By Dan Massar: YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
If only it was 2000.
Not because that was the summer of the first  season of “Survivor.”  Not because it gave us the epic drama that was Bush vs. Gore.  And not because it gave us Julia Roberts showing off her goods in Erin Brockovich.
Too bad it’s not 2000 for the sake of the Boston Celtics because they just signed NBA icon and future Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to a two year contract.  He’s 38 years old now and has played 18 NBA seasons.  Ten years ago he was in the middle of his prime and was the best player on the planet.
Now he is a serviceable big man who gives the Celtics another big body to fill in for the injured Kendrick Perkins.  If his first name wasn’t Shaq, this move would be seen as a smart and safe move by Danny Ainge.  Last year he averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes per game which are respectable numbers.  But when you know these are Shaq’s numbers you begin to reminisce about his dominant days in the 90’s and most of the 2000’s when he dominated the NBA.
Everyone knows Shaq is a [...]

By: Jess Lander, YawkeyTalkies editor
Shaquille O’Neal might be heading to Boston. I’ve heard mixed reactions from Boston fans on this, but here is mine. NO. GOD NO. WHY?!?!?!
Six Reasons Shaq should go away, even if they are a bit of a stretch:
1. While I was raised a die-hard Boston fan, I grew up in Orlando, and spent much of my formative years hearing one thing about Shaquille O’Neal.  He can’t hit a free throw. This was true, and as I watched the man hurt more than help LeBron James last season, I realized he still can’t. He’s averaged .527% over career, and in 2009 was at .496% Even if these numbers aren’t horrendous, nobody that tall should frequently miss a set shot like that, right?
2. Having two O’Neal’s will be too confusing. Just like two Allen’s were. There apparently wasn’t room enough for Tony and Ray, and neither of them are as huge as Shaq…see what I’m getting at?
3. He’s 38. Our team is old enough. ‘Nuff said.
4. He didn’t help LeBron win a championship, so who’s to say he’ll help us win one?
5. He played for the Lakers. And Orlando. And Cleveland. All Rivals of the Celts.
6. This picture [...]

Boston fans are all over the world. Sarah Lee Marks, former Bostonian and current Vegasian (I have NO IDEA what Las Vegas dwellers call themselves, but that just sounds weird), is excited to announce that Rondo is coming to town. As someone who lives in a sports city that’s known to be pretty lacking in sports culture, the USA Basketball Team’s arrival is a pretty big deal. However, not as big of a deal as Rondo, fighting for a spot. We all know he deserves it, just as much as he deserved that MVP this year, had those damn Lakers not won. (Yep, still not over it. Are you?)
Read her post here, (http://www.mycarlady.com/2010/07/18/celtics-rondo-to-las-vegas-for-team-usa/) and stay tuned for more coverage of training camp and possible photos.

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
What’s up Doc?
That’s what Celtics fans wanted to know soon after the NBA Finals ended and attention turned to whether Doc Rivers would be on the bench in Boston next season.  That question was answered last week as Rivers announced he would be back coaching the Celtics next season.  All of Boston felt relief.
Then Paul Pierce opted out of the final year of his contract.  This wasn’t a huge surprise and there wasn’t much reason to be concerned that Pierce would leave Boston, but it was great news for Celtics fans when reports surfaced in the last few days that Pierce and the Celts had agreed on a 4 year deal in the $60 million range.
Two of the biggest questions regarding the Celtics offseason had been answered; Doc and Pierce are going to be at The Garden in 2010-2011.  Now two big questions remain for the Celtics.  The first is will Ray Allen be wearing green next season?  The chances seem good especially with both Doc and Pierce coming back.  Both men must think that there’s a good chance Allen is also coming back otherwise it may have been a more difficult decision for them [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The Boston Celtics were the best basketball team on the Staples Center floor for the first 36 minutes of game 7 of the NBA Finals. But NBA games are 48 minutes long and the Celtics ran out of gas in the 4th Quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage to win their second consecutive NBA Title with an 83-79 win.
Coming into the game rebounding was a major key to the series and the Lakers dominated this category the entire game. But the Celtics were still able to maintain a lead most of the way despite LA’s dominance on the boards. The Lakers outrebounded the Celtics 53-40, and 23-8 on the offensive glass.
Heading into game 6 with a 3-2 lead and into this game many speculated who would be the MVP of the series if the Celtics won. Well, the fact that answer was never clear ended up killing the Celtics in the final quarter. The Celtics needed someone to step and make shots down the stretch but no one made it happen. The ball movement wasn’t there and the offense became extremely stagnant. Rajon Rondo came 2 [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The Celtics have known all along that Kobe Bryant would erupt for a huge game at some point during this series.  That eruption came in game 5 as Bryant poured in 38 points, half of them coming in the 3rd Quarter.  But the Celtics delivered a brilliant team effort and took the lead in the NBA Finals 3 games to 2 with a 92-86 victory at the TD Garden.
While the contributions of the Celtics bench was the story of game 4, the starters were the key to game 5 as “The Big 3” and Rajon Rondo were all in double figures.  Paul Pierce led the way with a dazzling 27 points.  He shot 12-21 and hit two three’s. Pierce played like it was 2008 all over again and is now hoping his team can celebrate like it’s 2008 with one more win.
“We’re in a good spot. We have two games in L.A.,” said Pierce.  “Now we have to get one.”
Kevin Garnett was terrific scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  Garnett was dominant on defense with 5 steals and 2 blocks. Rajon Rondo chipped in with 18 points and 8 assists and Ray Allen worked [...]

By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
I was wrong.
With the 4th Quarter beginning I turned to a few of my esteemed colleagues who were with me at The Garden and I said, “I don’t like this lineup for the Celtics to start the 4th.” The lineup consisted of Nate Robinson, Tony Allen, Ray Allen, Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace.  Woops, I’ll take a mulligan on that one.
This unit turned the tide of the game and maybe the series as the Celtics tied up the NBA Finals at 2-2.  Down 62-60 to start the quarter, the Celts jumped on the Lakers with a 10-2 run to go up 72-64.  The heart and hustle of this unit was unbelievable.  Big Baby was in his words after the game, “a beast.”  He poured in 18 points, 9 coming in the 4th.  Robinson is instant offense scoring 12 points but he also played strong defense and made a great steal and called a timeout before he could be tied up for a jump ball.  Tony Allen played ferocious defense on Kobe Bryant and even chipped in some gritty offense.  And Rasheed Wallace nailed a 3 that caused The Garden roof to almost blow off.
And lets [...]