The Playoff Round: 2006 Eastern Conference Finals (Heat Win 4-2)
The Player & The Line: Shaquille O’Neal, 21.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.3 BPG on 65.5% shooting
The Context: This isn’t nearly as gaudy as some of prime Shaq’s playoff performances, nor does it seem to stack up to legendary efforts by Dwyane Wade and others, but I have a very soft spot for this Shaq performance, his best playoff series in a Heat uniform. The Heat (52-30) appeared to be outmatched against a Pistons team that went an absurd 64-18 on the season. Shaq twice faced defeats at the hands of the Wallaces (Walli?), Ben and Rasheed, in the 2004 Finals and the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals, so for him to turn back the clock and exact his revenge had to have been sweet for him. Shaq would close out the series with a dominant 28 point (12-14 FG), 16 rebound, 5 block demolition of the Pistons frontline, and the Heat handily won the series in 6 games, with only one of the four Heat victories in the series even being close.