IN THE COMPANY OF GIANTS SHAQ DOMINATES NBA FINALS, NOW AMONG PLAYOFF ELITE.Byline: Michael Anastasi Sports Editor Noun 1. sports editor - the newspaper editor responsible for sports news newspaper editor - the editor of a newspaper First, there are Shaquille O'Neal's numbers. Then there is his legacy. --He surpassed Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell , Sam Jones Sam Jones or Samuel Jones may refer to: In entertainment:
Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. in career postseason scoring this year and each of them played more games than O'Neal, who now has 105. --He is third all-time in postseason scoring average (28.2) behind Michael Jordan's 33.4 and Jerry West's 29.2 and second in Finals scoring average (at 33.7, trailing Rick Barry --He is the all-time field-goal percentage leader at 59.5 percent. --He set NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association. The team winning the Eastern Conference Finals earns one of the two berths in the championship round, with the other going to the team that wins the Western Conference Finals. records for most offensive rebounds in a five-game series (31, smashing Elvin Hayes' 1979 record of 21) and for blocked shots (17, surpassing another 1979 record, Jack Sikma's 16). --And, most intriguing, he broke a 40-year-old record for free-throw attempts, 76, that wasn't even close to the previous mark, 60, set by St. Louis' Bob Pettit For the baseball player, see . Robert E. Lee "Bob" Pettit (born December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-1965). in 1961. In short, O'Neal could not be stopped - fouling him was Philadelphia's option - and he disrupted an opponent more thoroughly than any player since Jordan. ``As great as I thought he was before,'' Sixers coach Larry Brown Larry Brown may refer to:
``You have to have the best defensive player in the league to play against him, and we had it. And I think the matchup showed ... this guy is as good as they get. I've never seen a better player in my life. I mean that.'' Matt Geiger Matthew (Matt) Allen Geiger (September 10 1969 in Salem, Massachusetts) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. , Philadelphia's 7-foot-1, nine-year center, agreed, saying O'Neal is not only demonstrably better than past years but was playing at a higher level. ``I've said this before, I've played him in the regular season, but it's a different experience in the playoffs,'' Geiger said. ``He seems to play a lot more physical and with a lot more desire throughout the playoffs and that's what the great players do.'' Said Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. : ``His size and his abilities, footwork and his ability to move a defender are perhaps the most effective that we've ever seen in this game, which really tilts the scale. As a consequence, Shaquille has to be played, or the balance is not quite fair for Shaquille. ``And I often tell him it's compared to Michael (Jordan). Michael would get fouled on every play and still have to play through it and just clear himself for shots instead and would rise to that occasion. ``(Game 2) was a tremendous example of a man fouling out in a game in which perhaps he had three or four calls go against him in critical situations in the ballgame, and played through it without losing his poise and his character,'' Jackson said. ``And that shows leadership because it would have been very easy to get upset at a couple of those calls. He was fouled before he had the offensive fouls and knew he was fouled but retaliated strength for strength. That's kind of what the motto of that game was: `OK, we're gonna let you guys play. We're not letting you play, Shaq, we'll let everybody else play.' ``When you have a guy that big, you can't let him just play and the referees, indeed, took it away from him, took the opportunities away from him. Without getting upset, he came off the court, supported his teammates and that's the reason why we can still win.'' Indeed, despite the huge numbers, leadership is what O'Neal is most widely praised for by his teammates and coach, particularly after the midseason break. ``His ability to carry the team with a total responsibility has been really the thing that's been the key for us,'' Jackson said. ``You know, a lot of times Shaq has not been as obvious a leader as he was this year. We weren't able to get ourselves going ... but he kept motivating the team. He kept his engines going, he kept conditioning and reconditioning himself, taking a lot of time with free-throw shots and all the things that are the weak points of his game that he wanted to improve. He truly was a great leader on this team.'' O'Neal admits he has consciously sought that role, just as he now consciously considers his place in NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= history. ``When people started questioning me, I made a statement that I was going