Last Chance for Pat Riley and 'Zo Mourning?

Pat Riley is lucky in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Throughout his career as an NBA head coach, Pat Riley has been lucky enough to get the best giants of the NBA.

Back in New York, he had a seven-foot Patrick Ewing who can shoot the jumper consistently and attack the rim with a combination of power and elegance. Then he moved on until he got to Miami, Florida.

In Miami, Pat Riley had a 6'10'' powerhouse in Alonzo Mourning who can also attack the rim, the only difference was, this guy can attack the rim like Patrick Ewing on steroids.

Mourning's sheer power then was unstoppable. And aside from having that advantage, Pat Riley also had Tim Hardaway to control the offense, giving him the pleasure of having one of the most explosive tandems in that era.

Now, Pat Riley got his 6'10'' powerhouse back, but this time, he also has this seven-foot monster twice as big as Ewing and twice as strong as 'Zo.

Shaquille O'Neal.

Shaquille O'Neal believed from the start that it would be he and Pat Riley chasing the championship together.

From the beginning, on the shores of glistening Biscayne Bay, Shaq called him ''Coach,'' a bond born out of his respect for Riles' stature. Shaq, the son of a U.S. Army sergeant, has always been rooted in reverence for the authoritative figures in his life. No, Stan Van Gundy never stood a chance.

It's almost as of Pat Riley and Shaq were destined to be together fighting for one same cause. Yes, I guess one can also say that pat Riley is DESTINED to coach the biggest of the big and the strongest of the strong.

However, time is running out for THIS tower of Pat Riley's as Shaq is now 34 years old. Pat Riley and Alonzo Mourning NEVER won an NBA championship yet, can they finally have one with Shaquille O'Neal trying to squeeze out all the remaining diesel from his 340-pound tank?

It may all depend on someone outside that three-man equation. Someone who goes by the name of Dwyane...

[Bodog has the odds on these intriguing NBA Playoffs. Can Pat Riley and Alonzo Mourning finally win the NBA title together with a seven-foot Shaquille O'Neal? Visit and bet on Bodog now.]