For Lakers, It Was a One-Man Show
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The difference between basketball supermen was like the difference between the tattooed and T-shirt emblems of the man of steel.
Shaquille O’Neal, unlike Reggie Miller, can’t take his off. And O’Neal’s preeminent position in professional basketball was underscored and then some in Game 1 of the NBA finals.
The Lakers’ O’Neal destroyed the Indiana Pacers.
Unfortunately, Miller did like-wise.
O’Neal went for 43 points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots. Miller almost went for the collar, missing 15 of 16 shots. O’Neal scored on jams, rebounds, spins and jump shots. Miller scored on five free throws and a lone drive to the basket en route to a career playoff-low seven points.
Pair those performances and it was easy to figure the result: a 104-87 victory for the Lakers.
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