to come back after the All-Star break with a vengeance,'' O'Neal said. ``And that's what I did.'' Yet, dominant as O'Neal is and wants to be, he also repeatedly made it clear he wants his legacy to read that he was foremost a team player. His ability to read the double-team and find open perimeter teammates accomplished that on the court; in the locker room, he achieved that with words. Immediately after he was named the most valuable player of the Finals for the second consecutive year, O'Neal thanked his teammates, including Mike Penberthy Mike Penberthy (born November 29, 1974 in Los Gatos, California), is an American professional basketball player. A 6'3" guard from Master's College, Penberthy was not drafted by an NBA team but did manage to play for the Los Angeles Lakers for two years (2000-01 to 2001-02). and Isaiah Rider Isaiah Rider, Jr., sometimes known as J.R. Rider (born March 12, 1971 in Oakland, California) is an American former NBA basketball player, who played from 1993–2001. The 6'5" (1. , both of whom didn't even make the postseason roster. He credited Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. , Rick Fox, Tyronn Lue Tyronn Jamar Lue (born on May 3, 1977 in Mexico, Missouri) is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA in the 2006-07 season. He is currently an unrestricted free agent. , Robert Horry Robert Horry (born August 25, 1970 in Harford County, Maryland) is an American National Basketball Association basketball player. Currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Horry is is known for his ability to make clutch shots in big games. and even the front office. ``I have two sons right now and when it's all said and done for me, then I can show them how nasty I was. I will open a book and say, `There was a guy named Mike. There was a guy named Magic. There was a guy named Charles. And here's your daddy, a guy named Shaq.'' After O'Neal and the Lakers had won the championship again, O'Neal made it clear the last chapters of the book have yet to be written. ``This is another thing I can tell my sons, The Big Historians,'' O'Neal said. ``The first championship was to get the monkey off my back. Now, the ones I get from now on will be to stamp my name in history. ``I'm greedy, and I'm not done.'' HISTORY OF A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM 1971-72 The Lakers win 69 games, the most in NBA history, including a record 33 consecutive games en route to their first NBA title in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . The Lakers, who are led in scoring by Gail Goodrich Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. (born April 23 1943 in Los Angeles, California) is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is best-known for his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971-72 season. (25.9 ppg), sweep past Chicago in the opening round, nip defending-champion Milwaukee in six games and defeat New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of in five games to claim the championship. 1979-80 The Lakers, led by a young rookie named Magic Johnson “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. For the Milwaukee Bucks center, see Ervin Johnson. Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan), nicknamed Magic , defeat Philadelphia in six games to win the NBA title in the team's first NBA Finals appearance in seven years. The Lakers lose head coach Jack McKinney Jack McKinney may refer to:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. on April 16, 1947) is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant coach. (sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. ) for Game 6. In his absence, Johnson, playing center, racks up 42 points and 15 rebounds to help his team to the title. 1981-82 The Lakers win their second championship in three years, third since moving to Los Angeles, by defeating Philadelphia in six games. Coach Paul Westhead is replaced by Pat Riley For the American guitarist, see . Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American National Basketball Association head coach and team president of the Miami Heat. 11 games into the season, and the team responds by winning 17 of the next 20 games en route to their first of nine consecutive Pacific Division titles. The Lakers sweep past Phoenix and San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. to reach the Finals. 1984-85 After loosing to Boston in the Finals eight consecutive times, the Lakers finally win a championship against the Celtics, winning in six games. The Lakers sweep Phoenix and defeat Portland and Denver in five games each before becoming the first team to win on Boston Garden's parquet floor. 1986-87 The Lakers finish the regular season at 65-17, the second-best in franchise history, and defeat Boston in six games to win the championship. The Lakers lose just one game heading into the Finals, sweeping Denver and Seattle in the process. 