NBA Personality Shaquille O’Neal Expresses Major Confidence In The Miami Heat
O’Neal talked about the Heat’s playoff scenario on TNT Game Break.
NBA Personality Shaquille O’Neal said the Miami Heat would beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Play-In Tournament in order to claim the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
On NBA Game Break on TNT, Charles Barkley started the conversation by saying “If the Sixers hold onto the No. 7 spot, they will beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.” O’Neal ultimately responded with a lack of confidence in Barkley’s former team.
“They are not beating the Heat in a playoff series,” O’Neal said. “Don't ever count out Jimmy Butler and the Heat because it’s not going to happen.”
The panel did not seem to agree with O’Neal, prompting him to say the Heat would beat the 76ers “all day every day.”
The Heat and the 76ers have played each other four times this season. The teams split the season series. All four games were decided by seven points or less.
The 76ers have a slight edge in the standings. The 76ers are one game ahead of the Heat for the seventh seed, meaning that the Play-In matchup would be played at the Wells Fargo Center.
O’Neal’s belief in the Heat stems from their recent playoff success. The Heat reached the NBA Finals in 2023 after narrowly making it into the playoffs. The Heat defeated the 76ers in six games during the Heat’s 2022 run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 76ers have two more regular season games remaining. They play the Orlando Magic tonight and end the year against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Heat host the Toronto Raptors for their final two games of the year.
Casey Fahrer is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
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