The struggles for the New Orleans Pelicans without Zion Williamson are only getting worse. With a 92-124 blowout loss against OKC, they are down 0-2 in this series and already setting the stage for the West. Shaquille O’Neal has gone ahead and called it for the Western Conference Finals while disregarding Nikola Jokic. He’s firmly putting the Oklahoma City Thunder as the top contender. Over the defending champions, no less. His predictions are bold and wild, but also coming true in spine-chilling ways.

The trajectory Oklahoma is on gave him enough confidence to say on Inside the NBA, “The way they play I think they’re going to be in the Western Conference Finals.” His prediction made Kenny, Ernie, and Chuck struggle to come up with words beyond wow.

After all, the West has the second-seeded after OKC, the Denver Nuggets, who could be the Thunder’s most likely opponents in the Conference Finals. But the No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves can also pull off an upset. The Nuggets are also leading 2-0 over the Lakers who haven’t solved the Nikola Jokic problem. However, Shaq might think OKC is the answer to the Joker.

He’s not only putting the Western Conference’s title in Oklahoma’s hands early, but he’s beyond impressed with the team chemistry. When Ernie asked if he’s committed to his pick, Shaq described their “One-two punch,” already has an MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA is officially a finalist for the MVP trophy and is a close contender to the MVP frontrunner Jokic. Shai, according to his biggest cheerleader, also has the best complimentary pieces in Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Moreover, there’s Josh Giddey, who “plays the right way.”

OKC is a well-put-together team, according to Shaq and his co-analysts agree. The winner of the Pelicans-Thunder series, however, has to play against the winners of the Mavericks-Clippers series next. Shaq is skipping way ahead, already.

Shaquille O’Neal celebrating a win

O’Neal is playing prophet in the studio today. He’s gloating that he was the one who predicted the Miami Heat would beat the Boston Celtics. Actually before the playoffs, he predicted Boston would win the series without Jimmy Butler available for the Heat. However, he gave a very detailed prediction for Game 2, including saying the Butler-less Miami will win by 10 points. Accurately, Miami pulled a stunning 111-101 upset over the No.1 seeded Boston. He even rubbed it in Chuck’s nose on Instagram.

He’s expecting to celebrate another prediction coming true in the Lakers-Nuggets series. Despite being critical of the Lakers’ losing streak, he’s insistent they will win the series. Wild when they’ve nothing beyond slowing Jokic a tad.

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His prediction for OKC also could suffer a blow if Zion Williamson returns to the court, a possibility the Pelicans don’t deny. But Shaq is a gambling man. He sticks with his choices. Would you bet on his picks?