1987-88 The Lakers become the first team since the 1968-69 Celtics to win back-to-back NBA championships, holding off Detroit in seven games. After sweeping San Antonio in the first round, the Lakers become the first NBA team to go the full seven games in their three remaining playoff series before winning the title. 1999-00 The addition of coach Phil Jackson puts the Lakers over the top and establishes the foundation for what could one day be a dynasty. Their road to the title is bumpy. Dramatically, in Game 7 of their conference-finals series against Portland, they had to rally from a 16-point deficit late in the third quarter to reach the Finals. They beat Indiana 4-2 to win the championship. LAKERS PLAYOFF RECAP 1947 - Didn't make playoffs. 1948 - Didn't make playoffs. 1949 - Beat Chicago 2-0; Beat Rochester 2-0; best Washington 4-2, NBA Champions. 1950 - Beat Rochester for division championship; Beat Chicago 2-0; Beat Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, city (1990 pop. 173,072), seat of Allen co., NE Ind., where the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers join to form the Maumee River; inc. 1840. It is the second largest city in the state, a major railroad and shipping point, a wholesale and distribution hub, 2-0; Beat Anderson 2-0; Beat Syracuse 4-2, NBA Champions. 1951 - Beat Indianapolis 2-1; Lost to Rochester 3-1. 1952 - Beat Indianapolis 2-0; Beat Rochester 3-1; Beat New York 3-1, NBA Champions. 1953 - Beat Indianapolis 2-0; Beat Fort Wayne 3-2; Beat New York 4-1, NBA Champions. 1954 - Beat Fort Wayne 2-0 and Rochester 1-0 in round robin; Beat Rochester 2-1; Beat Syracuse 4-3, NBA Champions. 1955 - Beat Rochester 2-1; Lost to Fort Wayne 3-1. 1956 - Beat St. Louis for conference second place; Lost to St. Louis 3-1. 1957 - Lost to St. Louis for division championship; Beat Fort Wayne 2-0; Lost to St. Louis 3-0. 1958 - Didn't make playoffs. 1959 - Beat Detroit 2-1; Beat St. Louis 4-2; Lost to Boston 4-0. 1960 - Beat Detroit 2-0; Lost to St. Louis 4-3. 1961 - Beat Detroit 3-2; Lost to St. Louis 4-3. 1962 - Beat Detroit 4-2; Lost to Boston 4-3. 1963 - Beat St. Louis 4-3; Lost to Boston 4-2. 1964 - Lost to St. Louis 3-2. 1965 - Beat Baltimore 4-2; Lost to Boston 4-1. 1966 - Beat St. Louis 4-3; Lost to Boston 4-3. 1967 - Lost to San Francisco 4-3. 1968 - Beat Chicago 4-1; Beat San Francisco 4-0; Lost to Boston 4-2. 1969 - Beat San Francisco 4-2; Beat Atlanta 4-1; Lost to Boston 4-3. 1970 - Beat Phoenix 4-3; Beat Atlanta 4-0; Lost to New York 4-3. 1971 - Beat Chicago 4-3; Lost to Milwaukee 4-1. 1972 - Beat Chicago 4-0; Beat Milwaukee 4-2; Beat New York 4-1. NBA Champions. 1973 - Beat Chicago 4-3; Beat Golden State 4-1; Lost to New York 4-1. 1974 - Lost to Milwaukee 4-1. 1975 - Didn't make playoffs. 1976 - Didn't make playoffs. 1977 - Beat Golden State 4-3; Lost to Portland 4-0. 1978 - Lost to Seattle 2-1. 1979 - Beat Denver 2-1; Lost to Seattle 4-1. 1980 - Beat Phoenix 4-1; Beat Seattle 4-1; Beat Philadelphia 4-2. NBA Champions. 1981 - Lost to Houston 2-1. 1982 - Beat Phoenix 4-0; Beat San Antonio 4-0; Beat Philadelphia 4-2. NBA Champions. 1983 - Beat Portland 4-1; Beat San Antonio 4-2; Lost to Philadelphia 4-0. 1984 - Beat Kansas City 3-0; Beat Dallas 4-1; Beat Phoenix 4-1; Lost to Boston 4-3. 1985 - Beat Phoenix 3-0; Beat Portland 4-1; Beat Denver 4-1; Beat Boston 4-2. NBA Champions. 1986 - Beat San Antonio 3-0; Beat Dallas 4-2; Lost to Houston 4-1. 1987 - Beat Denver 3-0; Beat Golden State 4-1; Beat Seattle 4-0; Beat Boston 4-2. NBA Champions. 1988 - Beat San Antonio 3-0; Beat Utah 4-3; Beat Dallas 4-3; Beat Detroit 4-3. NBA Champions. 1989 - Beat Portland 3-0; Beat Seattle 4-0; Beat Phoenix, 4-0; Lost to Detroit 4-0. 1990 - Beat Houston 3-1; Lost to Phoenix 4-1. 1991 - Beat Houston 3-0; Beat Golden State 4-1; Beat Portland 4-2; Lost to Chicago 4-1. 1992 - Lost to Portland 3-1. 1993 - Lost to Phoenix 3-2. 1994 - Didn't make playoffs. 1995 - Beat Seattle 3-1; Lost to San Antonio 4-2. 1996 - Lost to Houston 3-1. 1997 - Beat Portland 3-1; Lost to Utah 4-1. 1998 - Beat Portland 3-1; Beat Seattle 4-1; Lost to Utah 4-0. 1999 - Beat Houston 3-1; Lost to San Antonio 4-0. 2000 - Beat Sacramento 3-2; Beat Phoenix 4-1; Beat Portland 4-3; Beat Indiana 4-2. NBA Champions. 2001 - Beat Portland 3-0; Beat Sacramento 4-0; Beat San Antonio 4-0; Beat Philadelphia 4-1. NBA Champions. CAPTION(S): 4 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- 4) Shaquille O'Neal gave Los Angeles a lot to scream about after dominating the NBA Finals, putting himself in the company of past Lakers greats Magic Johnson (far left), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (left) and Wilt Chamberlain (above). Associated Press Box: (1) HISTORY OF A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM (see text) (2) LAKERS PLAYOFF RECAP (see text) |
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