Shaq Dominating: 44 Pts in NBA 2001 Finals G1 PHI@LAL

[HOoopCityJones]

Anyone notice how smooth Shaq moves. He's not stiff and mechanical like Dwight.

That's why Dwight gets him so fed up.

[Magic 32]

Can you imagine if Kobe had 44 points and lost!

He would have been blamed for that for the rest of his life.

Selfish Kobe ruins perfect postseason!

[LAZERUSS]

Down by as much as 15 points in the second half, that Laker team rallied to send the game into OT, where they would go on to lose. In fact, they forged a five point lead with about three minutes to go. Their only loss in 16 post-season games.

Only Milwaukee's 12-2 post-season run in '71, and Philly's 12-1 run in '83 were comparable.

[russwest0]

Shaq on his GOAT shit. What else is new.

Jordan
Duncan
Shaq
Bird
Hakeem
Kobe


= top 6 all time.

[9erempiree]

So people are saying Shaq is GOAT peak because he had a fantastic game 1 of the 2001 Finals.

Here are 2001 Playoff Stats.

[swagga]

@ 2.43 summarizes kobe's contribution.

peak shaq >>>>>>> peak anybody and anything else.jordan/wilt/bird/magic/cap/bron/duncan are/will be all better due to longevity with excellent production but peak wise shaq is the GOAT hands down.

Shaq is truly a once in a lifetime prospect. Imagine wilt (athletic marvel) and then add superior coordination, footwork, ball handling, explosion (comparing to young wilt), strength (Comparing to old wilt), use of the off hand and guard moves (that vid with the shimmy on jordan ) and an elite post game. And clutchness "i hit them when they count doe ". Wilt was just better conditioned.

[ArbitraryWater]

So people are saying Shaq is GOAT peak because he had a fantastic game 1 of the 2001 Finals.

Here are 2001 Playoff Stats.

Those are actually through 3 rounds, missing the finals.

And obviously Efficiency, Defense,

[swagga]

Those are actually through 3 rounds, missing the finals.

And obviously Efficiency, Defense,

they also miss that kobe was getting wiiiiide open shots because shaq was double/triple teamed on every possession. I'm just laughing right now because I remember those days, shaq was a freaking ogre on the court

[Bigsmoke]

Lol @ saying prime Shaq was better than MJ

[swagga]

Lol @ saying prime Shaq was better than MJ

LOL @ at your basketball understanding. Lemme say that twice. Dumb as bricks son.

[sportjames23]

Down by as much as 15 points in the second half, that Laker team rallied to send the game into OT, where they would go on to lose. In fact, they forged a five point lead with about three minutes to go. Their only loss in 16 post-season games.

Only Milwaukee's 12-2 post-season run in '71, and Philly's 12-1 run in '83 were comparable.

Bulls went 15-2 in 1991.

[STATUTORY]

wasn't that the only game they lost that entire championship run?

yea shaq attack alright

[Rake2204]

This game was on NBA TV a few months ago. It was a fun one to watch with my brothers, for they never saw prime Shaquille O'Neal. I personally was not a fan of his at the time either, so I think I glazed over a lot of his dominance because I was often rooting for his opponent to emerge victorious. But man, he was something.

I think my little brothers knew how good he was, but just assumed watching him play would be how watching Dwight Howard might look today. So they were a little surprised to see how far upon another level O'Neal seemed to be, and with such aggression.

So people are saying Shaq is GOAT peak because he had a fantastic game 1 of the 2001 Finals.

Here are 2001 Playoff Stats.

With respect, since the full playoff statistics are not that much different, why not just post those instead of that incomplete graphic, thus avoiding the inevitable responses pointing out the incompleteness of that photo?

Shaquille O'Neal - 2001 Playoffs
30.4ppg
15.4rpg
3.2apg
2.4bpg
.555 FG%

Kobe Bryant - 2001 Playoffs
29.4ppg
7.3rpg
6.1apg
1.6spg
.469 FG%

Can you imagine if Kobe had 44 points and lost!

He would have been blamed for that for the rest of his life.

Selfish Kobe ruins perfect postseason!

Amongst sensible fans, I believe it'd depend upon whether Bryant scored 44 by taking 44 shots or if he Shaq'd it and just absolutely dominated by hitting over 60% of his shots. The former could point toward shot selection issues, an unwillingness to make the right play, or a singular inability to make shots at a solid clip (with an emphasis on could), while the latter tends to point to a player doing something very effective, very often, only for the game not to work out in his favor.

[ArbitraryWater]

This game was on NBA TV a few months ago. It was a fun one to watch with my brothers, for they never saw prime Shaquille O'Neal. I personally was not a fan of his at the time either, so I think I glazed over a lot of his dominance because I was often rooting for his opponent to emerge victorious. But man, he was something.

I think my little brothers knew how good he was, but just assumed watching him play would be how watching Dwight Howard might look today. So they were a little surprised to see how far upon another level O'Neal seemed to be, and with such aggression.

With respect, since the full playoff statistics are not that much different, why not just post those instead of that incomplete graphic, thus avoiding the inevitable responses pointing out the incompleteness of that photo?

Shaquille O'Neal - 2001 Playoffs
30.4ppg
15.4rpg
3.2apg
2.4bpg
.555 FG%

Kobe Bryant - 2001 Playoffs
29.4ppg
7.3rpg
6.1apg
1.6spg
.469 FG%

Amongst sensible fans, I believe it'd depend upon whether Bryant scored 44 by taking 44 shots or if he Shaq'd it and just absolutely dominated by hitting over 60% of his shots. The former could point toward shot selection issues, an unwillingness to make the right play, or a singular inability to make shots at a solid clip (with an emphasis on could), while the latter tends to point to a player doing something very effective, very often, only for the game not to work out in his favor.

[ballinhun8]

Let's be serious here.


This was the Allen Iverson game. Not the Shaq game.

It's honestly one of the best all time Finals game and performances from a single player in my opinion (talking about AI).