Daring or delusional? That is the line that Shaquille O’Neal is toeing with his latest prediction about the Los Angeles Lakers.
The retired 15-time NBA All-Star had some bold comments about the Lakers this week on an episode of his “The Big Podcast with Shaq.” He predicted that the Lakers will defeat the Phoenix Suns if the two teams meet in the first round of the playoffs.
"If they make if to the eighth spot, they will beat Phoenix" 👀@SHAQ talks Lakers' playoff hopes on #TheBigPodcast: https://t.co/cjvFFep0RP pic.twitter.com/UdHjerZqt4
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 23, 2022
Other than blind loyalty to his former team, it is hard to see what O’Neal is basing this prediction on. The Suns have by far the best record in the league at 59-14 and have continued to steamroll teams despite being without Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson lately. Meanwhile, the Lakers are 31-42 and lost all three matchups with the Suns this season by a combined 57 points. They also got eliminated by Phoenix in six games during last year’s playoffs and have a significantly worse team now.
Somehow though, O’Neal thinks that the Lakers can defeat Phoenix in four out of seven games in a playoff series this year. Surprisingly enough, some within the Lakers organization even appear to feel the same way.
Photo: Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; NBA former player Shaquille O’Neal watches a game between the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
