anyone dissapointed by shaq's attitude in new interview?

[cman88]

How did you know it was time to retire?

I’m so used to playing at a high level, and I hated reading articles of me playing at a regular level. When you get a certain age, a lot of people really don’t know what you can do. I just had to play a role, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. I truly believe that if I didn’t get injured, we (Celtics) would have beaten Miami, and we could have beaten Dallas. Usually when it’s really a bad injury, you get one (cortisone) shot, and then you feel better and play. But I got shot after shot, and I was scared to get an MRI. I knew my Achilles’ tendon was ripped the whole time. I did everything from acupuncture, cortisone and therapy. It felt good when I initially came back, but I ripped it some more.

Was it tough seeing your skills diminish after dominating for most of your career?

At 39, I wasn’t mentally on the down slope. But I used to feel really terrible after scoring eight points. This ain’t me, the Diesel scoring eight points. My mind was on winning the whole thing, and we had a chance to get the second spot (in the Eastern Conference), and we ended up getting the fourth spot. I even told (Boston General Manager) Danny Ainge not to do the Kendrick Perkins deal with Oklahoma City. I told them I might not be ready, and I’m definitely not coming back. Those guys did what they’ve got to do. I wasn’t surprised; I’ve seen it before. They say all that blah, blah, but you know it’s always going to be something different.

sounds to me like despite all his talk earlier about being a team player, shaq really didnt like not being a "focal point of the offense"....

[Roy H.]

I don't think Shaq is complaining about not having a larger role.  Rather, he's disappointed in his body breaking down, and not being the player he used to be. 

The only controversial thing I see in there is the "those guys did what they had to do" stuff, and I can't really blame Shaq for that.  He told the team his body wasn't likely to hold up, and not to trade their starting center.  The team still decided to ship Perk out of town.  I can understand why one of Perk's teammates would be disappointed, since it was very clear that management wasn't doing everything it could to win the title this year.

[the TRUTH]

Don't have a huge problem with what he says in this interview, except for the fact that he didn't even know what seed we got in the playoffs (we were #3, not #4). Maybe if he'd avoided the McDonald's drive-thru three times a day throughout his career he would have actually known that. I fully realize I may be in the minority among Celtic fans, but I think Shaq is a disgrace to the game as a player. Fortunately for him, he had enough natural talent to get away with his below average work ethic. Maybe if he'd bothered getting in shape at some point in his career, his body wouldn't have broken down like it did. Shaq is a great guy off the court - he does a ton of charity work, has never gotten in trouble, and he's hilarious. But as a player, I really can't stand the guy. Glad he won't be in green anymore.

[Neurotic Guy]

Hard words, the TRUTH, about Shaq the player.  He did, after all, 'break down' at 39.  His stats (save his FT %) are among the best in NBA history, and the 'eye' test would put him, at least in my eyes, among the most dominant players ever.  I guess he could have done better, but I would doubt anyone would rate him outside the top 10 in history.  If that's without working hard...  Well, I guess I just doubt that assessment. 

[the TRUTH]

Hard words, the TRUTH, about Shaq the player.  He did, after all, 'break down' at 39.  His stats (save his FT %) are among the best in NBA history, and the 'eye' test would put him, at least in my eyes, among the most dominant players ever.  I guess he could have done better, but I would doubt anyone would rate him outside the top 10 in history.  If that's without working hard...  Well, I guess I just doubt that assessment. 

I see what you're saying, and Shaq will certainly go down as one of the best ever. But IMO, 99.9% of that was due to natural ability. He barely improved throughout his career. He was just extraordinarily physically gifted. Never developed even a respectable 10-footer, his free throw shooting was always atrocious, etc. I can't stand Kobe, but one thing I'll always remember is when he blasted Shaq for always coming to training camp out of shape. IMO, Shaq didn't get more heat publicly from other players or the media because he was so talented and such a likable guy. If he'd been healthy for the playoffs, I think we could have gone all the way. Just very frustrating that, to me, he didn't do everything in his power to make that happen.

[the TRUTH]

And also, it's not a big deal, but how does a player not even know which seed his team got? That baffles me.

[slamtheking]

And also, it's not a big deal, but how does a player not even know which seed his team got? That baffles me.

he wasn't going to see the court so why would it matter to him?   

[stylo617617]

looking back on this it's one of those things where no matter how long you can forget about it when it comes back to mind it still hurts

[PosImpos]

I don't think Shaq is complaining about not having a larger role.  Rather, he's disappointed in his body breaking down, and not being the player he used to be. 

