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25 Greatest Performances In NBA Finals History

By Bill Speros

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O'Neal (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Dikembe Mutombo (L) of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter of game two of the NBA Finals 08 June 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 76ers lead the best of seven game series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/JEFF HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O’Neal (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Dikembe Mutombo (L) of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter of game two of the NBA Finals 08 June 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 76ers lead the best of seven game series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/JEFF HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

12. Shaquille O’Neal, L.A. Lakers vs. Philadelphia, Game 2 (2001)

The Big Aristotle/Shaqtus/Shaq Daddy/Diesel/Superman/Wilt Chamberneezy had more than enough nicknames. They all seemed to fit a man who stood 7-feet-1 and weighed anywhere between 300 and 350 pounds during his six-team NBA career.

For all of his largess and hype, Shaq surpassed it all with his superlatives on the court, especially during the biggest of games and biggest of moments. One of those extra-extra-extra-extra-extra large moments occurred in Game 2 of the 2001 NBA Finals against Philadelphia.

Despite O’Neal scoring 44 points, the Lakers saw their 19-game winning streak end in Game 1 at the hands of Allen Iverson and the Sixers. Shaq stepped as only Shaq could in Game 2.

Shaq swallowed 20 rebounds and added 28 points, nine assists and tied an NBA playoff-record with eight rejections in 45 minutes of hard labor on the court. It was nearly a quadruple-double, Shaq falling just one assist and two swats short.

And hope of a Philly upset in the series was squashed beneath Shaq’s throw weight. The Lakers won it in five.

Next: Big Game James Earns The Nickname