O'Neal's performance earned him a third consecutive play-off MVP award and finally confirmed his credentials as the dominant big man of all-time.

During the finals O'Neal was virtually unstoppable.

The hulking 7 ft 1 in centre, who weighs more than 23 stone, scored 145 points to break the play-off record for a four-game series.

"This says that we are a great team and everybody stuck to their role," said O'Neal, who dedicated his MVP award to his late grandmother.

"Everyone stuck to the script and everyone believed.

"I realise that if it wasn't for Phil I wouldn't have any championships.

"I told my team-mates that once the play-offs were here I would pick up my game and I wouldn't let them down."

Bitterly disappointed Nets star Kenyon Martin, who scored 61 points in games three and four, rounded on some of his team-mates after the defeat.

"Some guys don't have it in them," said Martin. "That's the hardest thing to deal with.

"Guys come to play every day and some guys, you don't know when they're going to show up.

Proud coach

"I can deal with losing. But guys who don't bring it every day, that's something I can't deal with."

However, Nets coach Byron Scott remained upbeat after a season in which the Nets reached the finals just a year after winning only 26 games all season.

"I am hurt and disappointed but I am proud of my guys," Scott said. "They have been fantastic this season.

"I told them to hold their heads high because they went further than anyone expected."