A series in which Shaquielle O'Neale averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds surely shouldn't have been as close as this one was. With the Lakers in search of their first title since their 1980s dominance, and the Pacers appearing in their first (and only) NBA Finals, both teams were particularly desperate to take the first championship of the 21st century. The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, which they extended to 3-1 in Indiana with a nervy overtime victory in Game 4. Despite the talismanic O'Neale fouling out with the game still incredibly close, Kobe Bryant proved his big-game credentials by nailing several crucial shots in the closing minutes. The Pacers roared back with an incredible 33-point margin of victory in Game 5, but the Lakers were able to close out the series with a game to spare. They would go on to complete a legendary "three-peat" between 2000 and 2002, but it was a feat so nearly derailed by Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, and the rest of an incredibly motivated Pacers lineup.
