, because, in a couple a weeks, you know,
it's for all the marbles."
In a game that was never in doubt, Celtics coach Doc Rivers was happy with what he saw.
"I didn't really know what to expect," he said. "Our defense was phenomenal."
The game was essentially over after half-time, when the Celtics entered the break up 49-22, after shooting 57 per cent from the field in the first two quarters. The Sixers only managed
to make 16 per cent of their shots during this time. The lead ballooned to 70-40 after three quarters and stayed pretty much the same until the end.
"You know I sort of expected this tonight," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "I mean we did not have our key guys."
Collins did not play forward Elton Brand or guard Andre Iguodala to give them some rest.
Fourth-year forward Thaddeus Young led the Sixers with 17 points with Jodie Meeks adding 13.
Ray Allen led the Celtics with 14 points and eight rebounds while Glen Davis chipped in with 13 points and five boards.
The Celtics, who lost a heart-breaking game seven to the Los Angeles Lakers last year in the NBA Finals, come back this year hungry for a championship. The 2008 NBA champions, in addition
to bringing in Shaquille O’Neal, also brought in Jermaine O’Neal and Delonte West. Celtics’ starters Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, who were both free agents after last season, decided to stick with the Celtics, as did Rivers, who had considered retirement.
The Celtics hope the new additions will give them more depth as their three key players of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Allen get up there in age. They are 34, 32, and 35 years of age
respectively. The acquisition of the two O’Neals was an effort to shore up their front-line while centre Kendrick Perkins continues to recover from knee surgery.
The Celtics, who finished fourth in the East last season with a 50-32 record, finished third in voting, behind the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat, as the team to beat this year
in the annual survey of NBA general managers, receiving four per cent of the vote i.e., one vote.
The Sixers finished with a regular season record of 27-55 last year.
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