Can any coach find a way to stop Diesel? Does Superman have his kryptonite? Can a team find something to make The Big Aristotle think? That is, is Shaquille O'Neal stoppable?
These guys had their chance. They tried, they failed, they went home. Below are the coaches who have tried to beat the Lakers in big games with a strategy of intentionally fouling of Shaq whether he had the ball or not. This strategy is known as the Hack-a-Shaq. It never works, though, and this June the Lakers' fourth title in five years should prove it.
Don Nelson
Dallas Mavericks
Team record in last 28 games in Los Angeles: 1-27
While Nelson's Mavericks have never faced Shaq in the playoffs, he's often credited with inventing the Hack-a-Shaq and uses it more vigorously than anyone else.
After being called a bunch of clowns by Shaq, Nelson joined assistant (and former Lakers head coach) Del Harris in wearing clown noses prior to a Lakers/Mavericks game. Nelson having recently returned from cancer treatment, Shaq received him warmly before beating up on his team.
Mike Dunleavy
Portland Trailblazers
Lost 2000 Western Conference Finals 4-3
Yes, he came a within a quarter of winning, but it wasn't the Hack-a-Shaq that gave his Blazers a huge lead after three quarters in game 7. Besides, with Shaq shooting 67% from the stripe that night, the Hack-a-Shaq couldn't have stopped the Lakers' comeback anyway.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 13 | 27 | 0.481 |
| Game 2 | 5 | 17 | 0.294 |
| Game 3 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 |
| Game 4 | 9 | 9 | 1.000 |
| Game 5 | 7 | 12 | 0.583 |
| Game 6 | 3 | 10 | 0.300 |
| Game 7 | 8 | 12 | 0.667 |
| Series | 51 | 99 | 0.515 |
Larry Bird
Indiana Pacers
Lost 2000 NBA Finals 4-2
I doubt Larry Legend could have beaten Shaq even when he was playing. With Shaq guarding the paint, Laker defenders would be able to get right in his face. As a coach, the only reason his Pacers had a shadow of a chance was the injury to Shaq's best on-court ally Kobe Bryant. With Bryant slowed, Bird didn't even call for the fouls in the Game 5 win.
Note that MVP Shaq went 21-31 from the field in Game 1, when he only attempted 6 free throws. At least Bird tried one game without fouling.
This series is the greatest indictment of the Hack-a-Shaq. Most of the series Shaq shot poorly from the line, but the Pacers still lost.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 |
| Game 2 | 18 | 39 | 0.462 |
| Game 3 | 3 | 13 | 0.231 |
| Game 4 | 10 | 17 | 0.588 |
| Game 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 |
| Game 6 | 3 | 12 | 0.250 |
| Series | 36 | 93 | 0.387 |
Rick Adelman
Sacramento Kings
Lost 2002 Western Conference Finals 4-3
Everyone will remember Robert Horry's game-winner from this series, but 2002 also marked Adelman's failed attempt at the Hack-a-Shaq.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 |
| Game 2 | 5 | 11 | 0.455 |
| Game 3 | 2 | 6 | 0.333 |
| Game 4 | 9 | 13 | 0.692 |
| Game 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| Game 6 | 13 | 17 | 0.765 |
| Game 7 | 11 | 15 | 0.733 |
| Series | 44 | 69 | 0.638 |
Byron Scott
New Jersey Nets
Lost 2002 NBA Finals 4-0
This former teammate thought he knew Shaq's weakness, but the Hack-a-Shaq was fruitless as the Nets were swept away.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 12 | 21 | 0.571 |
| Game 2 | 12 | 14 | 0.857 |
| Game 3 | 11 | 17 | 0.647 |
| Game 4 | 10 | 16 | 0.625 |
| Series | 45 | 68 | 0.662 |
Gregg Popovich
San Antonio Spurs
Lost 2004 Western Conference Semifinals 4-2
This is the last coach I'd have expected to call for the Hack-a-Shaq. Without the fouling his Spurs have beaten Shaq's Lakers twice in the last 6 years on the way to two championships of their own. Desperate times call for desperate measures, though, and it seems that Popovich was not going to give up without a fight his first true chance at a championship repeat. So, he fruitlessly called for the fouls in game 6.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 3 | 13 | 0.231 |
| Game 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.286 |
| Game 3 | 6 | 11 | 0.545 |
| Game 4 | 8 | 11 | 0.727 |
| Game 5 | 1 | 5 | 0.200 |
| Game 6 | 7 | 15 | 0.467 |
| Series | 27 | 62 | 0.435 |
Flip Saunders
Minnesota Timberwolves
Lost 2004 Western Conference Finals 4-2
Flip Saunders said his team will foul Shaq 30 times if necessary after the hack-a-Shaq failed in game 3. He never got the chance to prove it, though. When he called for the fouls late in Game 6, the Lakers had enough of a cushion that Phil Jackson could pull Shaq from the game before he started the free-throw parade.
| Game | FT Made | FT Attempted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 9 | 11 | 0.818 |
| Game 2 | 6 | 14 | 0.429 |
| Game 3 | 8 | 22 | 0.364 |
| Game 4 | 7 | 15 | 0.467 |
| Game 5 | 5 | 11 | 0.455 |
| Game 6 | 7 | 20 | 0.350 |
| Series | 42 | 93 | 0.452 |