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In the NBA, there's an unwritten rule: when a player who's been traded faces their former team, the new team often gives them extra opportunities to shine, to make their ex-team regret their decision. This is especially true for superstars like Shaquille O'Neal.
O'Neal still can't believe the Lakers chose Kobe over him. In interviews, he's repeatedly expressed his anger, vowing to make the Lakers pay for trading him. He even said he'd help Dwyane Wade win a championship, which shows just how determined he was to prove his value.
So far, O'Neal and Wade have led the Miami Heat to a strong start. By Christmas, they held a 21-7 record, a solid standing comparable to the Lakers, whose performance has been inconsistent.
Wade, not disappointing anyone, averaged 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, making him one of the best players from the 2003 draft class, alongside LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony. O'Neal, too, was playing well, averaging 23.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, with an impressive 60% shooting percentage, although his free throws remained dismal at 46.1%.
The Lakers, on the other hand, had one glaring weakness this season: a lack of inside presence. How could they possibly deal with O'Neal, who was still dominant despite being at the tail end of his career?
On the night of December 25th, the Staples Center was aglow with lights, drenched in the festive red of Christmas. Fans filled the arena early, buzzing with excitement about what promised to be an intense showdown.
As the entertainment capital of the world, the Staples Center was always packed with celebrities during key games like this Christmas match and the Finals. Tonight was no different, with the camera frequently focusing on famous faces in the crowd, drawing cheers from the audience.
But the fans were here for basketball, not just star-watching. As the lights dimmed, the live DJ's booming voice began to announce the starting lineups.
The first name caught everyone off guard.
"Height: 6'7", weighing 215 pounds, playing small forward: Caron Butler!"
Wait, Butler was starting as a small forward? What position would Wang Chong play?
Next came starting point guard Chucky Atkins, followed by Lamar Odom, then Wang Chong, and finally, Kobe Bryant.
O'Neal listened to the roaring applause for Kobe, feeling bitter. Just months ago, those cheers had been for him.
The cheers fueled O'Neal's resolve: he was determined to defeat the Lakers.
But then something puzzled him. The DJ had announced the starting five, yet not one of them was a center. Chris Mihm, the Lakers' usual center, was missing from the lineup. O'Neal couldn't figure out what the Lakers were planning. Was this their way of conceding the game?
Even Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy frowned, clearly confused by the Lakers' choice. Fans were murmuring, and the warm-ups had begun.
Wang Chong approached O'Neal and Wade for a quick greeting before the game officially started. O'Neal, though still on bad terms with the Lakers, remained friendly toward Wang Chong, having maintained contact with him since they were teammates.
"Kid, what's going on? Are you guys even taking this game seriously?" O'Neal asked, puzzled.
Wang Chong smiled. "You'll see why we're running this lineup once the game starts."
After the brief exchange, it was time for the game to begin.
O'Neal lined up for the tip-off against Odom, who was much smaller than him. Yet surprisingly, Odom won the jump ball. The Lakers quickly set up their offense. O'Neal noticed something strange: Odom was standing out at the three-point line instead of in the paint. Was he really going to shoot from there? Odom wasn't known for his three-point accuracy, though he could make the occasional shot.
Still, O'Neal was forced to step out and guard him, allowing Kobe to break free and score on a reverse layup. It became clear that the Lakers were targeting O'Neal's lack of mobility.
O'Neal shrugged it off. He'd have his revenge on the next possession. When the Heat came down the court, O'Neal posted up immediately, received the ball, and was ready to power through for a dunk. But just as he was about to make his move, Odom fouled him hard on the arm.
The referee blew the whistle, and O'Neal looked over, irritated. Odom had that mischievous grin that said, "Yeah, I fouled you on purpose."
Phil Jackson, the Lakers coach, smirked from the sidelines. It was a smart strategy—hack-a-Shaq. With O'Neal's poor free-throw shooting, fouling him made sense.
Sure enough, O'Neal missed both free throws, giving the Lakers another chance to attack. This time, Odom stayed outside again, forcing O'Neal to make a choice: stay in the paint or guard Odom on the perimeter. O'Neal stayed inside, daring Odom to shoot, but Odom passed the ball to Wang Chong, who nailed a three-pointer.
The Lakers quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, using their unconventional small-ball lineup to confuse the Heat.
O'Neal tried to dominate inside again on the next possession, easily dunking on Odom. But the Lakers weren't bothered—they immediately sprinted down the court, taking advantage of their speed. Odom led a fast break, passing to Caron Butler for an easy layup.
The score was now 7-2, and O'Neal found himself struggling to keep up with the Lakers' quick pace.
And so the game continued, with the Lakers running circles around the Heat using their unorthodox strategy, frustrating O'Neal and testing the limits of the Heat's defense.
End of chapter
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