Dominant Sweep!

"We're already preparing for the Finals!"

After Game 3 between the Lakers and Spurs, O'Neal wore an unbearably smug expression as he faced the media.

The Texas reporters gritted their teeth as they watched O'Neal spout nonsense.

Reporters from other places, such as New York and North Carolina, simply watched with amused expressions.

"That's right! Even though I went 10 for 21 from the free-throw line, Shaq never goes soft on crucial free throws!"

"You should've seen it! I went 5 for 8 from the line in the fourth quarter! An outrageously high percentage."

"Any teams thinking about using the Hack-a-Shaq Strategy, listen up: that tactic can't possibly contain Diesel Shaq!"

O'Neal talked a mile a minute. On one hand, he wanted everyone to pay as little attention as possible to the fact that he had shot under fifty percent from the line. On the other, he did not want to face that tactic again in the games ahead.

Kobe had been disgusted.

O'Neal had been disgusted even worse!

Disgusting!

If Kobe had not fouled David Robinson out in the closing moments, and the Spurs had kept using Hack-a-Shaq when the game reached its decisive stretch, O'Neal truly had no confidence that his free-throw efficiency would be higher than the Spurs'.

"Popovich clearly didn't want to win! If fouling could earn you a playoff victory, then it would be an insult to the game of basketball!"

Off to the side, Popovich's face darkened.

And he had no way to refute it!

In a league where winners ruled, anything a loser said was wrong!

Besides, the Hack-a-Shaq Strategy really was unconventional, and in the closing stretch, the Spurs had collapsed because of it! Popovich could already imagine the media's vicious criticism the next day.

O'Neal was not entirely wrong!

A basketball