Shaq 27pts-15reb & Penny 24pts-11reb vs. Hawks G5 1996 Playoffs

boxscore: www.basketball-...

[@Rennyyl]

Penny was a 4x all star, and even when shaq left and he left orlando, he still showed glimpses of his old athleticism he had before injuries. Also, he was an olympic gold basketball player and had 8 nike basketball shoes. . . Any true basketball player will tell you he's one of the greatest.

[@46VerbalSelfDefenseSkills]

penny, one of the greatest ever!!

[@slimslide5880]

Penny should be in HOF

[@Rennyyl]

Also he was recognized by his airness as the future of the league and given his signiture pair of jordan IX's. And when Jordan first seen Penny after he was given the Flight One's, Jordan wore some to show his respect for Penny.

[@lionelangemario]

@Domini478 he is,maybe not in terms of achievements but in terms of "level of play",he absolutely is. at his best,he is better than the modern superstars...

[@alexnagy2044]

"Scottie and Michael are gonna be hard to stop." - Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway

[@alexl.4362]

Ironically Orlando could've tried to get Shaq after he left the Lakers, instead won a championship with the Heat. What a slap in the face all around for the Magic

[@anthonyscarpa6107]

I have those shoes but in Red white and blue

[@Wis_Dom]

Orlando was like: "Chicago, here we come!"

[@meg-k-waldren]

and 4 games later. there they go. reasons Magic lost: 1. no BJ Armstrong to post up on all the time causing Bulls to double. 2. No shots for Grant, Scott, and Anderson because of 1. 3. too much team D focus on MJ. Hence, Kerr, Buechler, and even John Salley scoring. Big no, no. 4. Hawks series too easy (not good preparation). Bulls on other hand faced gritty Knicks for 2nd round. 5. Jeff Turner and Anthony Avent traded, waived or let go, meaning no PF off the bench behind Grant. 6. Defense. Harper, MJ, Pippen, Rodman. Ouch.

[@PhilBurr100]

@@meg-k-waldren Don't forget Horace Grant's shoulder injury after game 1, he was lost for the rest of the series, also Orlando had no bench at all.

[@superman1113215]

those are some sick shoes that shaq is wearing

[@VariableYoung]

what a great time!!!

[@bdww4072]

As things turned out, we only got to witness a glimpse of what Penny Hardaway was during his peak. I estimate about 1.5 years of his career showcase that level of talent. This peak started during the playoffs of Penny's second season and carried through the playoffs of his third. Due to an injury that occurred during the aforementioned playoffs of year two, but mostly due to the dwindling reserve of cartilage in his knee(a), Penny was never *consistently* able to reach that level of dominance again. An injury in the Olympics didn't help Penny for the start of his first year without Shaq but it's important for people to understand that it was the slow breakdown of cartilage in Hardaway’s knee(s), not the fact that Shaq had left town, that brought Penny's game down from 1st team all NBA level to 3rd team. Unfortunately, doctors during that time period weren't able to properly diagnose Penny's injuries so they gave him the green light to play which just became a matter of pain tolerance. Anfernee was a tough sob so not only did he not complain, but he played 38mpg which in turned sped up the process of cartilage deterioration. There was a higher percentage of nights in his 4th season where he didn't have that same level of explosiveness. Despite this happening, he was still good enough to make 3rd team all NBA but his efficiency and numbers weren't what they would have been if he was as healthy as he was the years prior. How did Penny handle all of this? By doing what he always did, pushing through whatever obstacles he faces, never complaining or making excuses and consistently rising to the occasion when his team needed him most. In the playoffs of that 4th season of pain, Penny put on one of the greatest performances from a player of a losing team in NBA history, all while facing the daunting #1 defense Miami Heat and Alonzo Mourning. Mr.Hardaway averaged 31ppg while getting to the line over 10 times per contest. He averaged 6 boards, 3 assists, 4 stocks (steals+blocks) with less than 2 turnovers per contest but due to a lack of help for Anfernee, the Magic couldn't win the series Unfortunately an injury the next season would mark the end of Penny's prime. Somehow he managed to play another 9 injury riddled seasons in the association where occasionally he would show glimpses of what once was. He also ALWAYS seemed to hit another level in the playoffs even with his broken down body at age 32 while playing for the Knicks (I bet you don't remember he averaged 17ppg that series. Wtf!?). To conclude, we may not have had much time to take it all in, but the short time we did see Penny at his best was something special. They decided that he didn't belong (I agree) as one of the top 75 but…. if you were somehow able to snatch 24 year old Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway from time, there aren't 50 players I'd rather have one my team in a league of all the all time greats at their respective peaks.

