Pierce endorses Shaq addition

[Ashy Larry]

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Paul Pierce is eager to help Shaquille O'Neal catch up to Kobe Bryant.


Pierce enthusiastically endorsed the Boston Celtics' decision to sign O'Neal after Pierce's No. 34 jersey was retired at Inglewood High School on Tuesday.


Boston owner Wyc Grousbeck said the Celtics decided to pursue O'Neal after Bryant's playful remark after the Los Angeles Lakers' Game 7 victory over Boston last June in the NBA finals. Bryant laughed about having one more championship ring than O'Neal, his former teammate with the Lakers.
"I'm not at all surprised by it, because (Grousbeck) is a compe or too," said Pierce, the 2008 finals MVP. "Even though he's not on the court with us, when we win, he wins, and when we lose, he loses, because he feels it just as much as we do."


Pierce, a former high school McDonald's All-American who played at Kansas for three seasons, was honored by civic leaders and community members including Inglewood Mayor Daniel K. Tabor during a two-hour ceremony. Pierce grew up in Inglewood as a Lakers fan.


"This is a great day for me," Pierce said. "It's a great honor. There's only a few people that have had their jersey retired at the high school."


The acquisition of O'Neal was one of several notable offseason moves made by the Celtics, who topped the Lakers two years ago before losing the final two games of last season's finals. O'Neal, who won three championships alongside Bryant, long ago gave Pierce his nickname - "The Truth."
"I'm excited," Pierce said of playing with O'Neal. "He's one of my all-time favorite players, and now I have a chance to play with one of the greatest players to ever play the game."


The Celtics added O'Neal to give depth to their frontcourt. Boston center Kendrick Perkins hurt his right knee midway through the first quarter of Game 6 of the finals and was sidelined for Game 7, when the Lakers clinched their second straight championship.


Since then, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has said the Lakers still haven't beaten the Celtics at full strength. Pierce agrees.


"We reloaded this year," Pierce said. "We added some more pieces - Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, a couple other pieces - so he was right. Hopefully we can get to the finals this year healthy. We'll have the opportunity to win a championship."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201....ap/index.html

[lefty]

Shaq is really pathetic

[Ashy Larry]

Shaq is really pathetic

Ring chasing at its best. I see nothing wrong with it if he did it once, maybe twice, but dude is trying to jump in the air and grab that ring with cement shoes on.

[lefty]

Ring chasing at its best. I see nothing wrong with it if he did it once, maybe twice, but dude is trying to jump in the air and grab that ring with cement shoes on.

As big a Michael Jordan was (still is), he wanted to win the most les possible because of his compe ive nature and his love of the game

Shaq is just doing it for his ego, to win more les than Kobe or Duncan, he has no passion for the game

[Giuseppe]

Pickin' & choosin' assholes in professional sports is puny & weak.

Daddy is no worse than the next asshole, or, the one after, on & on.

It's a good match there. No comedy like in Cleveland. Rivers has the reins & the whip.

He'll flourish & impact.

Its pisser for Boston, but, a drainer for south Florida & Media outside Boston.

[Ashy Larry]

After he leaves the Heat, "let me go to a top "regular season" team in the league. Suns. Fail.

Let me now go to Cleveland. Top team in the league. Fail.

I will slide to another top team in the league, Boston..........

[Killakobe81]

Shaq is old school ... an ass but old school. Even though he lacks the drive of MJ , Duncan or even kobe ...he has always talked about rings. His actions have not always shown that drive, but he always have talked about catching MJ. I respect him for at least keeping his eyes on the prize, it's too bad his off-season workouts nor diet matched his words.

[lefty]

Shaq is old school ... an ass but old school. Even though he lacks the drive of MJ , Duncan or even kobe ...he has always talked about rings. His actions have not always shown that drive, but he always have talked about catching MJ. I respect him for at least keeping his eyes on the prize, it's too bad his off-season workouts nor diet matched his words.

I cant respect that if he chases them out of insecurity

[lefty]

I know this is the Laker forum on the Spurs site, but no need to go overboard here by adding Duncan in with those legends.

lol
Shaq and Gasol have led the Lakers to those les

[baseline bum]

The Celtics added O'Neal to give depth to their frontcourt. Boston center Kendrick Perkins hurt his right knee midway through the first quarter of Game 6 of the finals

Wait... so Perkins is out for game 7?

[lefty]

Wait... so Perkins is out for game 7?

Time will tell