The only controversial thing I see in there is the "those guys did what they had to do" stuff, and I can't really blame Shaq for that.  He told the team his body wasn't likely to hold up, and not to trade their starting center.  The team still decided to ship Perk out of town.  I can understand why one of Perk's teammates would be disappointed, since it was very clear that management wasn't doing everything it could to win the title this year.

Yeah, it makes it seem like Danny Ainge decided that we were either going to contend for a title with Shaq starting and contributing or we probably weren't going to contend at all, so might as well punt and try to set ourselves up for the future.

That's an attitude a lot of people around here don't like, but honestly, I have a hard time faulting him for it.  With a healthy Shaq last year the Celtics were one of the best teams in the league.  Without him, they just weren't.

[the TRUTH]

And also, it's not a big deal, but how does a player not even know which seed his team got? That baffles me.

he wasn't going to see the court so why would it matter to him?   

Well he did actually play in the playoffs, although he could barely move. And I'd be willing to bet that Kevin Garnett knew what seed we were in '09.

[Neurotic Guy]

Hard words, the TRUTH, about Shaq the player.  He did, after all, 'break down' at 39.  His stats (save his FT %) are among the best in NBA history, and the 'eye' test would put him, at least in my eyes, among the most dominant players ever.  I guess he could have done better, but I would doubt anyone would rate him outside the top 10 in history.  If that's without working hard...  Well, I guess I just doubt that assessment. 

I see what you're saying, and Shaq will certainly go down as one of the best ever. But IMO, 99.9% of that was due to natural ability. He barely improved throughout his career. He was just extraordinarily physically gifted. Never developed even a respectable 10-footer, his free throw shooting was always atrocious, etc. I can't stand Kobe, but one thing I'll always remember is when he blasted Shaq for always coming to training camp out of shape. IMO, Shaq didn't get more heat publicly from other players or the media because he was so talented and such a likable guy. If he'd been healthy for the playoffs, I think we could have gone all the way. Just very frustrating that, to me, he didn't do everything in his power to make that happen.

I guess for me perhaps its the difference between working hard (which I think Shaq did) and working your hardest (which I can accept that Shaq didn't).   I can't put myself in the shoes of someone born to such behemoth proportions and assess how difficult it may have been to stay limber and healthy enough to run up and down a court for 35-40 minutes a game with minor behemoth's hanging on you, pushing you, etc. -- and still, scoring 25+ and grabbing 12 for much of 15 years (in his prime).  Great shape? Maybe not -- but getting his 7' 350 lbs in good enough shape to do what he did HAD to take some hard work. 

[GreenFaith1819]

My take on Shaq's comments is that he was just disappointed in his health, which is understandable.

I just think that the sad part of Shaq's "Danny" assessment is that even IF we had not shipped Perk out, I'm not sure we would've gotten past MIA.

Just my opinion.

The thing is, is that as I watched Perk in OKC during the playoffs, he seemed to me to not be himself yet - and I believe he won't be himself until next season.

We all know how JO held up, so I doubt that his situation would've changed much. He was reliable during the NY series, then he was injured during MIA's series.

I loved Shaq's time in Green, but when I saw his comments on the front page it just seemed to revisit a lot of different "what if" scenarios for The Celtics last year - issues that have been discussed on here already.

With Shaq's assessment, we would've had three centers at less than 100% and Danny still would've been forced to bring in a SF for Paul, and whoever that SF would've/could've been I'm not sure we would've made it past MIA with our centers being hurt and Rajon going down.

At this point I'm just hoping for a season, which I believe there will be one. I'm also hoping for good health for the team, for a change.

Let's get JO back healthy, Glen re-signed (and focused), Jeff a full training, let Danny bring in another Big, and let's get the rooks involved and Boston will contend again next season.

[shookones99]

Didn't Doc, earlier in the year, say that no players objected to the Perk deal?  Maybe he only asked Rondo + the Big 3?  Maybe it was nonsense?

[GreenFaith1819]

Slightly off-topic, but man Shaq is a big fella....I'm looking at his pic as he's sitting next to Perk (who is 6'10" and 280, no less), and he looks like a kid sitting next to dad, lol.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/

[Eddie20]

Slightly off-topic, but man Shaq is a big fella....I'm looking at his pic as he's sitting next to Perk (who is 6'10" and 280, no less), and he looks like a kid sitting next to dad, lol.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/

Let's not forgot the extra cushioning that he always sat on.