For the Los Angeles Lakers to win the championship this year, they must return to the strategy that won them three consecutive championships. Simply, this means running their offense through Shaquille O’Neal, the most dominant center to ever play the game.

Recently, Shaq has had a diminishing role in the Lakers’ triangle offense. This is partially due to the decision of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to legalize zone defense, which allows teams to double or triple team Shaq. Even so, this change should not prevent the Lakers from passing the ball into the paint.

“The guys were looking for me,” Shaq said after a great performance against the New Jersey Nets. “That should be the game plan for every game.”

Although it sounds selfish, this statement has some validity. With less than twenty games left, Shaq leads the league in field goal efficiency at 58%. He creates open shots for teammates when he is double-teamed and is a much more active defender and rebounder when he gets offensive opportunities.

Shaquille O’Neal’s role is directly related to the roles of the other Lakers. All-star shooting guard Kobe Bryant has emerged as a premier athlete in the NBA and has drastically improved over his career. Consequently, he has taken shots away from Shaq. Veteran point guard Derek Fisher helps Shaq by hustling and fighting over screens, but also forces shots during his limited playing time. New acquisition Gary Payton currently orchestrates the offense and, along with the experience of Karl Malone, has seemingly helped Kobe develop a court vision that has allowed Shaq more touches.

Ultimately, the Lakers will realize that utilizing a powerful center like Shaq will prove to be successful as it has in the past. With the exception of Michael Jordan, many of the league’s previous superstars were centers. George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon all displayed a mastery of skills at Shaq’s current position. But all of those legendary centers have retired, leaving Shaq alone at the top of his position. Players like Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and Allen Iverson are similar to Kobe Bryant, but there is no player in the NBA today that can match Shaq’s size, muscle, and physicality.

According to NBA analyst Bill Walton, Shaq should receive the ball “deep, early, and often.” Under these conditions, the Lakers will surely secure their fourth title under Head Coach Phil Jackson. After all, it is always best to start at the center.