"We had a chance until we woke up the sleeping giant" - Allen Iverson looks back on Shaquille O'Neal's dominant performance in the 2001 NBA Finals
Allen Iverson produced the performances of his life in the 2001 NBA Finals against Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers. AI dropped a 48-point masterpiece in Game 1 to stun the defending champs.
Iverson’s jaw-dropping display was all the impetus O'Neal needed to prove that he was the most dominant player in the NBA. He helped the Lakers rattle off four straight wins to secure the title. O'Neal went on to win the Finals MVP award after dismantling every defensive scheme Philly threw at him.
Iverson recalled the series and O'Neal's dominance in a recent post on Instagram.
“We had a chance until we woke up the sleeping giant. @Shaq Finals MVP 33.0/15.8/4.8”
O'Neal captured the second of three straight Finals MVP trophies that year after averaging 33 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.4 blocks per game. The fact that he did it against Dikembe Mutombo, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was inspiring.
O'Neal didn’t have a bad Game 1 against Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers. He finished with 44 points, 20 rebounds and five assists, but it was “The Answer” who smoked the Lakers in overtime.
Shaq on Sixers after they won
game 1 in 2001 NBA Finals
“They were screaming down the hall like they won a championship” twitter.com/AdamLefkoe/sta…
The diminutive guard only managed three points in the fourth quarter, but exploded for seven points in OT, to rally the 76ers from a five-point deficit.
Still to this day one of the coldest performances we’ve ever seen. A 5-foot-11, 165 pound guard did this.Game 1 2001 NBA Finals: Allen Iverson puts up 48 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals to lead the heavy underdog Sixers over Kobe & Shaq’s Lakers 😤🔥 Still to this day one of the coldest performances we’ve ever seen. A 5-foot-11, 165 pound guard did this. https://t.co/XSpJPCD1Gt
Before the loss to Iverson’s 76ers in Game 1 of the finals, O'Neal and the Lakers had an immaculate postseason record. The shocking Game 1 upset against Philly lit a fire under O'Neal and the Lakers and they dismantled the 76ers across the rest of the series.
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Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers had no answer for Shaquille O'Neal in the 2001 NBA Finals
The biggest subplot entering the 2001 NBA Finals was the mouthwatering matchup between Shaquille O'Neal and Dikembe Mutombo. “Deke” was already a four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and had built a reputation as one of the best defenders the league had ever seen.
Mutombo was Philly’s big trade acquisition in 2001 and they knew he would have to play an important role if they were to upset the Lakers in the postseason.
Shaq DESTROYING 4x DPOY Dikembe Mutombo in the 2001 finals https://t.co/lAKx3wEKNS
In the end, Mutombo, Matt Geiger, Tyrone Hill, Todd MacCulloch and the kitchen sink couldn’t stop O'Neal. He was only slowed down by his struggles from the free-throw line.
#OnThisDate, in 2001, the @Lakers went 15-1 in the #NBAPlayoffs en route to their 13th @NBA Championship.
@SHAQ, winning his 2nd of 3 #NBAFinals MVP, led them past the @sixers in 5 games. #LakeShow https://t.co/arzJMSkuJs
O'Neal was horrible from the 4.5-meter mark, hitting only 51.3% of his attempts. O'Neal’s averages would have been even more jaw-dropping had he hit at least 75% of his free throwns. It didn't matter, though, as the Lakers won the championship and he lifted the Finals MVP award.