I still remember the 2000 NBA playoffs like they happened yesterday. That was the year when Shaquille O'Neal finally silenced his critics and delivered one of the most dominant postseason performances in basketball history. Looking back at that epic bracket, what strikes me most isn't just the Lakers' eventual championship, but the incredible journey through what many consider the most physically demanding playoff format in modern NBA history. The first round alone featured brutal best-of-five series that tested teams' resilience from the opening tip-off.

When Shaq declared "I'm active now. I don't pick my opponents. I fight them all," he perfectly captured the mentality needed to survive that gauntlet. I've always admired that quote because it reflects the championship mindset - no excuses, no preferences, just readiness to compete against whoever stands in your way. The Lakers embodied this philosophy throughout their run, facing four different opponents with distinct styles and challenges. What many casual fans forget is that Portland actually finished with the same 59-23 regular season record as the Lakers, making them co-favorites heading into the playoffs.

The Western Conference Finals against Portland remains etched in my memory as the real championship series that year. I'd argue it was more intense than the actual Finals against Indiana. That Game 7 comeback still gives me chills - the Lakers trailing by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, looking completely defeated. Then came that iconic sequence: Shaq's thunderous dunk, Kobe's clutch plays, and of course, the alley-oop to Shaq that sealed the comeback. Statistics show the Lakers shot just 44% from the field that game but won through sheer defensive will, forcing 16 turnovers. That's what championship teams do - they find ways to win even when their offense isn't clicking.

What often gets overlooked in discussions about the 2000 playoffs is how physically demanding Shaq's workload was. He averaged a staggering 38 minutes per game throughout the postseason while carrying 345 pounds on his frame. The numbers still astonish me: 30.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in the Finals alone. I've watched basketball for over three decades, and I've never seen a more dominant force in the paint. His performance against Indiana's Rik Smits and Dale Davis was like watching a bulldozer operate against sedans.

The Eastern Conference side featured its own drama, with Reggie Miller's Pacers battling through what I consider one of the weaker Eastern brackets in recent memory. Their conference finals matchup against the Knicks went six games, with Miller averaging 24 points while shooting 41% from three-point range. People forget how close Indiana came to pushing the Lakers to a Game 7 - they lost Game 4 by just 5 points and Game 6 by 6 points. Had a couple possessions gone differently, we might be telling a completely different story about that season.

Reflecting on the complete bracket reveals how the playoff format itself shaped the narrative. The first-round matchups created immediate pressure - no warm-up games, no room for slow starts. Sacramento took the Lakers to five games in the opening round, with Chris Webber putting up 26 points and 14 rebounds in their elimination game. That series alone drained the Lakers more than people realize, yet they responded with Shaq's mentality of fighting all comers without complaint.

The legacy of that championship extends beyond the trophy. It established the Shaq-Kobe dynasty that would win two more titles, and it set the standard for dominant big men in the modern era. Personally, I believe this championship run influenced how teams built their rosters for years afterward - the emphasis on having an unstoppable force in the paint became the blueprint for success. Teams like the 2001 Sixers with Mutombo and the 2003 Spurs with Duncan followed this model to championship success.

Watching those playoffs unfold taught me something fundamental about sports greatness. It's not just about talent - it's about the mentality Shaq expressed. Being "active now" means showing up when it matters most, embracing every challenge without preference or prejudice. That Lakers team could have folded multiple times - against Portland, against Indiana, even against Sacramento. Instead, they fought them all, and in doing so, created one of the most memorable championship journeys in NBA history. The numbers only tell part of the story; the heart and determination complete it.