But it also made him more dominant on the offensive end than during his Magic period.
After that slam, with O'Neal already scoring 31 points, the Lakers were down by 4 points with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.
Yes, Shaq had a huge advantage in the paint, but the Hawks, thanks to Roger's offense, still led.
Kobe, drenched in sweat, was excellent in his defense against Roger, but that didn't mean Roger couldn't score.
Most of Roger's difficult shots found their way into the net, turning Kobe's efforts into vain.
Up to now, Roger had scored 30 points.
Considering that Roger was a guard and Shaq a center, the 1-point difference between them was almost negligible.
You can't deny Kobe's efforts—look at how pathetic the Philadelphia 76ers were before, that's what happens without a perimeter defender like Kobe.
Without Kobe, it wouldn't be an exaggeration if Roger's score increased by another 15 points.
