Boston’s Shaquille O’Neal has five crowns in mind

WHO ELSE DO WE

KNOW WITH FIVE?

Boston’s Shaquille O’Neal:

“I think they understood that when I came here for the $1.5 [million], they knew what was on my mind. For them, it’ll be [ NBA title] 18. For the Big Three, it’ll be two. And for me it’ll be big No. 5.”

IT’S OFFICIAL

Tweet by Miami’s LeBron James:

“Man Blake Griffin is the most explosive player in the league! Crazy bounce”

HE CAN GUESS, THOUGH

Atlanta Coach Larry Drew, whose team had lost seven of nine games:

“I told the guys, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing the night before we play. I don’t know what you’re doing away from the floor.’”

TRASH LEBRON

TASTEFULLY NIGHT

Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert, reassuring fans that anti-James signs won’t be barred for his Dec. 2 visit, via Twitter:

“ ESPN headline is wrong & silly. Obviously no profanity, vulgar stuff U wouldn’t want kids 2 see but we are not going 2 be the Gestapo”

OR PUT YOU BEFORE

A FIRING SQUAD

ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy, on the ejection of Orlando’s Jameer Nelson at the end of the Miami game:

“I wouldn’t follow those bogus, game-affecting guidelines ever. Ever!

“Yes, they would fire me. [Vice President of Referee Operations] Gen. Ron Johnson would have to let me go because I’m not following those guidelines.”