Jermaine O'Neal's still talking

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Here are three things you can count on every NBA offseason:

1. GMs will make stupid decisions.

Check. (In the Knicks case, we can also include owners)

2. Kevin Garnett will disappear.

Check. (Unless you count his I'm more than happy and I'm excited to be back!" press release, which definitely wasn't made up by someone on the Celtics PR staff.)

3. Jermaine ONeal will talk out of his ass.

And now . . . Check.

I had a fantastic time in Boston, with the city, the fans were phenomenal, the organization was phenomenal, I just dont know if the playing situation was right to be quite honest, JO told the Globe yesterday. The hardest thing for me was to not be able to do some of the things I have been quite comfortable doing all my life. I accepted the challenge. I accepted the role. I didnt want 10 shots a game, but it was hard to be told not to worry about scoring."

How much should we still care about Jermaine ONeal?

Ive asked myself this question a few times today.

On one hand, this quote is so infuriating. Honestly, Im starting to worry about JO. Forget signing with the Lakers, the guy needs an intervention. Jermaine. Listen. We all brought you here because were concerned . . . These things youre saying to the media . . . its just so obvious that something isnt right . . . you're out of your mind . . . Jermaine, please! . . . (starts shaking him) . . . let us help you!

But seriously, what's ONeal trying to get across in this interview? Is he saying that a few more touches might have made the difference in him missing 99 of a possible 148 games? How does that make sense? Thats like a blacked out drunk driver slamming his car into a telephone pole and then blaming the crash on a faulty headlight.

But what makes the whole thing even more frustrating is that you know there are people out there who will still fall for his shtick. The same way Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers fell for it in 2010. The same way we all did at some point during his two years in town. There are GMs who will become fascinated by his size and All-Star resume, who will buy into his sweet nothings and give him another chance.

Again, I'm not sure why that should bother anyone in Boston. He's not our problem anymore. We should let him go to the Lakers and drive them as crazy as he did us.

But after two years of dealing with his song-and-dance, the sound of the Jermaine O'Neal BS Machine is still like nails on a chalk board. As much as I don't want to care, it still drives me nuts.

Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine

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