OLD SHAQ BACK AND IN CHARGE HE EVEN MAKES HIS FREE THROWS IN WIN LAKERS 119, DALLAS 109.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer DALLAS - Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). hugged his nemesis. He wore a clown nose and laughed. And then when the ball went up, and the cameras rolled, and the fouls came, the whole night became one big Shaq-a-palooza. Shaq gets hacked and makes his free throws. Shaq skips and dances on the way back up the court. Shaq gets undercut in midair and turns it into a graceful somersault on the hardwood. And as the final seconds expire, Shaq catches the glance of reporters and asks the question that needs no formal answer: ``Who's the (expletive) man?'' Even Dallas coach Don Nelson would give the nod to O'Neal after he absorbed every Mavericks blow and orchestrated a well-timed, well-executed Lakers victory, 119-109, at Reunion Arena . Everyone, in fact, had to sing O'Neal's praises after he made 11 of 15 free throws - foiling Nelson's famed Hack-a-Shaq strategy - on the way to a 29-point, 11-rebound performance. Even O'Neal, who could be heard singing in the shower, to the tune of Queen's ``Flash Gordon'' theme song: ``Shaq! Aaah-aaah, he's the greatest in the universe!'' ``I can remember telling you guys at home, when I come back in the second half, I'm coming back with a vengeance,'' O'Neal said. ``You thought I was was playin'. I'm not playin', I'm serious. I'm coming back, in every facet of the game. Time to turn my game up.'' With O'Neal rocking, rolling, singing and dancing, the entire Lakers chorus came to life, quickly washing away the pain of Sunday's letdown in Indiana. Rick Fox tied his season high with 22 points (and grabbed 11 rebounds). 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. , MIA MIA n. A member of the armed services who is reported missing following a combat mission and whose status as to injury, capture, or death is unknown. [m(issing) i(n) a(ction). on Sunday, scored 20 points. Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. managed 19 points despite a pair of bad ankles. And 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). , who hadn't played in more than a month, hit a trio of 3-pointers and scored 11 points. It made for one of the Lakers' most well-rounded victories in recent memory. ``Whenever you see Shaquille play as strong as he's been playing of late, it opens up everything for everyone that's on the court with him,'' Fox said. ``That's the Shaq that we've missed for most of the season. ``And it's not that he hasn't been capable of doing that. I think he's dealt with a lot of frustrating things, from injuries to the scrutiny of he and Kobe. And it's a lot alone to defend the championship, but to have to deal with those outside distractions, I think wore on him, it's worn on all of us, and once we've turned the corner can put that behind us.'' Already buried was the animosity O'Neal once showed Nelson, his sometimes nemesis. Nelson, returning six weeks after prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. surgery, walked on the court to a standing ovation and a 300-pound surprise. O'Neal cut through the swarm of TV cameras and gave Nelson a bear hug Bear Hug An offer made by a company to buy the shares of another company that is too high for the board of the target firm to refuse. Notes: If the target company says the merger is okay but they want a higher price, it is called a "teddy bear hug. and a ``welcome back.'' The Nelson, who put on a red clown nose - because O'Neal called him ``a clown coach'' in December - put the nose on O'Neal. Then it was back to business. Nelson ordered up the intentional fouls three times down the stretch of the first half. O'Neal made 5 of 6 free throws and the Lakers actually extended their lead, taking a 59-55 lead into halftime. ``When Shaq makes his free throws like that, then the Hack-a-Shaq goes right out the window,'' Nelson said. ``He's a competitive guy, and he stepped up and made them.'' Actually, O'Neal's been fairly consistent for the last week, but it was an altogether different task to hit those shots here, where Nelson has so often exploited his greatest weakness. ``That's been my mantra during the year - that when Shaq starts making his free throws, we're a different ball club,'' said coach 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. . ``And tonight, he made them under the duress of the fouls. Really the strategy that fails is really a boost for him and his confidence on the foul line foul line n. 1. Baseball Either of two straight lines extending from the rear of home plate to the outer edge of the playing field and indicating the area in which a fair ball can be hit. 2. .'' The Lakers had to absorb a career-high 31 points by Steve Nash Steven John Nash, OBC (born February 7, 1974),[1] is a Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash was brought up in a family of sportsmen and he excelled in a variety of sports. and a combined 47 points from Michael Finley Michael Howard Finley (born March 6, 1973, in Melrose Park, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player who is a member of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. The 6' 7" shooting guard/small forward was originally drafted out of University of Wisconsin-Madison by the and Dirk Nowitzki, as the Mavericks knocked an 18-point lead down to five with 4:53 left to play. ``That was game we needed, we need to pick up our defense,'' O'Neal said. ``We were able to fight it through and win the game.'' CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Dallas' Steve Nash, right, got in Shaquille O'Neal's way on this play but no one could stop the big man on this night. Donna McWilliam/Associated Press Box: GAME RECAP |
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