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How The 2011 Celtics Would've Fared If Shaq Stayed Healthy

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Boston Celtics could have won another championship if Shaq stayed healthy

One of the worst things a sports fan can do is look back at what could’ve happened. We all know in hindsight how things could have turned out, but it’s still torturous to think about the outcome if a few things went a different way. After an interview with The Vertical prior to his Hall of Fame induction, Shaquille O’Neal gave Celtics fans a ride down memory lane.

Seeing Shaq in a non-dominant form in Boston was like seeing your dad cry. It just isn’t an image of him you ever want to see. O’Neal only played in 37 games with the Boston Celtics, eventually being ousted in the second round by the Miami Heat and their Big Three.

The words of the Hall of Famer have to make you wonder: How good could have Boston been if Shaq stayed healthy?

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Shaq sparks the PTSD in Celtics fans when he reminds every one of his simplistic role in Boston. He didn’t have to put up gaudy numbers like he did in Orlando, Los Angeles, or Miami. It’s almost laughable to say, but the Hall of Famer had to play like Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins was Boston’s official garbage man the last time they added a banner to the rafters in 2008, and an underrated cog in the machine. The Celtics failed to win a championship in 2010 when he missed the NBA Finals with an injury. If Boston was to win with Shaq, he needed to grab boards, clog the paint, and knock down anybody who mouthed off to the Big Three.

It’s very easy to forget due to the painful thought of how that season should’ve ended, but O’Neal was the perfect garbage man. Celtics’ lineups dominated with Shaq involved.

The starting five featuring The Big Three, Rajon Rondo and Shaq outscored teams by a total of 18.9 points per 100 possessions, with an uptick in both field-goal percentage and rebound percentage. He was everything Boston needed and more.

The season that was destined to be dominated by LeBron James‘ Big Three in Miami was initially owned by Boston. The Celtics started off 23-4, momentarily delaying everyone’s parade plans down in South Beach. Then the injury bug found a cozy home in the TD Garden, bringing O’Neal’s career to a swift end.

Those 37 games could be considered nothing more than a tease for Celtics fans. People forget that with O’Neal on the court, the Celtics looked like they could add another title to the rafters. Maybe Shaq was right. Maybe he would’ve added a green diamond-clad ring to his championship collection if he stayed healthy.

Sadly, Shaq didn’t add another title in Boston. All he added was “The Big Shamrock” to his overflowing list of nicknames, and another “what if” story to be told by Boston fans.

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