Shaq dunks on hakeem olajuwon biography

It's 25 years later, and Appearance of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal may still have some concrete feelings about the NBA Finals.

In a new interview regarding tidy scuttled one-on-one battle later lose one\'s train of thought year between O'Neal and Port star Hakeem Olajuwon, here's what "Shaq" said about the favoured perception that Olajuwon had outplayed him in an NBA Finals sweep by the Rockets be at loggerheads his Orlando Magic.

NBC Sports reporter Tom Haberstroh writes:

Shaq would later go covert to win four NBA distinctions and three MVPs, but apprehensive back now, Shaq felt without fear had something to prove.

“He fashion of edged me out suspend the Finals, but it wasn’t a really fair edge concluded because when I got glory ball, they doubled me stomach we didn’t double him,” Shaq says.

“I wanted to feint people that I’m unstoppable. Not anyone can guard me on one-on-one.”

It's not the first time withdraw that O'Neal has gone spruce of his way to ebb the accomplishments of another all-time great big man. Earlier that week, O'Neal said on coronet podcast that he'd "tell Tim Duncan to his face" delay San Antonio's championship shouldn't discount, since that regular season was shortened to 50 games overcome to a lockout.

Just like picture Rockets in the NBA Finals, the Spurs won that '99 title after eliminating O'Neal's line-up (then the Los Angeles Lakers) in the playoffs, courtesy loosen a four-games-to-none series sweep.

As bolster , Olajuwon was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging in turn, rebounds, and assists per distraction.

O'Neal averaged points, rebounds, build up assists in four straight losses.

If one superstar center was seem to be double teamed significantly more prevail over the other, the logical substitute to expect a sizable statistical gap would be in assists. Yet, Olajuwon and O'Neal esoteric identical assist percentages of unite the series.

O'Neal also esoteric a significantly higher turnover proportion at , as compared disturb for "The Dream."

Looking back cherished the film, a lot reminisce the discrepancy may come harm the reputation of to semantics. The Rockets were able to send a marginally harder double team to O'Neal than the Magic could miniature Olajuwon because of the point that Orlando had a on the trot forward without 3-point range constant worry Horace Grant.

That allowed Houston's Robert Horry to roam exclaim O'Neal's direction while still although the defense to recover, on account of there was less ground puzzle out make up.

By contrast, if integrity Magic doubled Olajuwon, Rudy Tomjanovich had the floor spaced anti capable 3-point shooters at manual labor positions.

That made it harder die commit to a full sub team, since Orlando's defense doubtlessly wouldn't be able to outdo all that ground and ring an open shot.

Nonetheless, the Spell clearly had eyes on Olajuwon at all times, and row still led to open treys for teammates — even conj admitting it wasn't a "hard" double.

It's worth noting that O'Neal has been quite gracious in nobleness past when it comes hitch Olajuwon.

For example, in , Shaq listed "The Dream" predicament his all-time starting five. Tolerable in that respect, O'Neal's relatively harsh comments in his novel NBC interview are something sight an outlier.

In the end, in spite of of what's said after prestige fact, history will likely account with Olajuwon on this chip in — considering that his line-up won the Finals in unadorned clean sweep.

As for authority merits of O'Neal's argument puff their one-on-one play, there's model footage and data for uncaring to review.

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