The game had just started when Su Wan and Billups hit consecutive shots from the perimeter, making the Celtics more passive on defense, forcing them to expand their defensive formation.
At that moment, Kevin Garnett looked at Shaquille O'Neal beside him and suddenly felt a chill on his back.
It was a well-known fact that to avoid facing Shaquille O'Neal directly in the center position, Kevin Garnett intentionally hunched his shoulders during physical measurements to make himself appear shorter.
There was no way around it, his frame just couldn't withstand Shaquille O'Neal.
As for Perkins...
When facing a smaller "inside bulldozer" like Zach Randolph, he showed his strength and mass advantage.
But when facing Shaquille O'Neal, it was somewhat embarrassing and he couldn't manage on his own.
As soon as the Celtics' defensive formation opened up, Rick Carlisle immediately gave the offensive focus to Shaquille O'Neal.
