While Celtics president Danny Ainge has spent the past seven weeks reinventing the roster, the responsibility of creating team chemistry is on the players.
Paul Pierce asked for more reinforcements when he re-signed with the Celtics six weeks ago, and since then Ainge has re-signed Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels, added swingman Von Wafer, signed forward Luke Harangody, and acquired center Shaquille O'Neal. The Celtics also signed center Jermaine O'Neal a few days into the free agency period.
So now that they will hit the court Oct. 26 against the Miami Heat with four future Hall of Famers and a bench bulging with players seeking minutes, Pierce said the next step is establishing that harmony, which was spotty at times last season.
Pierce doesn't think Shaq will cause any distractions; in fact, he encouraged the move, telling Ainge three weeks ago to pursue him.
"I pushed for it," said Pierce yesterday at his camp at Basketball City near TD Garden. "You look around and you look at the free agents, Shaq was the best available. And Perk [Kendrick Perkins] being out half of the season, you know how ACL injuries go sometimes, you could be out 5-6 months or be out a year sometimes, you never know.
"We needed another big guy. I talked to Danny even two or three weeks before we got Shaq. I talked to [majority owner] Wyc [Grousbeck], I talked to [co-owner Steve] Pagliuca and I think we all thought that was a good move to try to pursue him just to add depth there."
Chemistry is what fueled the Celtics' playoff run last season, and that same element will be critical with four 30-somethings in the lineup, led by a brash 24-year-old point guard in Rajon Rondo. Pierce said that blending will take work.
"You are adding veterans who aren't going to have an ego either and are playing for the same things we are playing for," he said. "It's not like we are getting a young Shaq or young Jermaine O'Neal.
"These guys had their success in the league and continue to have it, but they aren't stat-conscious. That's the whole key with us. It's all about the sacrifice." Pierce acknowledged that not every veteran chasing a title would mesh into the Celtics system. And talented teams have been derailed by off-court issues in the past. "The thing that Danny does, man, he does his background checks, he talks to the players," Pierce said. "[Coach] Doc [Rivers] talks to the guys. When you are bringing in players when you have a group like us, it's important not to just bring anybody into the mix. You've got to bring in guys who are going to be the right fit, that's going to be willing to do what we need them to do to help this ball club."
With Shaq in the equation, Pierce feels better about Boston's chances of challenging Miami, Orlando, and Chicago in the Eastern Conference. He wasn't so confident six weeks ago. Seeding is important, he said. "I think we're right there at the top," said Pierce. "I think we're one of the top four or five teams in all of basketball. I think we should try to get the top seed.
"It's not like we gave away games [last season]. We tried to win games. We got hurt with injuries and chemistry. When you have injuries, it messes with the chemistry.
"For us, it's about being healthy and winning as many games as possible." The Celtics have 14 players under guaranteed contracts, and Ainge likely won't add a 15th until training camp to maintain roster flexibility. Pierce emphasized yesterday that he lacks a true backup following Tony Allen's signing with the Grizzlies. "I still feel like we need another piece," he said. "I think we could use another wingman off the bench after losing Tony Allen. I think he was real valuable, what he brought in the playoffs.
"For the most part, I love our team. I think we're better now than we were in June. But also I still think we need another piece if we're going to win it all and not just get there. "I'm like, 'Who's going to guard me in practice right now?'"
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