LAL

#1 – Los Angeles Lakers
2001 NBA Champions

Number 1 Seed: Western Conference

01lakers

The Lakers were coming off their first NBA title since 1988 and Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal proclaimed they would go back to back. The regular season was not as dominant as expected, but the Lakers still managed to win 56 games and earn the number one seed in the West. Riding an 8-game winning streak to end the season, this team continued their dominating play in the postseason. Behind superstars Shaquille O’Neal & Kobe Bryant, the Lakers won their first 11 postseason games (making it 19 games in a row going back to the regular season), sweeping three 50+ win teams (Blazers, Kings, Spurs). In the NBA Finals, the Lakers would face 2001 MVP Allen Iverson and the 76ers. The Sixers stunned the Lakers, and the world in Game 1 behind Allen Iverson’s 48 points, beating the Lakers and taking home-court advantage. Down in a series for the first time this post season, the Lakers responded with four straight wins against the 76ers, winning the NBA Title in Game 5 on the road in Philly. Shaquille O’Neal took home NBA Finals MVP for the second straight season.

Team Playoff Stats

Playoff Record: 15 wins, 1 loss
Points Per Game: 103.4 | Opponents PPG: 90.6 | Difference: +12.8
Offensive Rating: 111.6 | Defensive Rating: 97.9 | Difference: +13.7

Full 2001 Lakers Stats available here

The Real MVPs

Image result for kobe shaq 2001 playoffs — **Shaq:** 30.4 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 3.2 apg, 56% FG *(Finals MVP)*
**Kobe:** 29.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 56% TSP

NBA 2K Roster & Ratings

Starters in Bold

C – Shaquille O’Neal (97)
SG – Kobe Bryant (96)
SF – Rick Fox (82)
PF – Horace Grant (80)
PG – Derek Fisher (78)
PF – Robert Horry (78)
SG – Isaiah Rider (77)
PG – Ron Harper (77)
SG – Brian Shaw (76)
PG – Tyronn Lue (75)
SF – Devean George (74)
PF – Mark Madsen (73)
PG – Mike Penberthy (68)

2K Tournament Results

First Round (Best-of-7)

(1) 2001 Los Angeles Lakers vs (9) ’71 Bucks or (10) ’72 Lakers

Results coming on 8/31/17