Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images

Jermaine O'Neal knows he'll need to be a presence on defense for the Celtics this season.WALTHAM, Mass. -- Jermaine O'Neal readily admits he's not the offensive player he used to be. His body grinded down from 14 NBA seasons, he can't jump as high as he used to nor move as quickly in the post as he once did.

His offensive game has drifted further and further away from the basket and his scoring average has dipped more than 10 points per game since the 2004-05 season, when he averaged 24.3 points per game for the Indiana Pacers (last year he chipped in 13.6 points per game in Miami).

He knows the casual NBA fan will continue to judge him based on his offensive numbers, which will predictably dip again this season in Boston, especially in a reserve role. But to him it doesn't matter.

He's come to grips with the idea of sacrifice, especially if it leads to the prize he covets most: an NBA title.

In fact, it was on his 32nd birthday that he had a realization that -- after roughly 1,000 career NBA games (preseason, regular season and playoffs combined) -- defense will be what defines him in Boston.

"It's not about [scoring] right now," O'Neal said Friday after returning to practice for the first time since tearing cartilage in his left wrist last Friday in Toronto. "The first time it ever donned on me was in New York [this preseason]. I had a guy on me that I felt like I could take, but I didn't see one post-up against him all night.

"That's what me and [Shaquille O'Neal] have talked a lot about: Do what the team needs us to do in order to be successful. Ray [Allen] talked about it with me [Friday] morning saying how we don't care who plays, we just support each other and we root for each other."

Click HERE to read the full story.