O’Neal, Mourning bury hatchet
MIAMI – They were once bitter rivals, sharing nothing but disdain for the other. From the moment Shaquille O’Neal was the No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, one spot ahead of Alonzo Mourning, the pair have been linked – and the relationship was never good. O’Neal once wanted to fight Mourning; in turn, Mourning questioned if O’Neal had any true basketball skill. Yet their marriage as Miami teammates has gone splendidly, with the two becoming fast friends because of a shared goal – delivering the Heat’s first NBA championship.
“He and I both want the same thing,” O’Neal said. “We want to get it done.”
In the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, a best-of-7 series now tied at a game apiece, O’Neal and Mourning have occasionally been paired on the court – although both are centers. When playing alongside O’Neal, Mourning moves to power forward.
“It’ll be a little more challenging for opponents when we’re in the game together,” Mourning said. “If they go past me, then they’ve got to see him. If they go past him, then they’ve got to see me.”
Both teams took Thursday off. Game 3 of the series is today on the Pistons’ home floor.
Late in Miami’s 92-86 win in Game 2 of the series on Wednesday night, Mourning proved invaluable, especially on the defensive end. He played eight minutes in the final quarter, officially being credited in that stint with two blocks; he appeared to warrant a third when Ben Wallace missed a dunk with 4:51 left.
Another Wallace shot was blocked by Mourning with 3:43 left, this one setting up Dwyane Wade for a layup that put Miami ahead 83-78. And Wallace tried to run over Mourning’s screen on Miami’s next possession, sending Mourning to the line for two free throws; he made both and put the Heat up by seven.
Mourning’s end-of-game numbers seemed modest: 22 minutes, six points, four blocks, two rebounds. But O’Neal heaped plenty of praise in Mourning’s direction.
“Zo’s definitely playing well, playing hard, blocking shots, playing good defense,” said O’Neal, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2. “It was great. He had my back a couple times, couple times I really couldn’t get to the rebound because I was trying to hold Ben Wallace off.”
Some of Detroit’s players, including Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace, said they didn’t think the O’Neal-Mourning pairing mattered much. But Detroit coach Larry Brown was a bit more complimentary.
“Zo, everybody forgets how good he is. But they did a good job,” Brown said Wednesday night. “Defensively they forced us a little outside. They challenged shots, they did a lot of good things.”
Mourning, who still takes numerous medications for his kidney disease and the resultant transplant, said he’s willing to play as much as Miami needs.
“It ain’t time to conserve nothing right now. It’s winning time,” Mourning said.
When the Heat re-signed Mourning as a free agent late in the regular season, many wondered if Shaq and Zo could peacefully coexist. The answer was a resounding ‘yes.’
On Tuesday, O’Neal picked up Mourning, and the two took Wade on a pep talk disguised as a joyride.
They stressed how important Wade was to Miami’s championship chances, how he should simply ignore what he was hearing about the way he played in a Game 1 loss. The chat sent Wade’s spirits soaring; he dropped 40 points on the Pistons in Game 2.
“I listen to guys who have been doing it for years.” Wade said. “And I just try to come out and make them proud.”