Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here…
highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as
satisfying as a good morning dump.
“We expect him to play a role off our bench,” Ainge said. “Shaquille has
discussed those issues [with us]. He’s made it clear that they won’t
become issues. We’re trusting him that they won’t be and he’ll play a
role that is different than any role that he’s played in his career.”[…]
“I told him there was not 30 minutes on this team,” Rivers said. “There
will be 20-25 minutes. I asked him if that was OK because that’s the
only way it will work. We talked about coming off the bench. It’s very
important when you get a guy like Shaq to be up front and honest and
tell him where you see he’ll be. If he can accept that he’ll fit our
mold.”
WEEI/Flannery: After Shaq, What? Questions and Answers for the Celtics
I'm hoping this is the LAST time we have to deal with this question.
Doc Rivers, if nothing else, connects with players. The Celtics could not be any more clear about what they need from Shaq. And listening to Shaq yesterday, he seems to be fully on board. Kevin Garnett flew back from freakin' HAWAII to show Shaq how much the team appreciates and supports him.
This hasn't been written in ink or permanent marker… it's been chiseled into granite. Shaq is coming off the bench.
Of course, that won't stop Shaq from trying to play like he's trying to take the starting job. That won't stop Shaq from trying to prove in preseason and practice that he's worthy of starting. But this is about doing what's best for the team… and this team needs a post presence off the bench that, when all else fails, you can give the ball to and maybe let something happen.
We all know damn well this is 38 year old Shaq and not the guy that was ripping backboards off. But when things get hectic and the second unit is running a little haphazardly, you can at least give him the ball and let him work and calm things down.
So let's all relax and accept that Shaq understands what he'll be doing.
On Page 2, Big Baby has lost his goddam mind
Reuters Photo
You know… I was gonna write "Oh please let the season start"… but that's not going to stop this guy.
Baby was made for Twitter… and Twitter was made for Baby.
And please… PLEASE… don't give me the "he should be working on his game" stuff. This is 5 minutes out of his day. You don't know if he spent 6 hours in the gym before this. You go to work for 8 or 9 hours (or more) a day and you have time to come home and chill, right?
But Baby… please, buddy… know the words before you try to lip sync. It's a basic requirement.
The rest of the links
ESPN Boston: Rondo on the rise | KG flies in for Shaq | WEEI: The Greening of Sheed: a look at Wallace's season in Boston | Globe: Big move | O'Neal arrives | Photos | Doc was right medicine | Harangody aboard | Herald: Shaquille O'Neal: easy being Green | Celtics never had likes of Shaq | Sheed era ends with a waive | Shaq says… | Top coaches uncomfortable with Isiah Thomas move | Big Shamrock says accent is very sexy | CSNNE: Rondo: Even though C's have Shaq, Lakers team to beat | MWDN: The Big Introduction | Telegram: Sugar Shaq
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