If Shaquille ONeal has no equal, then the Los Angeles Lakers are destined to capture their fourth straight championship in the National Basketball Association (NBA) this season. Or so the Big Aristotle likes to think.
Its almost as if the 7-1 ONeal, 30, is Superman in purple and gold. The consensus is as long as Shaq stays healthy, theres no way the Lakers can be beaten, no matter his free throw percentage.
New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott, who used to be a Laker, was clueless in looking for a way to stop ONeal in the Finals last season. ONeal, with a little help from his friends, particularly Kobe Bryant, powered the Lakers to a 4-0 sweep of the hapless Nets.
"I tried to play him straight up, just dig down on him," said Scott. "But hes too strong. We tried to double, tried zone. We tried a little of everything and nothing worked. He is that good, the most dominant player in the game. When he throws around that 350 pounds, no one can stop him. Everybody in my eraBill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbarall these guys had adversaries, somebody that they had to match up against that was just as good as them. Shaq has nobody. Theres nobody in this league thats close to him, so thinking this guy or that guy is coming along and slow him down, youre crazy."
Scott, however, isnt giving up hope. Maybe, Shaq will lose interest in the game. Maybe, hell retire to become a full-time rapper. Or maybe, hell shift to volleyball and follow in Wilts footsteps. Fat chance. Shaq stands to earn about $23 million this year and his contract doesnt expire until 2006. He just inked a big deal to endorse Starter shoes and apparelits a lot easier making bucks in the NBA than cutting CDs, thats for sure.
Scotts reply to Shaq is Dikembe Mutombo whom the Nets plucked out of Philadelphia. But even the lanky Congan is careful not to wag his finger when Shaq comes barreling into his house for a dunk.
"I still think that Shaq is unstoppable," sighed Mutombo who faced off against ONeal when the Philadelphia lost to the Lakers in a five game Finals two years ago. "When you see someone of his caliber, playing on that level, moving the way he moves, all you can do is take the hat off to him, because hes a great basketball player and he continues to improve night after night. Many people think that maybe he would slow down but he hasnt slowed down. Thats all it is."
Last year, ONeal sat out 15 games, three due to a suspension, and the Lakers lost 24 games in the regular grind. He was bothered by an arthritic toe, a bad wrist and aching ankles. He couldnt hold down his weight and looked too bulky for comfort. But when the title came up for grabs, Shaq shook off the pain, jiggled his jelly, walked the walk, and took the Lakers back to the throne.
Last Sept. 10, ONeal underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on both sides of the toe joint in his right foot. The procedure was called cheilectomy. Hell be out six to eight weeks so the Lakers must make do without Shaq when the season begins.
Coach Phil Jackson made a few adjustments in his lineup to prepare for the coming wars. He tried to bring in Malik Rose from San Antonio, Charles Oakley from Toronto, and Arvidas Sabonis from retirement to back up Shaq. But Jackson was spurned thrice over. Rose stayed with the Spurs. Oakley decided to join Michael Jordan at Washington. Sabonis returned to Portland. So Jackson had to be content in shipping out erratic guard Lindsey Hunter to Toronto for perimeter shooter Tracy Murray and rookie Kareem Rush. The Lakers are testing free agent center Guy Rucker in case of an emergency.
In the offseason, Jackson inked Devean George to a new $18.2 Million four-year contract and signed veteran Brian Shaw to a $1.03 million one-year renewal. Ukrainian Slava Medvedenko inked a two-year extension. Also back on the roster are Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Mark Madsen, Samaki Walker, and Derek Fisher. In all, the Lakers payroll will exceed $60 million and owner Jerry Buss must pay a hefty dollar-for-dollar luxury tax over the $50 million threshold.
Bryant is Jacksons MVP of tomorrow and Shaqs main caddy. Hes only 24 and the scary thing is he can only get better. Kobe earned $12 Million on his Lakers salary last year and pulled in another $13 million from endorsements. Hes still holding out on a new sneaker dealhes not in a hurry. Jordan loyalists refuse to recognize Bryant as the Air Apparent but theres no denying hes the closest thing to Mike in the firmament, notwithstanding Vince Carter. What Kobes itching for is an MVP trophy-something that Shaq has a habit of collecting. Will he ever get it with ONeal hanging around?
In the West, the Lakers will be challenged once more by the Sacramento Kings who are convinced theyve got what it takes to dethrone the champs. The Kings were up over L.A., 3-2, in the Western Conference Finals last year and led by nine in the third period of Game 7 which went into overtime. When it came to crunch time, Vlade Divac fouled out, Doug Christie turned cold, and Chris Webber wouldnt take the big shot. To make matters worse, Peja Stojakovic was injured.
Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune said the Kings felt they wouldve faced the Nets in the Finals if not for the 27 Laker free throws in the fourth quarter of Game 6 and their 16 missed charities in Game 7.
ONeal said he cant wait to shut up the Sacramento whiners and stuff the ball in Yao Mings mouth. "You cant let the Sacramentos and Yao Mings see that youre hurting a little bit," he declared. "Im coming back with a vengeance and determination and Ill be ready."
If the Lakers survive the Kings or Dallas in the West, they shouldnt find it difficult to crush whatever opposition comes from the East.
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