IS THE O'NEIL'S EXPERIMENT OVER?

Is Danny's experiment with the O'Neil's over this summer? Will he just buy them out and move one? My opinion I think he should. Now both will be back late March early April. They will not be in Game Shape, they will have more rust on them then the Titanic! It was a good try by Danny and if mother time and aging cooperated it may have worked.

It's time to move on and find a healthy center next year that can carry the load for an entire year.


112288

the only viable option I see is to hire away the Suns training staff to keep them both healthy :p

there be some serious miracle works on that staff with the way they kept Shaq relatively healthy and Grant Hill too

112288,

For most players, I'd say rust is a concern. Murphy, for instance.

But Shaq's main contributions to the Celtics are bulk and knowhow. I don't think rust affects either one, especially if he's not asked to play a lot of minutes.

Sam

A silver lining here is that achilles problems usually result in a loss of lift. Shaq hasn't had any in 6+ years, so no loss there.

It'd be like Scal losing a step. Doesn't change his game nor his value. Besides, how could you tell?

bob

Hey Guy's

So what about next year? Do you gamble or do you move on, buy out their contracts JON & SON, and load up on another center and use Krstic off the bench?

Wonder which big is a free agent this summer. Forget Howard in "12 he's going to LA.

112288

112288

First we have to find out whether there will be a "next year."

If so, I doubt Danny will gamble on the uncertainty of the O'Neils. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if both retired. (We'll see how much the money means to them.)

Sam

Sam,

I think Shaq's a pretty good bet to retire if we were to win 18 this year thus giving him a chance to ride off into the sunset so to speak. If not I could see him back next year to give it one last try.

Personally I'd be surprised if JO was back next year, I think he either he retires or gets bought out. If that's the case then I wouldn't mind seeing Johnson come back and take his spot and be on the roster full time. I think we need to start looking at developing the next batch of bigs since KG won't be around for much longer and who knows what the future is with Glen. Having Johnson plus a draft pick/s would be a good start I think.

Tick Tock,

Glen Davis seems to be pivotal in the Celtics' future for more than one reason.

• He possesses an unusual blend of attributes (two-position ability; a mix of agility, bulk, strength, great hands, and good ballhandling; difference-making ability at both ends of the floor; inside-outside offense; youth; etc.) making him an X-factor on any team.

• His decision as to whether to stay or leave should be instrumental in determining what other moves make sense for the team.

If Shaq wanted to come back at the same low salary, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to expend one of 15 roster slots on him. Unless Jermaine wows all of us come April through June (which I would deem very unlikely), I think he's toast whether on his volition or that of the Celtics.

Sam

Regarding the O'Neil's, questions about the distant future (9 months from now) are a luxury. What matters are the next three months. They''ll play out as they will, so no need to exert too much energy speculating. That's what Danny gets paid to do. IMHO, Shaq will contribute, help us win #18, and provide an interesting and satisfying chapter in the ongoing epic tale of Celtics' success.

W,

I take it that you've introduced us to the new lady.

She looks to be not only pretty but also a nice person. In other words, pretty nice.

Sam

I think that it's too early, if both come out and play integral parts in the playoffs in supporting roles, who knows? I'm not betting the farm on that outcome, but it could happen.

Tick Tock,

I agree with you and would also like to see more of Johnson. He's definitely a shot blocker and I think he can contribute enough at both ends to merit a shot to provide depth.

On the topic of the O'Neals and where we go from here at center I would give a big thumbs up to Krstic remaining the starter and getting all the minutes he can handle. I think Jermaine is done and Shaq can't be far from it.

For the first time in a long time Krstic gives us a center who is an offensive threat from post to perimeter. He has some shot blocking ability and looks like he's working hard to pick up the defensive scheme. Despite an earlier knee injury, he looks to be pretty durable. I'd stack Davis and Johnson behind him, giving Davis the opportunity to play 4/5 until it might be time for him to take over as the 4 (of course we have to try and sign him to a new deal yet). If we could find another young center to develop through the draft or otherwise that would be great.

I still like Krstic though. Rather than worry if he can bang with the likes of Howard or Bynum, I like the thought of what happens for our offense when he draws those types from under the hoop and the low post out to the perimeter and up top.

Regards

Good Lord, W; is that the same girl as the last avatar or another?

If my wife ever elects to change the locks can I come and hang out with you?

HALL PASS ANYONE?

112288

The experiment is not over because there is still hope.

NYCelt, Sally is the new avatar but older. Donna is the old avatar but younger. Does that make sense? I'm hoping that Sally's the last avatar I ever put on the board. Time will tell.

About our center, don't count Shaq out just yet. Kristic will have a chance to really step up his games with our starters and probably will play 20+ minutes coming off the bench in the playoffs, with Shaq and Glen getting the remainder. But who knows?

Imagine if JON gets healthy and we have 4 healthy centers? stranger things have happened in sports and the great thing is it could happen and Danny and coaching staff expect it to happen. The good thing is we don't rely on O'Neal Bros for any scoring, all they have to do is bang in the lane and defend. I'm gonna let the future seasons play itself out, Dannys job and so far hes been pretty good at it, but remember anything is possible and both O'Neals are motivated to prove the doubters wrong.

