The postgame press conference at Staples Center had long since been packed solid with reporters from across the United States.
Camera flashes flickered madly like stars in daylight, bathing the entire press room in glaring white light.
The air was thick with a peculiar blend of sweat, cigars, and stimulants. Every reporter's face was etched with urgency and anticipation, their cameras and microphones aimed like hungry beasts at the three figures seated on the podium—Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Glen Rice.
This 52-point rout was like a depth charge dropped into a tranquil lake, and the waves it stirred were enough to overturn the entire league's landscape.
"Shaq! Shaq!"
Mark Heisler, a veteran reporter from the Los Angeles Times, seized the first chance to ask a question. His voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Thirty-five points, eighteen rebounds, five blocks—you put up dominant numbers in just three quarters. Many people are saying this was the easiest and most efficient game of your career so far. Could you talk about what changes Phil Jackson's Triangle Offense has brought you?"
O'Neal's massive frame sank into his chair, his face carrying his trademark childlike, innocent grin.
Rather than cracking jokes or acting goofy as usual, he grew unusually serious.
"Changes? Man, this isn't change. This is evolution. This is rebirth."
O'Neal's voice was low and booming, echoing through the press room. "You all saw me play before, right? In Orlando, even last season in Los Angeles, I felt like a wild beast trapped in a cage. I had to start fighting for position from beyond the three-point line, then shove through two or three defenders like some damn football fullback just to get to the basket. It was tiring—really tiring—and it wasn't efficient."
He paused and looked toward Phil Jackson beside him, his eyes