The Observer, March 25, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 22
Shaq is a big man who provides a bigger impact
In a recent conversation among some friends of mine, the question "If you could pick one player to build a winning NBA team around for next year, who would it be?" was asked. Immediately, LeBron James and Tim Duncan's names were given. But, after a little time was allowed for the question to sink in, all of us decided that the best person to ensure a winning season is Shaquille O'Neal.
To me, O'Neal is the no-brainer choice. This year Shaq's team, the Miami Heat, has a NBA-best 52-16 record, putting them on pace to go 63-19 for the season. Miami last season had a mediocre 42-40 record.
The principle difference between the 2003-2004 Heat and the 2004-2005 squad is Shaq. He played for the Los Angles Lakers last season, then came to Miami after Laker coach Phil Jackson retired and because he wanted to avoid playing another year with selfish Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant. Granted, Heat guard Dwayne Wade, now in his second season in the NBA, is appreciably better than he was as a rookie. However, Miami would be nowhere near 52-16 without the big man.
Miami's dramatic improvement with Shaq at center should be no surprise. All of O'Neal's teams have won big. Miami's 50-win season this year marks the ninth time O'Neal's team has won over 50 games in a year over his 13 NBA seasons. Also, he has played in four NBA Finals, winning three of them and earning MVP honors for each championship team. To put Shaq's winning ways in perspective, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won over 50 games only three times in their entire history, and have never even played in an NBA Finals, let alone won the championship.
O'Neal has one of the most impressive histories of winning basketball games of all time; only Michael Jordan's résumé is better among NBA players in recent memory. Shaq was drafted as the first pick out of LSU in 1992 by the Orlando Magic. The Magic were one of the NBA's worst teams the year before O'Neal was drafted. However, Orlando won 60 games and made it to the NBA Finals just three years later, losing to the Houston Rockets. O'Neal then went to the L.A. Lakers in 1996, and quickly brought them back to glory. In 2000, with Shaq as the leader of the team, the Lakers won their first NBA championship since 1989. The Lakers went on to win the championship in 2001 and 2002 as well. This year's Miami squad is a favorite to win the championship, and at the very least should win the Eastern Conference.
So, what makes Shaquille O'Neal so good and such a winner? For starters, he is the most physically dominant player in the NBA. At 7'1" and at least 335 pounds, Shaq has the best combination of height and strength in the League. Some players like the Cavs' 7'3" center Zydrunas Ilgauskas are taller. However, Ilgauskas weighs 85 pounds less than Shaq and is less coordinated. Cavs backup power forward Robert Traylor, a fairly big man himself at 6'8" and 290 pounds, said that he felt like a weak midget when trying to cover Shaq. O'Neal's unique combination of massive size and surprising coordination has enabled him to average 26.8 points, 12 rebounds, and shoot over 53 percent from the field during his career. That type of production would help any team. However, O'Neal's passing ability, unselfish play, and defensive presence are what separate him from your average great player into a great player who also wins games.
It is hard to say how much longer Shaquille will be able to play. He is 33 years old, and the pounding he takes on the court will eventually take its toll. Yet, Shaq has missed only four games this season and is on pace to play 77 games, his highest total in over five years. Conceivably, O'Neal has another two to three and maybe as much as four years of high-caliber play ahead of him.
If a general manager wanted to build a dynasty, 20-year-old Lebron James is probably the best player to ensure long-term success in the game today. However, there exists no current NBA player with a better track record of winning than Shaquille O'Neal. At 33, he continues to propel his team to the next level of success. As long as the Heat have O'Neal, they will be the NBA's premier title contender.
