Shaq's Impact

[MBz]

I was looking at 82 games the other day and found that our two most common lineups were the "big 4" + Shaq, and the "big 4" + Davis. 

The really stunning difference was that with the Shaq lineup the FG% differential (between what the Celtics shoot vs what they allow their opponent to shoot) is 14% better with Shaq than Davis.  That number is truly staggering to me!

Yup.

Key reason for this: How shot selection changes with Shaq on the court.

-sw

  I'm not a big fan of Baby but another reason for this is that Davis has played a lot of minutes during the team's slump while Shaq has been sitting out. And, yes, I realize that Shaq would lessen the slump but things beyond Glen's control have definitely affected those numbers.

Very true, but I don't think anyone can deny that the Celtics are better offensively with Shaq on the floor.  Shaq in the post is simply unguardable.  People can cover Big Baby, I really don't think their is anyone in the league who can stop Shaq.  Obviously he has physical limitations at this point, and I'm not comparing him to Shaq of 10 years ago, but we need his low post presence.  People collapse on him when he gets the ball and he was doing a good job of kicking it back out to Rondo who found the right guy when the defense was rotating back.

[Jon]

Let's also not discount the fact that Doc has been babying Jermaine O'Neal and playing him 12-15 mpg.  My gut feeling is that he can play more minutes than that. 

If JO and Shaq can both give Doc 20 mpg, we go from a team with a legit force in the middle for about 12-15 mpg (right now) to a team with a legit force in the middle 40+ mpg.  And that could be a huge, huge difference. 

[JSD]

Record with Shaq: 28-9

Record without Shaq: 27-16


We win more games when the big guy plays.

And more on topic than my prior remark, to add to Jsaad's initial comments, the Celtics also score approximately eight more points per 100 possessions when Shaq is on the court than when he is not.

That's a lot of points.

-sw

That's a TP.

[JSD]

Let's also not discount the fact that Doc has been babying Jermaine O'Neal and playing him 12-15 mpg.  My gut feeling is that he can play more minutes than that.  

If JO and Shaq can both give Doc 20 mpg, we go from a team with a legit force in the middle for about 12-15 mpg (right now) to a team with a legit force in the middle 40+ mpg.  And that could be a huge, huge difference.  

Yes, Jon! Yes! That combined with knowing your opponent and no longer having back to back games come playoff time?

I'm still convinced, the Celtics will win it all this year.