[@RohoicRamz94]

Domini said..He only had 3 good seasons and was a 3 time all star..Thats fuckin great..not im terms of all time greatness but Penny was a great player.

[@charlesberry4885]

He was 4 time all star, also MVP in rookie game, 3 time all NBA and also went to finals in 1995!

[@bdww4072]

As things turned out, we only got to witness a glimpse of what Penny Hardaway was during his peak. I estimate about 1.5 years of his career showcase that level of talent. This peak started during the playoffs of Penny's second season and carried through the playoffs of his third. Due to an injury that occurred during the aforementioned playoffs of year two, but mostly due to the dwindling reserve of cartilage in his knee(a), Penny was never *consistently* able to reach that level of dominance again. An injury in the Olympics didn't help Penny for the start of his first year without Shaq but it's important for people to understand that it was the slow breakdown of cartilage in Hardaway’s knee(s), not the fact that Shaq had left town, that brought Penny's game down from 1st team all NBA level to 3rd team. Unfortunately, doctors during that time period weren't able to properly diagnose Penny's injuries so they gave him the green light to play which just became a matter of pain tolerance. Anfernee was a tough sob so not only did he not complain, but he played 38mpg which in turned sped up the process of cartilage deterioration. There was a higher percentage of nights in his 4th season where he didn't have that same level of explosiveness. Despite this happening, he was still good enough to make 3rd team all NBA but his efficiency and numbers weren't what they would have been if he was as healthy as he was the years prior. How did Penny handle all of this? By doing what he always did, pushing through whatever obstacles he faces, never complaining or making excuses and consistently rising to the occasion when his team needed him most. In the playoffs of that 4th season of pain, Penny put on one of the greatest performances from a player of a losing team in NBA history, all while facing the daunting #1 defense Miami Heat and Alonzo Mourning. Mr.Hardaway averaged 31ppg while getting to the line over 10 times per contest. He averaged 6 boards, 3 assists, 4 stocks (steals+blocks) with less than 2 turnovers per contest but due to a lack of help for Anfernee, the Magic couldn't win the series Unfortunately an injury the next season would mark the end of Penny's prime. Somehow he managed to play another 9 injury riddled seasons in the association where occasionally he would show glimpses of what once was. He also ALWAYS seemed to hit another level in the playoffs even with his broken down body at age 32 while playing for the Knicks (I bet you don't remember he averaged 17ppg that series. Wtf!?). To conclude, we may not have had much time to take it all in, but the short time we did see Penny at his best was something special. They decided that he didn't belong (I agree) as one of the top 75 but…. if you were somehow able to snatch 24 year old Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway from time, there aren't 50 players I'd rather have one my team in a league of all the all time greats at their respective peaks.

[@RedWarrior081]

the Magic zapped the Hawks out 4-1 only to be gored by the Bulls 4 straight in their ECF duel lol

[@meg-k-waldren]

Today's NBA player is scratching their head at 4:42 Penny hesitation move. "What was that?" A hesitation dribble. "What's a hesitation dribble?" A lost art pal, like the sky hook and runners. "What's a runner?"

[@egpytiankobe]

And I was dumb enough to believe Penny when he said "We're very confident." Oh the young and naive Magic fan at 11 years old. Later that year I found out the Easter Bunny wasn't real.

[@necyasports]

They lost Horace in game 1 and then Nick and Brian, it's life. Imagine if the Bulls lost Rodman in game 1 then steve kerr and Ron Harper. Plus Penny hurt his tigh during game 2 vs Atlanta. It's reallly too bad, that could have been an amazing series with everyone.

[@ChrisM07]

@@necyasports Grant actually initially injured his elbow in this game before he got the bigger injury in the ECF.

[@necyasports]

@@Wis_Dom Apparently you know Nick Anderson personally...cool for you. The only point is that we've missed the best series of the year. The 2 best guards, the best all around player, best rebounding guy and the 3rd best center. Horace was very important to the Magic, if the bulls played without Dennis vs the full Magic roster, the outcome would be different.

[@Wis_Dom]

@@necyasports They lost Horace at the END of game one which they where already losing. LMAO! Nick Anderson didn't leave until the end of game three, because he quit (like he always does)! Faking a BS injury after being loosing two games and behind in the third one. He knew it was over. So killed those excuses. The Bulls where out for revenge. Orlando wasn't winning shit that year in those playoffs against them. AND THEY DIDN'T! Chicago beat their as so bad, Shaq left! LMAO!

[@keunlee00]

골밑의 제왕 샤크 오닐 난 조던보다는 무식한 파워를 소유한 오닐을 더 좋아했어지 ㅎ