Shaq Signs with the Celts (Official per Celtics.com; Report: 2 years, $2.8 mil)

[Celtics4ever]

No way we would have lost to the Cavs with him.  Reason the cavs lost is No Game James.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Hands-down, weirdest analogy I've read on Celticsblog.

But if you really want a stat based debate. (I'm hoping you didn't come to the forum's wanting no debate at all.)

Please consider the following:

On an individual level, Shaq’s efficiency numbers are not promising. Shaq’s field goal percentage is just above 50%, but since he doesn’t shoot threes and his free throws are what they are, his True Shooting is an underwhelming 51.6%, which puts him 39th out of the 56 qualifying centers in the league. (League-average TS% for all players is currently 54.1%.) Shaq’s Turnover rate is also a higher-than-ideal 14.4, which puts him at 37th among centers.

His TS% was in fact the second worst of the Cavs rotation players, and his turnover rate was the worst.

[Rondo2287]

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Hands-down, weirdest analogy I've read on Celticsblog.

Hands down the funniest analogy ive read on celticsblog

[The Walker Wiggle]

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Hands-down, weirdest analogy I've read on Celticsblog.

Hands down the funniest analogy ive read on celticsblog

Well, not mutually exclusive I guess.

[Ethan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68521/20100804/shaq_signs_one_year_deal_with_celtics/


Yeah!

Rondo-Robinson-
Allen-Bradley-Wafer
Pierce-Daniels
Garnett-Davis-Haragondy
Perkins-O'Neal-O'Neal

+ Gaffney, Lafayette and Sheed's contract...

[nickagneta]

Read some earlier stuff about Shaq not being a locker room problem in Cleveland. Well this story at NBA.com hints that things may not have as rosy in the Cleveland locker room as some here think:

The Celtics, the source said, have told O'Neal that he has to come off the bench next season, and that O'Neal said he could accept a reserve role for the first time in his career. The three-time Finals MVP has not had many suitors this summer that had either the playing time or money to offer him, and O'Neal is running out of places that can give him a chance to compete for a championship as his career draws to a close.

Boston was leery of signing O'Neal because if he became unhappy with his role, that unhappiness could pervade the entire team, as the Celtics believe happened with O'Neal in some of his previous stops in recent seasons. O'Neal started in his one season last year with the Cavaliers, including after his return from a right thumb injury that kept him out of the final five weeks of the regular season.

Sources have indicated that Cleveland Coach Mike Brown's decision to play O'Neal ahead of forward J.J. Hickson and veteran big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas caused friction within the Cavaliers' locker room.

So if THIS will be the first time in Shaq career that he has AGREED to come off the bench and be a role player, can it be deduced that he he refused to come off the bench in Cleveland and that because of this Mike Brown started him which caused problems in the locker room because others thought Hickson and Ilgauskas should have been starting?

I don't see that as being too much of a stretch to come to given his problems with his ego in other places. And I still don't by that he's going to be the good citizen coming off the bench playing limited minutes. But at the minimum, it's a great deal because if he becomes a pain to team chemistry, buy him out and send him on his way or just send him home. It won't cost much.

[Evantime34]

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Hands-down, weirdest analogy I've read on Celticsblog.

But if you really want a stat based debate. (I'm hoping you didn't come to the forum's wanting no debate at all.)

Please consider the following:

On an individual level, Shaq’s efficiency numbers are not promising. Shaq’s field goal percentage is just above 50%, but since he doesn’t shoot threes and his free throws are what they are, his True Shooting is an underwhelming 51.6%, which puts him 39th out of the 56 qualifying centers in the league. (League-average TS% for all players is currently 54.1%.) Shaq’s Turnover rate is also a higher-than-ideal 14.4, which puts him at 37th among centers.

His TS% was in fact the second worst of the Cavs rotation players, and his turnover rate was the worst.

I feel that his increase in turnovers was due to him being forced to create one on one in a Cleveland offense where people just stand around and watch. Also a lot of Centers get buckets running the floor and finishing. Shaq does not have these opportunities.

Basically I'm saying that his efficiency in Cleveland should be taken with a grain of salt due to how he was used and that 99% of his shots came in the half court.

[anthony83]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68521/20100804/shaq_signs_one_year_deal_with_celtics/


Yeah!

Rondo-Robinson-
Allen-Bradley-Wafer
Pierce-Daniels
Garnett-Davis-Haragondy
Perkins-O'Neal-O'Neal

+ Gaffney, Lafayette and Sheed's contract...

Sheed should go back and maybe we do need a defensive forward, Tony Allen should be resigned, but this could not be good.
  
STARTING LINEUP

 - RONDO
 - RAY
 - PIERCE
 - KG
 - JO

Perk will be out until February, so Big Baby and Shaq will start from the bench, and if returned Sheed? will happen?
Imagine how much would be worth having for years with Ray Allen, Pierce, KG, JO, Shaq, Yeah !!!!!!!!!!! We have a great team.

