CHESS TOP 5: O'NEILL'S STRONGEST MATCHES

.

CHESS TOP 5: O'NEILL'S STRONGEST MATCHES

If we talk about the number of NBA championship rings, Shaquille O'Neal is not among the record holders. However, he won the title in the strongest basketball championship as many as 4 times and in two different cities - Los Angeles and Miami. But neither the titles nor his 3 consecutive Finals MVP awards can compare to the popularity of the legendary center. Shaq is certainly one of the most famous basketball players in the history of the game. Not only because of the successes, but also because of the sports aggression, the impressive 216 centimeters, the dominance under the basket and his extravagant behavior. Qualities that later turned him into a unique television analyst. On the floor in the NBA, O'Neal has 1,423 games. Have you ever wondered who his top 5 are? Here are some contenders.

5. April 2000 - Sacramento Kings

At the beginning of the 21st century, the duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal formed a rarely seen dominance. In fact, it's one of the best tandems in NBA history. In 2000, the Lakers won the first of their three consecutive titles. And in Sacramento, the Kings play probably the only player in the league who is close to the physical data of Shaq - the 216 cm Vlade Divac. But in the first game of the opening round in the playoffs, the Serbian is far from O'Neill's level. Shaq finished with 46 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks on 21/33 shooting. Lakers win the game.

4. March 2004 - Milwaukee Bucks

Between 2000 and 2002, Shaq was phenomenal, but a decline in his play naturally followed. In the 2003/04 season, the center scored 6 points less on average per game compared to the previous season. But his lack of that same consistency didn't stop him from playing a brutal game against the Bucks. On 14/16 shooting, O'Neal finished with 31 points, 26 rebounds and 7 blocks. Just Shaq…

3. June 2000 - Indiana Pacers

Before the 2000 playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers were on a 9-year wait for the NBA title. With Shaq and Kobe in their lineup, the Lakers reach the finals against the Indiana Pacers. Before game number 6 in Los Angeles, the result of the series is 3:2 for Californians. In it, Bryant scores 26 points, but definitely has trouble shooting after making 8 of 27 attempts. But the Lakers have Shaq. The giant scores 41 points and grabs 12 rebounds. The result is 116:111, and the title goes to "Ezerniaci". Shaq became MVP in the final series.

2. March 2000 - Los Angeles Clippers

The 1999/00 NBA season is clear evidence of who ruled Los Angeles at the time. In the regular part of it, the Lakers finished first in the league and the Clippers last. In one of the games that established this fact, Shaq demonstrated to the league that he intends to dominate it. In the city derby with the Clippers, O'Neal finished with a career-high 61 points. To them he added 23 rebounds for 45 minutes on the floor. Shaq made 24 of his 35 field goal attempts.

1. November 1993 - New Jersey Nets

In Shaq's 1,423 NBA games, it is extremely difficult to single out his greatest. But why not his phenomenal performance against the Nets for the Orlando Magic in just his second season in the league. Shaquille scores one of the most impressive triple-doubles in history. Scored 24 points doesn't sound shocking, but how else to define the controlled 28 rebounds and notice… 15 umbrellas! The latter is tied for the NBA record. The "Wizards" won a dramatic victory with 87:85 points. O'Neal became only the second basketball player with a triple-double of at least 20-20-10.

.