But in a win Monday night over the Philadelphia 76ers, J.O. made Bostonians worthy of that concern, playing well enough to drive home a key point heading into the home stretch: The Celtics' shot at a title is far greater with him in uniform.
Yes, he played just 13 minutes, second-lowest in his four games back from knee surgery. But they were big minutes, with the 6-foot-11 veteran posting nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, three boards and a block. And though it's difficult to measure, O’Neal's defense was exactly what Boston needed. He clogged the paint and forced the drive-happy Philadelphia guards to either shoot from outside or shoot off-balance inside.
The result (not all thanks to O'Neal, of course) was a 39 percent shooting night for the Sixers, who might face the C's in the first round of the playoffs.
"He was being aggressive," head coach Doc Rivers said Monday after the game, according to ESPN.com. "He was attacking, his defense was phenomenal. I mean, he's just been really good since he's been back. [He] just buys in. We rarely go to him, but he gets the ball in the right places because he's in the right spots. Defensively, he's been very good."
O'Neal's teammates are equally excited about his return.
"He's getting his game legs in shape," said captain Paul Pierce. "He's getting into the right spots. When you miss that much time, it's kind of difficult, but he's really progressing well and doing a lot of things that we haven't had all year long from a big man — such as alter shots, rebound, getting the ball in the middle, putting the ball in the hole. So it's big to have him back."
While that comment from Pierce is as much a compliment to O'Neal as it is a diss of Nenad Krstic, it's true. Krstic, for all his offensive skill, ain't gonna be a playoff-caliber stopper on defense. If Boston draws Chicago (tons of rebounding ) in the Eastern Conference Finals or Los Angeles (tons of length) in the NBA Finals, they'll need a big who can block and alter shots, pull down 10-15 boards and generally bang in the paint.
Krstic will be a very nice piece, but he doesn't fill that void.
That's exactly why Boston fans are worried. Can J.O. stay healthy? And can he stay healthy mentally, as well? We all remember his bizarre first-round folding act last postseason against the Celtics. With Kevin Garnett at the helm, the latter is less of a concern.
But my guess is the Vegas over-under on games left in O'Neal's season is about 10, and for good cause. Never, in his 16-year career, has J.O. played in all 82 games. It's why Doc is bringing the South Carolina native back slowly, 12-15 minutes at a time, to ensure he's neither injured nor out of shape come the playoffs. And O’Neal, fortunately, is buying in.
"I felt really good, especially in the third quarter," O'Neal said Monday night, according to ESPN.com. "Being able to make multiple moves, being able to show, get back to the basket, try to contest a shot. Those are the things I'm really concentrating on."
Boston might very well need him to do all that (for 20-25 minutes a game) if it can get deep into the postseason. Monday night was an important step in that progression.
Now if only the Celtics can get the other O'Neal back, they'll have some insurance — you know, in case that other shoe ever drops.
