<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> PEMBROKE PINES -- As he promoted the opening of his latest namesake health club, Shaquille O'Neal also began the conversation about the Heat's upcoming season. With a crowd in the thousands on hand at Saturday's opening of 24 Hour Fitness Shaq Sport on Pines Boulevard, O'Neal took time privately to discuss the team's offseason and future. Like many within the franchise, the 34-year-old center said he was uncertain of Pat Riley's plans until last week's coaching comeback was announced. He said he was heartened that almost the entire 2006 championship roster returns intact. And he cautioned about expecting much more than last season's 52 regular-season victories, the lowest winning percentage by an NBA title team since the 47-35 Rockets in 1995. During a relaxed interview: >O'Neal said he was not surprised that Riley took more than two months after the title-clinching victory in Dallas to announce his comeback. "I could see him a couple of times this year, he was just tired and drained and needed the rest," he said of his 61-year-old boss. "I'm glad he's back. If he would have retired, I would have been happy for him." He expressed optimism about as many as 14 of last season's 15 players returning. "I'm glad it's kept intact," he said. "Usually it takes four to five years to build a championship team. We were lucky. We built it in two. We've got two old guys in me and [Alonzo] Mourning, six or seven medium guys and the younger guys. We'll be fine." He said he has not spoken with 38-year-old point guard Gary Payton, who is in the midst of negotiations regarding a free-agent return. "That's not my role in this organization," he said. "If they need me to make a call, then they'll call me and I'll do that." He reiterated that the regular season remains a secondary concern. "I don't want to say I'm not worried about it, because I don't want to get yelled at by Pat," he said, "but I've always had a formula ever since I've been in the NBA: Beat the teams you're supposed to beat, stay dominant at home and stay above .500 on the road." He insisted he would not go into the season planning to miss a set number of games, after sitting out 23 last season. "I actually want to play all 82," he said, adding that his body fat stands at 10 percent, below the 12 percent sought by Riley.</div> Source
