Shaq: Celtics 'Best Team I've Been On'

[chenaren]

After overpowering the Nets while scoring 25 and hauling in 11 rebounds, Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal -- who owns four NBA championship rings -- proclaimed the 2010-11 Celtcs to be "the best team I've been on."
 
“This is a great team. The best team I've been on," said O'Neal. "They've got a lot of weapons on this team, so on any given night anybody can be the leading scorer. The team's very unselfish. ... .”
 
O'Neal confirmed that assessment in response to a follow-up question when asked to compare the Celtics to his three championship Lakers teams and the 2006 Heat.
 
"Yes. Best team," O’Neal repeated. "As far as players….as far as guys being really close…I know we’ve only been at this for two months, but hopefully the outcome to be a good one."
 
For more on O'Neal's effort and comments, including video, visit the Green Street blog. For complete Celtics coverage, weei.com/celtics.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2160953/shaq-celtics-best-team-ive-been

YEAHHHHHHH    

[Fafnir]

He's said basically the same thing with every stop on his journey around the NBA.

Orlando, Lakers, Miami, Suns, Cleveland, and the C's.

[PosImpos]

Yep, nothing new from Shaq.

I think I might actually believe him about the chemistry aspect of it, though.

This year's team actually seems to genuinely really enjoy playing with each other, which is a really nice sign.  KG and Shaq are becoming best buds.

[dpaps]

He's said basically the same thing with every stop on his journey around the NBA.

Orlando, Lakers, Miami, Suns, Cleveland, and the C's.

He said the Suns and the Cavs were the best teams he had ever been on?

[rondo987]

I'm in my early 20s, so celtic history is a bit rusty for me, but has there ever been a player that has won championships with both the celtics and lakers? Or could Shaq become the first?

[Emmette Bryant]

How about Bill Sharman?  Sharman coached the Lakers to the title.  He also won an ABA championship as coach of the Utah Stars.

[bucknersrevenge]

He's said basically the same thing with every stop on his journey around the NBA.

Orlando, Lakers, Miami, Suns, Cleveland, and the C's.

He said the Suns and the Cavs were the best teams he had ever been on?

I don't remember that but I do remember him calling Amare Stoudamire the best pf in the game during the 08-09 season and when KG's name was brought up Shaq's answer was something to the effect of "Stoudamire plays defense". This after KG won DPOY the previous year.

I do believe him about the chemistry thing and I think that probably more than anything is driving these comments. Shaq is genuinely having fun out there. A lot of that though I think has to do with his mindset and the fact he doesn't have to be the focal point in the offense.

[More Banners]

Shaq sure knows how to butter-up the hometown press, eh?

He likes it here, or he wouldn't be here.  But don't read too much into it...

[Junkyard Dawg]

For what it's worth, I also think this is the best team shaq has ever been on   

[Celtics17]

I'm not sure why everyone thinks that Shaq is lying about this, or 'buttering up" the locals? I mean, I know some of the Lakers teams he played on were great. The thing is though, did they have the overall talent level that this team does? I remember Kobe (and not the one of the last few years either) and Shaq as the most dominant player of the last 15 years but that is about it on those teams. There are probably some pretty good players I am missing but not any great ones.

  This team has 4 other high quality players on it who may not all be in their prime now but they aren't that far from it. Throw in a rock solid defensive minded center and some very quality bench players and I think we compare quite favorably. When this team gets healthy, and that may be an 'if', I will put them up against any team that Shaq has ever been on!

[Fafnir]

He's called Wade the best player in the game, same for LeBron, etc...

He always pumps the team he's on, that's not a bad thing at all. Just a bit of hyperbole and talking up your team mates.

[BballTim]

He's called Wade the best player in the game, same for LeBron, etc...

He always pumps the team he's on, that's not a bad thing at all. Just a bit of hyperbole and talking up your team mates.

  I don't think he called Wade the best player in the game, but the best player he'd ever been on a team with. And LeBron's won a couple of MVPs in a row. A lot of people wouldn't think there was a lot of hyperbole in those statements.

[Fafnir]

He's called Wade the best player in the game, same for LeBron, etc...

He always pumps the team he's on, that's not a bad thing at all. Just a bit of hyperbole and talking up your team mates.

  I don't think he called Wade the best player in the game, but the best player he'd ever been on a team with. And LeBron's won a couple of MVPs in a row. A lot of people wouldn't think there was a lot of hyperbole in those statements.

Combined with the Amar'e comments, come on....

He's always talking up the team he's on.

[RAcker]

I can really tell these guys like playing together.

[RAcker]

By the way, has anybody been watching any of this Wizards v. Hawks game?  The Czar brought up how Atlanta had put all of their eggs in one basket in hopes of bringing Shaq on board.  He seemed to be implying this is now a huge problem with them due to lack of size and not much out there in terms of alternate options.