Shaquille O’Neal declares Cavs-Thunder Finals a ‘fact’

The NBA is almost halfway through the season, and there are predictions going around on who might be in the Finals later this year. Shaquille O’Neal has already put in his parlay, and it was the two teams with the best record in the league: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“OKC and Cleveland in the Finals. That’s what I know will happen for a fact,” O’Neal said on NBA on TNT.

He may not be wrong because both the Cavs and Thunder are playing some of the best basketball in the league right now, along with having the best record. These two teams faced each other recently, and the Cavs came out on top, but they’ll have a rematch on Jan. 16 in Oklahoma City.

Despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference, some people still believe the Boston Celtics are better than the Cavs. O’Neal has a different take.

“I think [the Cavs are] the best team in the East,” O’Neal said. “…I do. The way that this Donovan [Mitchell] kid is playing – I’ve been hard on [him] the last 3 years. Hard to the point to where people think I don’t like him.”

Mitchell is leading the Cavs, and his play is definitely one of the reasons why they’re so good this season.

Are Cavs and Thunder the two best teams in the league?

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Cavs and Thunder, and it’s warranted for how they’ve been playing this season. Under head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavs are playing at a great pace and are sharing the ball at a high rate. Their defense is also good, with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen manning the paint. On offense, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland should be considered one of the best backcourts in the league.

The Thunder have had continued success after their breakout year last season, but after adding a few more key pieces, they seem to be legit. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is considered a frontrunner for MVP by many different people, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he takes home the award if he continues this play. Jalen Williams has blossomed as a legitimate weapon for the Thunder, and they’re still doing all of this without Chet Holmgren.

There’s a really good chance that these two teams could see each other in the future, but they’ll have to keep playing at a high level during the second half of the season.