If there’s one team that consistently impresses Shaquille O’Neal, it’s the reigning champions. They cracked the playoffs as recently as last year, and they have all the means to do it again. The Joker’s biggest fan, Shaq, definitely thinks so. He has changed his opinion about several teams over the course of one season. He however, consistently gives the Denver Nuggets strong chances of defending their title.

“The way they’re [Nuggets] playing, especially when they’re definitely locked in, I don’t see anybody beating them in the seven-game series,” the 4x NBA champion resolutely said on TNT Tuesday. The trajectory the team is on with their star player, Nikola Jokic, gives him confidence.

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“Because one, they have the blueprint. But Boston has the copy of the blueprint. They don’t have the master yet. Denver has the blueprint.” He went on to say, “When you talk about the field, we all know this, when you’re planning on a good team, we want to have one of those four spots,” O’Neal said referring to the crucial home court advantage. And he’s giving Denver better odds at holding it’s own in the playoffs.

Before the Nuggets take on the Celtics – the team Shaq claims is the next strongest playoff contender – on Thursday, they hosted the Phoenix Suns today. The Nuggets are 42-19 overall and 24-5 a home, on a six-game winning streak.

But Shaq may have jinxed it. The injury-ridden Suns won 117-107 in an overtime game. Jokic put 25 points on the board along with 5 assists and 16 rebounds in 44 minutes but it couldn’t close the gap in overtime. Regardless, the Big Aristotle has been overt about his expectations from Mile High City.

Shaquille O’Neal has a close eye on the Denver Nuggets

It was only in January when O’Neal was commending Denver for being levelheaded in their games. “When you’re trying to be a champion, you learn not to panic,” O’Neal said on Inside the NBA. “When you become a champion, you know not to panic… I’m never worried about them.”

He said that their consistency is going to serve them well in the playoffs which we’re leading up to. Again, he said they’re in a comfortable spot. “Right now, they’re sitting at number three. Joker is playing well, Denver Nuggets are in great shape right now.” As hyped as Shaq is about this team, he might have to have words with his son.

Jokic is one of the popular contenders for MVP this year. Shaq has changed his pick for that title few times already and caused a stir among the NBA community. Nonetheless, fans are very happy he sees top playoff contenders in the Nuggets. Do you think Jokic will live up to Shaq’s claims?

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