I still remember the 2000 NBA playoffs like they happened yesterday. That was the year when Shaquille O'Neal finally silenced all his critics and delivered one of the most dominant postseason performances in basketball history. You know, looking back at that epic bracket now, what strikes me most isn't just the Lakers' eventual championship, but how dramatically different each round felt. The Western Conference alone was absolutely stacked with contenders - from the Trail Blazers to the Jazz to the Spurs - and each series had its own unique flavor and intensity.
When Shaq famously declared "I'm active now. I don't pick my opponents. I fight them all," he perfectly captured the mentality that would define that championship run. I've always admired that quote because it reflects the kind of mindset you need to survive the grueling NBA playoffs. The Lakers entered the postseason with a 67-15 record, which remains one of the best in league history, but regular season success means nothing if you can't deliver when it matters most. What made that Lakers team special was their ability to flip a switch when the playoffs began, transforming from a talented regular season squad into an absolute juggernaut.
Their first-round matchup against the Sacramento Kings went exactly as expected - a clean sweep where the Lakers won by an average margin of 17.5 points. I remember watching those games thinking Sacramento just had no answer for Shaq's physical dominance in the paint. He averaged 29.3 points and 15.8 rebounds in that series, numbers that still boggle my mind when I look them up. But the real test came in the second round against the Phoenix Suns, a team that pushed the Lakers harder than many anticipated. That series went the full five games, with Game 4 being particularly memorable - the Suns mounted a huge comeback that had Lakers fans sweating until the final buzzer.
The Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers was, in my opinion, the true championship series that year. Portland had built what many called a "super team" with players like Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace, and Steve Smith. That series went to seven incredible games, with the Lakers overcoming a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 7. I'll never forget the iconic alley-oop from Kobe to Shaq that essentially sealed the game - it's one of those moments that gets better every time you watch the replay. What many people forget is that the Trail Blazers actually outscored the Lakers in three of the first six games, making their collapse in Game 7 all the more dramatic.
When the Lakers finally reached the Finals against the Indiana Pacers, most analysts considered it a formality. But Reggie Miller's Pacers put up a much stronger fight than anyone expected, taking Game 5 and forcing the series to six games. Shaq was simply unstoppable, averaging 38 points and 16.7 rebounds throughout the series and rightfully earning the Finals MVP. What often gets overlooked is how crucial Kobe Bryant's development was during that playoff run - his 28 points in the closeout Game 6 showed glimpses of the superstar he would become.
Reflecting on that entire playoff bracket two decades later, what stands out to me is how perfectly it encapsulated the transition era of the NBA. We had veteran teams like the Jazz and Pacers making their last serious championship pushes, while the Lakers represented the new generation ready to take over. The physical style of play was noticeably different from today's game - teams averaged about 92 points per game compared to today's 110-plus scoring environment. Defense was rougher, the pace was slower, and every possession felt like a battle.
That championship run established the Lakers as the team of the new millennium and set the stage for their three-peat. Personally, I believe the 2000 playoffs featured some of the most compelling basketball we've ever seen, with storylines that would make any screenwriter jealous. From the Lakers' dramatic comeback against Portland to Shaq's complete dominance, these moments have become part of NBA folklore. The bracket itself tells such a rich story about competition, resilience, and what it takes to win when everything is on the line. Even now, watching highlights from those games gives me chills - it was basketball at its absolute finest, played with an intensity that today's players would recognize but might struggle to match.
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