Kazaam to the Rescue

Like George Washington (or Abe Lincoln?), I cannot tell a lie: I'm extremely down right now about my Celtics. After two bad losses at the hands of LeBron, Wade and Jackass Jones, my hopes are wearing thin. Yet, there's one X-factor that leaves me with a strange sense of confidence that Beantown can turn things around, with the series shifting to Massachusetts. Where does my audacious sense of belief come from? Squarely on the shoulder's of the league's oldest, fattest and, at one point, most dominate player.

As an NBA fan in his mid-20s, I have vivid memories of the Diesel's arrival into the league. Young Shaq was a freak of nature: dribbling coast-to-coast, diving for loose balls and tearing down rims and backboards. Mid-career Shaq was equally freakish, but for different reasons, mainly that he was as dominant a center as the league's ever seen. Twilight Shaq faded slightly, but still had notable performances for the Suns and Cavs, particularly in last year's playoff series against Boston where he was arguably Cleveland's second best player over those six games. (Yeah, that's not saying much, but still...)

Now, possibly in the last season of his storied career with his new team down 2-0 to the hated Heatles, Shaq finally has the chance to play for what seems like the first time in forever this year. His potential contribution could be vital to a Boston team that is seriously lacking in rebounding, interior offense and defense, and an overall spark and attitude that only a man of Shaq's size and mentality can provide.

Am I foolish to think Shaq might be the difference to bring Boston back from the depths? Might he not even play at all? Time will tell, young Padawan. But as an avid fan clinging for some shred of life, I can hold out hope that the original Superman will dawn his cape one final time, add another page to his unparalleled legacy, and save my beloved Celtics from elimination.