This destroys the narrative that young teams always win titles. Because the Jazz, Bulls and Rockets we're all older teams here in 97 and all three were in the conference finals. The Heat we're younger but a older Bulls team destroyed them.
Jazz: Experienced team. Lakers: Up and coming team. And boy, did it show in 1997 and 1998. By the time the Lakers were title contenders (and champions), the Stockton/Malone Jazz were on their last legs. Too bad we didn't get one more series between these teams.
The Jazz were weak opponents. Outside of Shaq, this Laker team was soft, played no defense, and had no continuity. Shaq is the biggest person on the court and didn’t have one block for the entire first half.
@@JayYo21 LOL.. The video says otherwise.. He fouled out.. Is that dominance really?? Shaq dominated when all the greats had grown too old.. Name one HOF center in his prime that Shaq dominated?? Just one
@@kaybigg MJ played mediocre SGs in 90’s at best so take away all his accomplishments?! Shaq put up huge numbers on every center he played from 1993 to 2006 so stop it lol. HOF Alonzo Mourning was DPOY in 1999 and 2000 and finished top 3 in MVP in 2000. HOF Mutumbo was DPOY in 2001, led the league in rebounds, top 5 in blocks. HOF monster in Ben Wallace. The twin towers and the best double team Shaq ever faced in HOF Duncan and HOF Robinson who were both top 10 in MVP voting and top 5 in DPOY. HOF in Sabonis and HOF in Vlade. Like if that’s not great competition Jokic is trash!!! Dwight Howard is trash!! MJ is trash!! I can tear down everybody with that logic
@@kaybigg Shaq went to 6 nba finals with 3 different teams, 4 rings and 3 straight FMVPs which has only been done by MJ. Shaq is 5th all time in playoff scoring, 4th all time in playoff rebounds, 4th all time in playoff blocks and top 5 in playoff win shares all time. Shaq has his jersey retired at LSU with a statue up, Shaq his jersey retired as the first player in Orlando Magic history, Shaq has his jersey retired with Lakers with a statue up and Shaq has his jersey retired with the Heat. If you can do better go for it man.
Well, Nick van Exel realized (or accepted) he's not a leader-ish, constant All-Star PG. And it's unfair Shaq made him the scapegoat after being swept by the same Jazz in 1998, prompting management trading him to Denver. He's a 2-guard in a PG's physique, and that mentality and style was maximized in Dallas (2002-2003), eventually having respectable stints in GSW and Portland (but less winning).
I seen Oster block Shaq 3 times in one game. That was before shaq sold out to the league enough so they later let him do the jabroni James push off all the time .
Kobe was hungry to take those game winning shots. Watching this game ppl couldn’t have guessed what Kobe turned into because he hailed 2 game winning shots and got his team eliminated. You could tell how deeply it effected him. Such competition and competitors that is non existent in todays age of player branding, sports betting and scripting games. RIP Sports
Kinda funny Shaq consoling and giving pointers to Kobe (see 24:14 - 24:21). Few years later, they're tearing each other apart. Sigh. If only Phil Jackson, who masterfully kept their clashing egos aside, didn't come. Shaq would have the most career Playoff exits via sweep. In pre-Jax era, Shaq had 5 of 6. This series is the lone exception.
