Shaquille O’Neal has said one of his former teams (and really he has quite a few of those) is going to be there in the end this NBA postseason. Yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the team to beat in the East now, due to the Derrick Rose injury.
Even with Rose, the Cavs probably were the front-runner in the Eastern Conference, because they’re been just so hot lately. Like Hansel in Zoolander
O’Neal on the Eastern Conference Finals, last night during NBA Tip-Off on TNT : “I think it’s going to be Atlanta and Cleveland as the last two teams in the East.”
Shaq on whether the Cavaliers versus the Warriors is a potential NBA Finals preview: “A lot of people say, ‘We’re only concentrating on our conference,’ but I guarantee you the Cavs are looking at what Golden State is doing. They realize they could play this team in The Finals. One team tonight is going to play to send a message to the other. I’m going to be looking for the intensity from both teams.”
One thing the NBA badly needs this postseason is new blood. After Miami versus San Antonio in back to back years, and the most predictable final four ever (Miami versus Indiana, San Antonio versus Oklahoma City) someone needs to get there in switch things up.
Atlanta would obviously be much more exciting than the Cavaliers; because it would be quite different. I’m not expecting that to happen though. If Shaq’s prediction holds true, then I would expect the Cavaliers to stomp all over the Hawks.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive.
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