NBA Playoffs: Superman Returns

"Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic Superman Returns. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space."


— Anonymous summary of Superman Returns from IMDB.com

After watching the playoffs this year, this summary could also apply to the play of Shaquille O'Neal.

In Monday night's game against the Detroit Pistons, Shaq blocked a shot, picked up the loose ball, and went coast-to-coast for a driving lay-up.

Teammates commented that he looked more like his former 24-year-old self than an aging 34-year-old center.

Such is the case this postseason for the self-proclaimed Superman. Shaq looks rejuvenated, energetic, playful, and youthful, which may be surprising to some after constant chattering throughout the season about his age and health.

By now, he was supposed to be at the end of his productive years. He could still be a leader for the rest of the Heat, but the days when he could single-handedly carry them to victory on the court with a 20-10 performance were over.

Years of wear and tear on his knees and body like a lethal dose of kryptonite were supposed to render him largely ineffective against the younger crowd of NBA stars.

The Superman tattoo on his arm was supposed to be just a reminder of how dominating and powerful he used to be, a memento of greatness past.

Children, Shaquille O'Neal's performance in these playoffs is the reason you believe in superheroes.

It has been since the 2002 season with the Lakers since Shaq last added a championship ring to his jewelry collection.

The four-year drought might be over soon enough.

After a Game 7 loss to the Detroit Pistons last year, the Miami Heat and Pat Riley looked toward this season with an eye on getting past Detroit and into the NBA Finals. Retooled with the additions of Jason Williams and Antoine Walker, it has been Miami's mission to make it back to this point. And nobody seems to be on a more decisive mission than Shaq.

Maybe all the talk about his increasing age and decreasing ability got to him. Maybe Dwyane Wade's youthfulness and energy for the game gave him the belief that this team can do it. Maybe somewhere in his mansion in Miami is the fountain of youth.

Who knows where it came from or exactly what it is, but whatever it is is the thing driving Shaq right now.

It is the thing that drove him from coast-to-coast on Monday night in a rumbling and emphatic display of athleticism and power. Blocked a shot. Recovered the loose ball. Dribbled the length of the court. Put in a layup.

Shaq's array of skills was on full display that night, and they have been during these playoffs. His smile is different. The look in his eyes is different. The way he plays around with his teammates while at the same time playing the veteran leader is different.

He's playing all the roles he needs to play with aplomb. Leader. Scorer. Defender. Rebounder. Entertainer.

And all the while, he's saying the right things.

"We don't want to get too high and mighty," O'Neal said. "Job's not done yet."

And he's backing up his words, playing as well as he has since the 2002 championship season with the Lakers.

Game 4: 36 minutes, 21 points, 9 rebounds.

Game 3: 37 minutes, 27 points, 12 rebounds.

Game 2: 40 minutes, 21 points, 12 rebounds.

Only in Game 1 did Shaq play limited minutes because of foul trouble, but Miami still came away with a win.

Otherwise, he has been effective on the block, productive on the offensive side, ever-present on the defensive end, and a major part of the Heat's offensive gameplan against the Pistons.

More than anybody else in the league right now, Shaq has the ability to be a leader. He commands the attention and respect of his teammates. More than anybody else in the league right now, he seems to care about getting another championship ring. You can see the desire in his eyes, and you can see the belief in his teammates'.

He can take the Heat to the Finals not just because he can physically pick them up and carry them around like ragdolls, but because he can mentally take them to the place where they are confident in their ability and their game. That's what happens when you are walking behind a 7'1", 325-pound superhero on a mission.

This version of Superman hadn't been seen in awhile.

It's been injuries, doubts, fouls, missed free throws, and playoff elimination. More time on MTV Cribs than on ESPN in May and June.

The pictures of Shaq victoriously holding the Larry O'Brien trophy were long history in a comic book that had reached the point where we see the superhero struggling to deal with diminishing skills and old age.

Nobody knew there was a sequel in production.

Now, Shaq has the Miami Heat one win away from reaching the NBA Finals. One step closer to the trophy. One step closer to redemption.

Sure, the Heat can certainly thank Dwyane Wade's unbelievable talent for where they are today, and Pat Riley was the mastermind behind the offseason moves that rebuilt this team to contend in the playoffs.

But right now, there is one man that is responsible for the way the Heat are playing on the court and the way they are handling themselves off of it.

There is one man that you can tell everyone else is looking to for direction. It is in their eyes, and it is in his.

Shaquille O'Neal is back to prove to everybody that he still has it. He is back on a mission for that trophy and that glory, and he is taking his team with him.

Watching Shaq rumble down the floor coast-to-coast on a mission to the basket, you have to know that after a four-year absence from NBA Finals glory, Superman has returned.