Is O’Neal Taking Game to Another Level?

QUESTION OF THE DAY Conrad Brunner

Q. Was Tuesday night's game an indication of more to come for Jermaine O'Neal? Although he is already playing at a very high level, do you think he will have another breakout season and raise his game to the next level, with the likes of Tim Duncan and K.G., or even higher? (From Shivram in Mexico City, Mexico)

A. By finishing third in the MVP balloting last season, O'Neal established that he was already very close to the level of players like Kevin Garnett and Duncan, two players who have won the trophy. After three seasons of consistent 20-10 production, however, it does appear O'Neal is poised to push his game to an even higher plane. In 13 games, he has scored at least 30 points four times, including last night's staggering 55-point performance. He's averaging 25.2 points, nearly five full points above his career-high of 20.8 in 2002-03.

But the most telling production has come since returning from his suspension. In those five games, O'Neal has averaged 29.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots. Though O'Neal would probably never verbalize it, as the leader of the team he knows someone must compensate for the absence of Ron Artest, and he is stepping forward and showing, through performance, that he is not only willing but able to assume an even larger role in the offense. In short, he's doing everything he can to carry the team.

The difference between guys who win the MVP and guys who come close is this: the guys who win are the ones that clearly make their teams better, who have the rare ability to put their teammates on their shoulders and carry them to victory. From his level of play in the past five games, and particularly so in the last two, O'Neal is giving every indication he is in the process of taking that final step.