Friday, June 7
Updated: June 8, 12:02 AM ET
 
With Shaq playing, Lakers are a lock
By Jerry Bembry
ESPN The Magazine

LOS ANGELES -- Two wins on their homecourt -- that's all the Lakers accomplished. Three upcoming games in New Jersey -- that's what the Nets look forward to.

And if it all falls into place for them, the Nets will take three straight on their home court, take a 3-2 lead in the series and return to Staples Center for two chances to dethrone the two-time defending champs.

Memo to those New Jersey fans who celebrated when they were able to secure Finals tickets for Game 5: It might be wise to make some alternate plans for Friday night.

After watching Shaquille O'Neal put up 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Lakers 106-83 win over the Nets, it's safe to say this series is over.

Done. Finished. Complete.

This is meant as no disrespect to the Nets. They're a fine team, led from the bench by a fine coach and led on the floor by a fine player. In the way the Lakers have controlled the Nets through two games just reaffirms what we've known all along: There's a huge disparity between Eastern and Western Conference basketball.

Is there a bigger disparity than having Shaq? The Nets had a day to devise a game plan to combat O'Neal after his huge performance in Game 1, but he was even bigger in Game 2. His 40/12/8 performance was more than the combined numbers of New Jersey's three-headed center of Todd MacCulloch, Aaron Williams and Jason Collins (combined 12 points, nine rebounds and zero assists).

"I don't know what to do against him now," New Jersey coach Byron Scott said. "The second half we doubled him a bit, and he kicked it out and got other guys involved. When we tried to come off the dribble, he's stepping through and getting his shot off."

O'Neal will win his third straight finals MVP award, and this is a big reason why: In the seven minutes that Shaq spent on the bench, the Lakers were minus-13 in scoring; in the 41 minutes he was on the court, the Lakers were +36.

The breakdown:

  • With O'Neal playing the first 11 minutes of the first quarter, the Lakers led by 10; after he sat, the Nets pulled within six.

  • With Shaq playing the first 11 minutes of the second quarter, the Lakers increased their lead from six to eight points; after Shaq, sat the Nets were within 49-43.

  • With Shaq on the court for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, the Lakers increased their six-point lead to 14; when he sat the final two minutes the Lakers actually increased the lead to 16 (77-61) going into the fourth quarter.

  • With Shaq sitting out the first 2:17 of the fourth quarter, the Lakers had their 16-point lead shrunk to seven (79-72) after the Nets opened the fourth with an 11-2 run; when he sat down with 1:07 left in the game, the Lakers were leading by 17 (100-83).

    Asked what he thinks during the times he saw Shaq leave the game, Jason Kidd replied: "Hopefully he keeps walking. But he doesn't. He sits right down, unfortunately."

    " Hopefully he keeps walking. "
    — Jason Kidd's thoughts, every time Shaq heads to the bench

    Unfortunately for the Nets, not all of their players have stepped up in this series. Keith Van Horn scored just nine points, and has now hit just eight of 23 shots over the two games.

    Kenyon Martin scored just six points, and has hit just nine of 30 shots.

    And MacCulloch ... well, let's just say Shaq has developed into a heckuva magician, because he has successfully made a 7-foot, 280-pound man disappear (two points and five rebounds in 15 ineffective minutes in Game 2 after a respectable 10 points and eight rebounds in the opener).

    Maybe the Nets can blame Kings coach Rick Adelman for this loss. Shaq said he was, um, enjoying the comforts while seated in his home when he saw a television interview in which Adelman questioned the legality of his free throws (Shaq has a tendency to step across the free throw line after he releases his shot).

    "Can't even do a number two in peace," O'Neal said. "(I'm) sitting there, grunting, flipping through channels ... can I go one day without someone saying anything negative about me?"

    So that's what we've been reduced to during these NBA finals -- the highlight being Shaq's postgame comedy routine.

    This Finals goes beyond four games only if Shaq wants to polish up on his material.

    This Finals goes beyond four games only if Shaq needs three games to get tickets for all of his Newark relatives.

    This Finals goes beyond four games only if Shaq wants to enjoy a week's vacation in the Big Apple.

    In scoring 40 points on Friday, O'Neal has now scored 40 or more points in five Finals games (his 34.2 scoring average in the Finals is second to Rick Barry's 36.3). What's scary -- he's getting better.

    In taking a 2-0 lead in the series, the Lakers are on the verge of giving coach Phil Jackson his third three-peat.

    The Nets can talk about playing at home, and maintaining serve and bringing their 'A' game all they want. But as along as Shaq is on the court, the Nets can only hope to get back to the Finals and face him next year.

    With, of course, reinforcements.

    Jerry Bembry is general editor (NBA) at ESPN The Magazine. He can be reached at Jerry.Bembry@espnpub.com.
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