Sheed please come back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO CELTICS !!!!!!!!! LET'S WIN THIS YEAR THE RING!!!!
They have been tough competitors, now seek only one goal, to win the ring.

[moiso]

I've never played any fantasy sports in my life and I don't actually think stats are the end all, be all of understanding sports.  But for pete's sake, you are so bone-headedly contrary to any and all data or evidence on the subject of Shaq that repeating the revelent stats is important so everyone else can fully understand how irrational you are about this.

The problem is that a bunch of stats do not count as evidence.

You don't understand what the word "evidence" means.

I do, but you seem to be confusing it with copy-pasting season averages.

Stats are evidence, even if you don't like what they have to say.

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Mike

Ooooh women stepping on things!  I love that!

[MBunge]

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Hands-down, weirdest analogy I've read on Celticsblog.

But if you really want a stat based debate. (I'm hoping you didn't come to the forum's wanting no debate at all.)

Please consider the following:

On an individual level, Shaq’s efficiency numbers are not promising. Shaq’s field goal percentage is just above 50%, but since he doesn’t shoot threes and his free throws are what they are, his True Shooting is an underwhelming 51.6%, which puts him 39th out of the 56 qualifying centers in the league. (League-average TS% for all players is currently 54.1%.) Shaq’s Turnover rate is also a higher-than-ideal 14.4, which puts him at 37th among centers.

His TS% was in fact the second worst of the Cavs rotation players, and his turnover rate was the worst.

Players with a worst TS% than Shaq include Sheed, Glen Davis, Big Z and Andrew Bogut.  And while Perk has a higher TS% than Shaq, do you really think that's because Perk is a better or more effective low-post scorer than Shaq?

Mike

[The Walker Wiggle]

Players with a worst TS% than Shaq include Sheed, Glen Davis, Big Z and Andrew Bogut.  And while Perk has a higher TS% than Shaq, do you really think that's because Perk is a better or more effective low-post scorer than Shaq?

And his TS% did edge up from the number I quoted to .565% by the end of the season (also a smidge better than Jermaine O'Neal's .563%...). But the fact remains, that whether or not he has a much stronger post game than Perkins, he's a ball stopper who wasted far more possessions. So, by the numbers, no, not more effective, right? Stats are evidence?

The Cavs also regularly lost when O'Neal took 10 or more shots. And how about this interesting tid bit from the WSJ:

Across the board, James has been worse when playing alongside O’Neal. The most noticeable difference is Free Throw Rate. When Shaq is in the game, only 22 percent of LeBron’s possessions end in free throw attempts. When Shaq is out, that number almost doubles. The concern about Shaq clogging the lane certainly appears to have some validity.

It’s not just free throws, though. James is worse in every shooting percentage, assists, turnovers, and rebounding when Shaq is playing. Although the declines in rebounding are expected (Shaq is a great rebounder, so it’s no surprise he steals some boards from his teammates), the rest are not.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Players with a worst TS% than Shaq include Sheed, Glen Davis, Big Z and Andrew Bogut.

Also, I don't know about you, but I often felt during the season that the poor shooting of Wallace and Davis was a problem... But at least both were better, more mobile defenders who could sometimes stretch the floor.

And both were willing to come of the bench. As Nick pointed out, if O'Neal is agreeable to a reserve role in Boston, it will be the first time in his career.

[kozlodoev]

Stats are evidence, even if you don't like what they have to say.

Stats are evidence when interpreted correctly and in context. Otherwise, they're just a number.

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Excuse me for missing the grovelling parade. I'll go ask the neighbor to step on some things for me now.

[Rondo_is_better]

I've never played any fantasy sports in my life and I don't actually think stats are the end all, be all of understanding sports.  But for pete's sake, you are so bone-headedly contrary to any and all data or evidence on the subject of Shaq that repeating the revelent stats is important so everyone else can fully understand how irrational you are about this.

The problem is that a bunch of stats do not count as evidence.

You don't understand what the word "evidence" means.

I do, but you seem to be confusing it with copy-pasting season averages.

Stats are evidence, even if you don't like what they have to say.

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Mike

Ooooh women stepping on things!  I love that!

I'm offended.

[nickagneta]

I've never played any fantasy sports in my life and I don't actually think stats are the end all, be all of understanding sports.  But for pete's sake, you are so bone-headedly contrary to any and all data or evidence on the subject of Shaq that repeating the revelent stats is important so everyone else can fully understand how irrational you are about this.

The problem is that a bunch of stats do not count as evidence.

You don't understand what the word "evidence" means.

I do, but you seem to be confusing it with copy-pasting season averages.

Stats are evidence, even if you don't like what they have to say.

Again, you've got an anti-Shaq fetish that makes about as much sense as those guys who get aroused watching video of women stepping on things.

Mike

Ooooh women stepping on things!  I love that!

I'm offended.

Can I watch?!?!?!