O'Neal was the driving force behind three consecutive Lakers' NBA championships and four Finals appearances, and was arguably the most dominant physical force of all time.
O'Neal's departure was followed by several seasons of misery for the Lakers which included missing the postseason for only the second time in the history of the franchise, and two first-round exits shortly after.
Los Angeles acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2007-2008 season, and the fortunes of the franchise changed immediately, as Gasol helped the Lakers reach the Finals the very same year.
The Lakers lost to Boston in the 2008 Finals but won the NBA championship each of the next two seasons, and if Los Angeles reaches the Finals this year it will equal four Finals appearances in four years.
O'Neal led the Lakers to four Finals appearances, but not consecutively, and if Gasol is able to clinch his third straight championship, he will equal the number of titles won by O'Neal as a Laker in the same consecutive fashion.
Gasol will never be viewed in the same historical light as O'Neal, and he is nowhere near as physically intimidating, but is it possible that Gasol is actually a better fit for the Lakers?
Some may scoff at the notion, but so far both players have had similar results in terms of championships won, and the triangle offense has never looked smoother since Gasol manned the interior for Los Angeles.
When O'Neal was in Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson still depended on the triangle offense, but it was ran a little differently due to O'Neal's dominance in the paint.
O'Neal was always the Lakers' No. 1 option, but at times the offense looked stagnant because of...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
