The Official Site of Jermaine O'Neal

Wed, Sep 29th 2010, 13:24

Jermaine Fitting right in with Celtics

Doc Rivers calls them “The O’Neal Boys.”

The Celtics brought in Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal to help overcome the torn ACL that could cost starting center Kendrick Perkins half the season, and solve the rebounding woes that plagued them most of last year. Jermaine O’Neal arrived first shortly after free agency began July 1. But Shaquille O’Neal, who signed a veteran-minimum deal a month later, was the O’Neal almost everyone was gushing over leading up to the start of training camp yesterday at Salve Regina University.

Yet as Rivers broke the Celtics into first and second units, it was Jermaine O’Neal on the floor with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. After one three-hour practice, the six-time All-Star, who struggled the past two seasons in Toronto and Miami, seemed like a good fit.

“J.O. and I haven’t played basketball with each other, but it felt like we’d played with each other, if that makes any sense,” Garnett said. “He’ll be all right. I think Jermaine’s going to find things, not easy, but a little more simplified here.”

Rivers wouldn’t commit to an opening-night lineup yesterday, but said his vision is to keep Jermaine O’Neal in the starting lineup and bring Shaquille O’Neal off the bench. Yesterday’s second unit consisted of Shaquille O’Neal, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson, Marquis Daniels and Delonte West.

“I’m going to play whoever I think is best for the team,” the coach said. “Jermaine was a great player. But I’m not expecting that. I’m expecting him to be a great defender, a great inside shot blocker, a guy who can make the 10-, 15-foot jump shot. Everything else is gravy.”

Jermaine O’Neal said yesterday that’s fine with him. Coming off a disastrous first-round playoff series with the Heat in which he averaged 4.2 points and shot 20.5 percent in a five-game loss to the Celtics, he was under no illusions any team would make him a maximum-contract offer and build a franchise around him this summer. He said he came to Boston for one reason.

“If you want to win a championship, every day is important,” he said. “If you want to play good basketball, every day is important. This year is all about one thing. It’s about everyone getting on one page and getting better.”

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