Jermaine O'Neal: The one that got away

Donnie Walsh says he regrets not at least reaching out to Jermaine O'Neal last summer when the veteran center became a free agent.

When Walsh was running the Indiana Pacers, he acquired O'Neal 10years ago from Portland and eventually signed him to a max contract. Knee problems nearly ruined O'Neal's career as he bounced around from Toronto to Miami before signing a two-year deal with Boston last summer.

In Game 1, O'Neal made all six of his shots from the floor and blocked four shots in 23 minutes.

"I was proud of him," Walsh said of O'Neal, who had just two points Tuesday night. "That's not to say I didn't want to win the game. But I did say before the game that Jermaine can still make jump shots and blocks and that's what he did.

"He's not what he was because he was like Amar'e in some ways when he was young. He could go right by you. He was quick. He could dunk on you. But then his knees started bothering him so he got bigger and starting playing more in the low post. He was our most dominant player."

Asked if he considered signing O'Neal last summer, Walsh said: "Not really, but looking back at it I probably should have because he's a good player. I just didn't know where he was physically."