KG's impact on Shaq

[ScoobyDoo]

I made a post about this a while back. My argument / theory is that while alot of people have legit concerns about Shaq's potential negative impact on the Celtics and their chemistry, etc., I think the more interesting question is what affect will KG have on Shaq?

It's one thing to play along side an arrogant, young guy who is trying to win an alpha male contest with you - see Kobe Bryant.

It's another thing to play along side a young, driven player in Dwayne Wade. But one who is still just that, very young, no matter how driven or committed he is. There is an age gap in relating to the kid.

It's another thing to play along side what had to have been a circus atmosphere in Cleveland. Shaq said LeBron is a good, tough teammate, but the Bron show with his high school posse had to have been a circus for an old vet.

It's an entirely different thing to play along side Kevin Garnett, a guy who:

1. Is a total warrior on the court
2. A completely driven, manic energy level mega superstar
3. A superstar who, by the way, always has your back 100% of the game and could literally give two craps about how many shots he gets. The you add Ray, Paul, Rondo, Perk...

These are guys are serious guys with little team realted ego issues who care about one thing only...winning.

With KG doing his manic intensity gig and Shaq and him feeding off each other...

I'll argue and I'll be interested to see if I'm wrong...but I'll argue we will see a much leaner, nastier, focused Shaq this year. He's now around a bunch of grizzled, tough vets who don't pull any punches and are very, very serious about the work they do.

If KG gets into Shaq's head and get him worked up...they will team up like a couple of very large and very tough bullies on the court together.

So my question for you guys is, will KG's impact on Shaq trump Shaq's impact on the Celtics?

I think KG wins this with a listenting, willing and inspired Shaq.

[moiso]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

[MG1]

It is not KG has impact on Shaq. It is Shaq himself who really wants to win his 5 rings and is determined to win.

[housecall]

Scoobydoo i get your point but i think it will be a two-way street,both will feed off each other to a degree.Shaq is already a self-motivated,confident player as well as KG is.Both should get something positive from each other at times.KG is usually the most intensed on the court of the two but Shaq carries his own swag that can have an affect on KG in a positive way.tp

[Bankshot]

I don't believe he has any impact on Shaq.  Shaq is his own man and has been around a lot longer than KG.  I mean, what impact did KG have on Sheed?  None.  

[Drucci]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

What? KG had a lot of influence on Sheed last year, especially in the playoffs, he was the guy who pushed Sheed to "wake up" and perform at his real level after game 1 of the Cleveland series.

I think he will have a really good impact on Shaq too, who already seems focused and not attracted by distractions (but as Doc says, the players say all the right things in August so KG will be a good "mentor" to Shaq throughout the year).

[moiso]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

What? KG had a lot of influence on Sheed last year, especially in the playoffs, he was the guy who pushed Sheed to "wake up" and perform at his real level after game 1 of the Cleveland series.

I think he will have a really good impact on Shaq too, who already seems focused and not attracted by distractions (but as Doc says, the players say all the right things in August so KG will be a good "mentor" to Shaq throughout the year).

The man didn't even run or jump until the 2nd round of the playoffs!

[ScoobyDoo]

Good point Housecall and I agree with that, they will both have a positive impact on each other.

And like Drucci said, I thought I read somewhere last year that the point during the season when Sheed starting playing less outside and more inside, which I thought was late in the regualr season, came after KG got into with him? Isn't that how it happened?

Shaq is a complete character and personality but I also think he does respect the game and is defiantely interested in what is ultimate place in the history books he will play.

So I do think that when he walks in and sees KG, Pierce & Ray working it hard, he will view them as his true peers and respect what they are about.

I think it's hard being around guys like that and not feeding off that juice.

Rasheed to me was a guy to me that always wa sa bit lazy. But Shaq in his prime was a major wrk horse with a nasty streak.

I'm thinking he might re-discover some of that when he and KG start getting into together on the court with other guys in the lane.

It will be interesting to see how it plays. 

