The two things we miss the most in Shaq's absence

[Drucci]

Maybe we don't realize it or didn't at first because Krstic was playing very well but I think that the biggest contributions Shaq will make once he returns, aside from a big presence to clog the middle on D and get us easy buckets are :

1. Great screens for Ray, Pierce and the other guys. Something that has been missing badly in his absence, Ray doesn't seem to get open very much these days.

2. Ad this is to me the biggest thing : putting the opponent in penalty early and often. We've got a lot of free throws in the game against Memphis but I remember that was a huge asset when Shaq was playing : Rondo found him for easy buckets time and time again which either gave us easy 2 points or forced the opponent to foul him. Even when he misses the free throws it gets the opponent over the limit really quickly and I think it will be huge in the playoffs, even if Shaq only plays 20 minutes a game.

Thoughts? Do you think Shaq's main assets are these two or other ones?

[Interceptor]

I'd add a #3 to that list, with Shaq as the most likely player to send someone from the other team into the stands.

That's for the team.  For me personally, I miss watching him take free throws.  Or more specifically, making the first, whiffing the second, but then getting 2 on 3 shots because of a lane violation.  Never fails to get a laugh out of me.

[CelticSooner]

I agree with you points on Shaq missing from the lineup. I would say a big thing we miss is toughness in the paint. Teams don't think twice at attacking the rim with Krstic/KG/Baby manning the paint. While KG may be the defensive anchor of the team he isn't necessarily going to challenge as much as he used to. That's if he even gets a chance with Krstic/Baby getting blown by.