Buck Harvey: Shaq walks away, and it's personal
Web Posted: 04/30/2008 01:27 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-news
Shaquille O?Neal walked down the court with some grace. No more words, no more bravado.
He reached out with his fist, and there was Tim Duncan with his, and their fists tapped.
Then O?Neal walked away, having not only lost a game but also a personal battle with the other great big man of this era.
Now Duncan, after a series that was far tighter than the 5-game length suggests, is in position to become the greatest.
Duncan had a few things going for him in this first round, such as the best point guard. Tony Parker took over again, almost as well as he did in Game 3 in Phoenix, and the contrast to Steve Nash was just as startling.
Nash ended with five turnovers while making only 4 of 16 shots, and a final moment ruined the Suns. Then, down by only two with 24 seconds left, an inbounds pass glanced off his hands and out of bounds.
But that was merely one of a seemingly thousand critical plays, with Duncan being involved in most. He defended Shaq and Amare Stoudemire, and he piled up 29 points and 17 rebounds, and he stayed out of foul trouble.
The best big man? There was never a doubt, when once there was a lot. Duncan and Shaq have been the standard of excellence in the league, and a common statistic says how much. Since Michael Jordan retired, one or the other has been in every NBA Finals.
For Shaq, there?s a lot of symmetry involved. He came out of a San Antonio high school, after all, and he persisted in creating a rivalry with another Spurs big man, David Robinson.
But ultimately, Duncan became Shaq?s adversary. Shaq eliminated Duncan three times (2001, 2002 and 2004), and now Duncan has eliminated Shaq three times (1999, 2003 and this season).
They?ve also won four titles each, and Shaq has been well aware of this. When he arrived in Phoenix two months ago, he told one teammate of his goal.
"I need to get my fifth ring," Shaq said, "before Duncan gets his."
Duncan has to do a few things before he gets his fifth. The younger Hornets have routed the Spurs a few times this season, and the Spurs won?t have the home-court advantage.
Then there?s Chris Paul: Parker will find he?s not a 34-year-old Nash.
But Duncan, not Shaq, is the one with the chance now, and Tuesday outlined a reason. There?s a 15-foot shot called a free throw, and Gregg Popovich asked Shaq to make a few.
"I just find it quite funny that when you?re up 20 that you do it," Shaq said after Game 4. "It still shows me that I?m the most feared 36-year-old guy on the planet."
What it really showed after he missed 11 free throws Tuesday: Shaq is one of the worst-shooting 36-year-old guys on the planet.
The strategy didn?t say much about Popovich?s confidence in his defense. But it was theater every time Shaq went to the line, with the crowd howling.
Shaq has always said he makes them when he has to. Memphis? John Calipari coincidentally said the same this month in San Antonio, and that didn?t work out, either, in the Final Four.
The Suns were once one of the best free-throwing shooting teams in the league. Shaq made them one of the worst. At halftime, the Spurs had made all 12 of their attempts; the Suns, with twice as many attempts then, scored one fewer point at the line.
In the past, a few teams have hacked Duncan the same way. But he got past those yips, which is fitting. The most complete big man in this era has gotten past everything.
He saved Game 1 with his 3-pointer, and a similar touch was required for the finale. He threw in a 20-footer over Shaq in the middle of the fourth quarter to pull the Spurs within one, then Parker found him for a score.
Minutes later, with the score tied and the 24-second clock running down, Duncan threw in a one-hand runner, and the Spurs would never trail again.
With that, Duncan?s spotless record in the first round remained intact. With that, Duncan heads toward New Orleans with his first repeat possible.
With that, he?s left Shaq behind.
