But this is Boston, where the best way to find redemption is to win a championship. This spring, O'Neal will try to do just that.
There are a million reasons to panic right now about the Celtics' chances of winning a title in 2011, but foremost among them is the uncertainty at the center position. It's now been over a month since the C's traded Kendrick Perkins away, dismantling their 2008 title-winning lineup, and they've been a mediocre basketball team since. If they want to return to the Finals and have another shot at glory, they need to address one big problem first.
They need toughness in the middle. They need a guy who can protect the rim, block shots, close out possessions with defensive rebounds and generally strike fear in opposing teams. Perk was that guy, and now he's gone. O'Neal can redeem himself for everything this season by refilling the role that Perk vacated.
O'Neal missed four preseason games. He sat out one regular-season contest in October. He missed six weeks in November and December. He went on the shelf again in January, underwent surgery in February, and no one's heard a peep from him in March.
But if he redeems himself in the months ahead, that's all anyone will remember.
Celtic legends and goats alike are made in the spring months. If O'Neal continues to be a bust in April, May and June, then he'll be a bust forever. But if he helps the Celtics win, all will be forgotten.
O'Neal is pushing hard to return. He's been working his butt off behind the scenes, rehabbing the knee and getting himself into peak physical shape for the postseason. There's a chance he plays Thursday, when the Celtics take on the Spurs.
But his goals with this team extend well beyond Thursday night. He's been waiting for 15 years to have a real chance at winning a title, and he's got it now.
If he makes the most of it, he's a hero. Nothing else matters.
Will all be forgiven if Jermaine O'Neal is a key cog in a Celtics championship run? Share your thoughts below.
