One of the more important priorities for the Celtics in camp was to rebuild the confidence and increase the production of Kevin Garnett, who was healthy last season but still was favoring the knee. “I slowed down a little bit, started to look for my offense,’’ he said. “Playing with Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] is an adjustment, but it’s a good adjustment to have. But for the most part I’ve slowed down and let my offense just flow.’’ Garnett’s primary concern is always defense, but “[O’Neal] has been on my [rear] about relaxing and letting the offense come to me. I think the last couple of games, even the game I got thrown out of, I thought I had a pretty good flow.’’ — Boston Globe

Shaq declared the era of the dominant NBA low-post center over. OK, Shaq is a little late to the party on this one, but he has earned the right to declare the dominant center era over whenever the mood strikes him. “I think I killed off all the centers and now all the centers want to play the European-style basketball,” O’Neal said before watching the Celtics beat the Knicks 104-101 in Stoudemire’s Garden debut. “There’s only 1.5 or 2 real centers left, Dwight Howard and Yao Ming. Every now and then Yao Ming steps outside and wants to shoot jumpers, but it’s gone more toward the European style. The days of Patrick Ewing and Rik Smits and Kevin Duckworth and Robert Parish, those days are over, thanks to me.” – CBS Sports

When Shaq signed with the Celtics over the summer, he told some people he was the one who’d named Paul Pierce “The Truth.” The people were a bit wary, but we’re here to tell you that it is, in fact, the truth. On Tuesday, March 13, 2001, in Los Angeles, Pierce went for 42 points in a five-point loss to the Lakers. O’Neal was obviously impressed. Shaq was finishing up with a few reporters when he spotted the Boston writer and broke away from his pack. He then launched into a complimentary rant about Pierce, squeezing in his favorite maternal expletive between “The” and “Truth.” Pulling a reporter aside, he shook his head and said, “Paul Pierce.” Paul Pierce what? Leaning toward the notepad, he said, “Take this down. My name is Shaquille O’Neal, and Paul Pierce is the (very long expletive) truth. Quote me on that, and don’t take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth.” – Boston Herald

Shaquille O’Neal was asked what he wants his legacy to be: “I never had an inconsistent year, and I’ve always been dominant. I’m the No. 5 all-time scorer — 2,000 points behind Wilt Chamberlain. Once I pass him up, I want the title as the most dominant to ever play the game. When I’m done, it would be nice to say that I passed up Chamberlain, earned five rings, and finished in the (top) 10 all-time in blocks and rebounds. Hopefully all of that will put me on the first ballot for the Hall of Fame.” — New Orleans Times-Picayune

The speculation that hasn’t died down since the start of free agency revolves around Shaquille O’Neal’s interest in the Celtics. The 38-year-old center wants to play for a contender, and even though Danny Ainge wouldn’t directly address the team’s interest in O’Neal, he said, “we’ve had some discussions.’’ — Boston Globe