'This is Over!': Why Shaquille O'Neal Has No Faith in a Knicks Comeback vs Heat
Shaquille O'Neal hinted that even his immaculate illustrated idol, Superman, would have trouble dragging the New York Knicks back from the brink of oblivion against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
O'Neal, himself a former South Floridian for four seasons (2004-08), had a damning prophecy for the Knicks during TNT's postgame coverage of the Knicks' 109-101 loss to the Heat in Game 4 on Monday, one that gave the scorching hosts a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven set. The legendary center advised that the Knicks pack light as the series shifts back to New York for Game 5 on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
"This series is over. This is over," O'Neal declared. "(The Knicks) may win another game, but if they go back to Miami, bring one set of clothes."
O'Neal was playfully reminded that a potential Game 6, scheduled for Friday night, wouldn't require an overnight stay in South Beach but he insisted his point still stood. In a performance that would've made O'Neal proud, the Heat were paced by a 27-point, 13-rebound double-double for Bam Adebayo in the Game 4 triumph.
In analyzing Miami's success, O'Neal praised the Heat's scoring diversity headlined by Jimmy Butler. Three different South Floridians took at least 13 shots from the field on Monday, with Butler and Adebayo (combined 19-of-34) working alongside Max Strus (6-of-13). Combined that with the Heat's bench scoring prowess (outscoring the shorthanded Knicks 116-62), O'Neal labeled the eighth-seeded Heat's success as "firing on all cylinders."
"We were watching the highlights, I don't know who's going to get the ball," O'Neal said. "On most teams, it's predetermined who's going to get the ball, who's going to get the last shot. When Jimmy needs to take over the game, he takes over the game. But when they double and triple him, he trusts his guys."
"(Butler) shot 17 times. Bam shot 17 times. Max shot 13 times. Gabe (Vincent) had seven. They're touching the ball, they're in rhythm."
Serendipitous history isn't working in the Knicks' favor: New York is 0-14 all-time when they ball behind 3-1 in a series while Miami has successfully protected all 14 such advantages they've held throughout their history.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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