Will Shaquille O'Neal Fit In with the Boston Celtics? | IXGAMES

The recent signing of NBA star center Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal to the Boston Celtics should be regarded as a move that should benefit both the Celtics and O’Neal. One of the league’s most successful franchises wasted no time in wrapping up this deal. What’s interesting was that only a veteran’s minimum salary was given to O’Neal: a relative bargain, considering the presence he should bring to the Celtics’ roster. What the Boston Celtics had to say The deal was wholeheartedly welcomed by the current players of the Celtics. Everyone in the team is particularly interested in the contribution O’Neal will bring to the team’s rebounding stats. They know that there can be improvements in both their offensive and defensive rebounding numbers. O’Neal should provide that added pillar in their lineup, not to mention the sheer court presence he could potentially add to them. This is an intangible that is not taken seriously anymore, considering O’Neil’s relative age, but he could still exhibit a large portion of the repertoire that has helped him win four NBA titles with both the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002) and the Miami Heat (2006). Will Shaq fit in with the Celtics? There wasn’t much fanfare to this deal. The main concern of many Celtics fans is whether O’Neal will be able to blend in well to the team’s way of doing things. One of the criticisms made during his stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers is that he became more of a hindrance than an asset to his teammates on the floor. For some reason, he wasn’t matching up well with his fellow Cavaliers during his stay there. The question now is whether he will be given a chance by his new team to establish a working rhythm with the star players in the Celtics’ lineup. He was able to do it in both the Lakers and the Heat, and although he fizzled substantially in the Cavaliers, he should, at the very least, be given a chance to eventually end his career on a positive note. Shaq’s possible impact on the Celtics’ line-up There are many good reasons why the Boston Celtics became one of the most successful franchises in the NBA. The team’s ability to recruit and retain talented players is one of them. If you follow this line of thinking, then the team should have a good reason for signing up O’Neal, hopefully one that will propel them to yet another NBA Championship. It all boils down to O’Neal and his dedication to add another trophy to his already significant chest. His new teammates say he’s a good fit. Let’s see if this season will signal a final resurgence before the eventual twilight of Shaquille O’Neal’s esteemed career.