Boston Celtics Jermaine O’Neal Out To Prove 2010 Playoffs Were A Fluke
[picappgallerysingle id="7626303"]Jermaine O’Neal would like to forget the 2010 playoffs. Jermaine had arguably his worst stint ever in the NBA. The man with a career playoff scoring average of about 13 points a game scored only 4.2 points a game. He shot only 9 of 44 for an anemic 20.5 percent. O’Neal could not buy a basket. O’Neal played so badly that many experts wondered if he had anything left in the tank. However, he had some built in excuses. His knees were bothering him from injury. The other factor is everyone struggles against Kendrick Perkins. Perkins is a physical Beast capable of swallowing up even the best centers in the game. Jermaine’s struggles help contribute to Miami’s first round loss to the Celtics. Great for Celtics fans, terrible for O’Neal. Even O’Neal had to question if his days of solid play were over.
However, GMs knew better. There was a reason Ainge had the bulls eye on Jermaine’s back before going after Shaq. They knew he was hurt and Perkins was a Beast. They also knew that O’Neal averaged 14 points a game on a Miami team that he was not really a featured part of the offense. He had some plays for him, but really, Miami is get the ball to Wade and either clean up his mess or get open. He could still defend and block shots. When O’Neal hit the free agent market, there were suitors. The Heat were hoping he would stay in Miami for the veteran minimum. Not going to happen. Dallas contacted his agent. However, O’Neal went with the cannot beat them, join them theory signing with Boston early on.
Danny Ainge could not have been happier. He had spoken to Kendrick Perkins earlier and they were going over possible replacements while Perkins recovered from injury. Perkins made it clear that O’Neal was a very good player and also took credit for O’Neal’s playoff struggles. Both knew he is a great low post player with a sweet outside shot. They knew defensively he was a great help defender that would fit in great in Boston’s defensive system. To be honest O’Neal will make the offense better than if Perkins was there. O’Neal can handle a lot of passes that Perkins cannot handle. This should make for a happy Rajon Rondo. If his defense is solid then he will more than offset the loss of Perkins with fellow big man Shaquille O’Neal.
Jermaine knows what is expected of him. He knows the team is his best shot at a title ever. Reports are that O’Neal has been working out hard. He has strengthened his knee. He also has been looking over the Boston playbook trying to get acclimated to the systems. O’Neal knows he has doubters. He is working hard to make them feel foolish. If O’Neal can give Boston his career 14 points a game and 7 rebounds a game than Boston will be pleased to have signed the man that people thought had nothing left. My money is on O’Neal to have a career performance playing for a title contender.
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