The decision as to whether Krstic or Shaq starts (assuming Shaq is healthy enough) may depend not so much on who plays better with the starters as on who is likely to play better with the bench. I can envision at least four reasons why I'd prefer Krstic with the starters:

• He really helps the other starters to spread things out in two senses of the word "spread." His outside shot can help spread the floor. And his scoring potential spreads the scoring threat among all five starters. In the four games since his arrival, he has been in double figures four times (and missed by only one point in the other game). And, in two of the five games, all five starters have been in double figures. Scoring as well-distributed as that is a major, major plus that makes the offense run more smoothly and less predictably.

• Moreover, I think Krstic is capable of playing more minutes than Shaq, and the starters play more minutes than the bench.

• The longer Shaq is out, the more chemistry Krstic develops with the starters rather than with the bench.

• I think Shaq's extensive experience and leadership ability would benefit the bench more than Krstic's lesser experience as more of a complementary role player.

In favor of Krstic's playing with the bench would be two factors:

• I envision the bench as becoming an up-tempo unit, and I believe he'd fit better than Shaq in the running game (although it could be argued that Shaq's better rebounding skills would be a better trigger for the fast break).

• Shaq has already proven that he can fit in well with the starting unit (although it could be argued that his presence places more scoring burden on the other four starters).

As I look at the list shown above, I believe I may have talked myself into a rather strong preference for Krstic as a starter, although I'd like to see him get some experience with the bench down the road. It may be essential for Shaq to start against the Magic and the Lakers due to matchups.

I realize Doc's on record as saying that Shaq's the starter when he returns. I guess that's why he barely beat me out for the coaching job.

Sam

But just barely.

great points, Sam, about starting Krstic. There are definite pluses there. among them, he's been a starting center and increasingly productive in that role for seven years.

To support that, and for those few (at least on this board) still wondering about Perk departure, here's something from NESN:
"Everyone seems to be underrating Krstic amid all this Perk drama. The lanky Serbian has been a starting center throughout his seven-year career in the NBA. He's been a key player on three playoff teams -- the Nets in 2005 and '06, and then the Thunder last spring. He held his own last April against Pau Gasol in a six-game playoff series. He's better offensively than Perk and also healthier than Perk."

Nice to be reminded that Krstic handled Gasol at least OK in playoff competition, since a possible spring match-up against the Lakers is on everyone's minds ...

Michael

I'd go with Shaq, even though he is not a prolific scoring threat, he has to be accounted for with a big body and it has been proven he opens up the driving lanes for the starters. Krstic can play more minutes than Shaq and should still get a run with the starters anyway plus his scoring would only help the second unit.

Baby started season playing great, but last month has really tapered off, if he still hasn't got his game back, I'd be open to putting in Green at Baby's closer role, competition is a fair and beautiful thing.

bigpygme wrote:great points, Sam, about starting Krstic. There are definite pluses there. among them, he's been a starting center and increasingly productive in that role for seven years.

To support that, and for those few (at least on this board) still wondering about Perk departure, here's something from NESN:
"Everyone seems to be underrating Krstic amid all this Perk drama. The lanky Serbian has been a starting center throughout his seven-year career in the NBA. He's been a key player on three playoff teams -- the Nets in 2005 and '06, and then the Thunder last spring. He held his own last April against Pau Gasol in a six-game playoff series. He's better offensively than Perk and also healthier than Perk."

Nice to be reminded that Krstic handled Gasol at least OK in playoff competition, since a possible spring match-up against the Lakers is on everyone's minds ...

Michael

its a team game, playing next to a healthy Garnett will greatly improve the effect of Krstic's defensive abilities

If it was me, I'd start Shaq, for these reasons:

1. The opposing teams starter tends to be the bigger, more physical player.
2. We know Shaq plays well with the starters, not as sure about bench.
3. We don't want Shaq in at crunch time, because of his ft%, so starting periods with him is preferable to ending them with him.
4. There will already be some chemistry between Krstic and Green to take advantage of.

The exceptions to this would be if we play against running teams like Phx, NY. Then we want our fast big out there, not our big big.

bob

.

Bob,

You correctly mention occasions on which Krstic might be the preferable starter. I mentioned occasions on which Shaq might be the preferable starter.

Bottom line...it makes sense (health permitting—always a caveat) that the starter could vary depending on matchups.

But Doc's assertion seems to point to the likelihood that it would have to be a strong matchup advantage for Krstic to start over Shaq.

Sam

Bob Sam

Using the football analogy for a defensive back.........bump and run

Have Shaq bump/beat um up a bit then bring Kristic in to run um to death.

really even if Shaq starts how many minutes will he be out there before he's subbed for anyway? (not even considering foul issues) Kristic will still get plenty of minutes with the starters IMHO.

Just wish we could all see this team have everyone available for once this season. (not even counting JO)


beat