[Drucci]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

What? KG had a lot of influence on Sheed last year, especially in the playoffs, he was the guy who pushed Sheed to "wake up" and perform at his real level after game 1 of the Cleveland series.

I think he will have a really good impact on Shaq too, who already seems focused and not attracted by distractions (but as Doc says, the players say all the right things in August so KG will be a good "mentor" to Shaq throughout the year).

The man didn't even run or jump until the 2nd round of the playoffs!

Yeah, exactly, because KG got to him in the shower at the start of the 2nd round series! We talked about it on CB at the time, here : http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?action=printpage;topic=37278.0

Of course you can argue KG didn't have an influence on Sheed during the season but frankly, KG missed a long part of the schedule in early december and the month of january plus the whole C's team had decided to "mail it" so...

[gar]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

What? KG had a lot of influence on Sheed last year, especially in the playoffs, he was the guy who pushed Sheed to "wake up" and perform at his real level after game 1 of the Cleveland series.

I think he will have a really good impact on Shaq too, who already seems focused and not attracted by distractions (but as Doc says, the players say all the right things in August so KG will be a good "mentor" to Shaq throughout the year).

The man didn't even run or jump until the 2nd round of the playoffs!

Yeah, exactly, because KG got to him in the shower at the start of the 2nd round series! We talked about it on CB at the time, here : http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?action=printpage;topic=37278.0

Of course you can argue KG didn't have an influence on Sheed during the season but frankly, KG missed a long part of the schedule in early december and the month of january plus the whole C's team had decided to "mail it" so...

[gar]

Oops.

Shaq was totally misused in Cleveland. I really hope they bring the big guy off the bench so he can get proper care and feeding from the second unit. He can still dominate and is not afraid to kick out to open shooters like his buddy Delonte.

[j804]

KG had absolutely no impact on the last fun loving, old big man we signed.
But I think the whole atmosphere, including KG, will have a positive impact on Shaq.  I look for production similar to last year, but maybe even more efficient since he may be playing against 2nd stringers.

What? KG had a lot of influence on Sheed last year, especially in the playoffs, he was the guy who pushed Sheed to "wake up" and perform at his real level after game 1 of the Cleveland series.

I think he will have a really good impact on Shaq too, who already seems focused and not attracted by distractions (but as Doc says, the players say all the right things in August so KG will be a good "mentor" to Shaq throughout the year).

+1 youre right Drucci not sure where people are getting KG had no impact at all on Sheed, rasheed even said himself if anybody he will listen to its KG

ps your sig makes me laugh everytime i see the pasty cheesing Harangody, the next fan favorite and coming of Scal? meh think so 

[housecall]

Good point Housecall and I agree with that, they will both have a positive impact on each other.

And like Drucci said, I thought I read somewhere last year that the point during the season when Sheed starting playing less outside and more inside, which I thought was late in the regualr season, came after KG got into with him? Isn't that how it happened?

Shaq is a complete character and personality but I also think he does respect the game and is defiantely interested in what is ultimate place in the history books he will play.

So I do think that when he walks in and sees KG, Pierce & Ray working it hard, he will view them as his true peers and respect what they are about.

I think it's hard being around guys like that and not feeding off that juice.

Rasheed to me was a guy to me that always wa sa bit lazy. But Shaq in his prime was a major wrk horse with a nasty streak.

I'm thinking he might re-discover some of that when he and KG start getting into together on the court with other guys in the lane.

It will be interesting to see how it plays. 

It didn't look as though Cleveland put Shaq in the positions to succeed at all times.Shaq has some limitations as he has grown older and to get the best Shaq he can be,Doc has to figure the role best suits him going forward.If he isn't used right then it will be a waste more than a advantage to having him.It shouldn't take them long for their games to mesh because they have been warriors on opposite teams for over a decade.They know each others game probably as well as any two other 7fters in the league.I see them having a lot of respect for each other as well which should help both players gel(chemistry)quicker on the court.Unlike in Cleveland Shaq was basically alone as far as veteran bigs.Z was probably it as far as older players he could relate to on that team.