Shaquille O'Neal Gets Honest About Lakers vs. Nuggets Matchup

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal knows the Denver Nuggets are the team to beat

So much has been made about the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets matchup, and while neither side wants to call it a rivalry, there is certainly some added motivation that both teams have when it comes to playing each other.

Recently speaking on ESPN, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal said the following on this matchup:

"It's not about closing the gap, it's about beating the champs," O'Neal said. "Denver did what they were supposed to, and now they're the champs. I think coach Malone said it the best, 'This is not a rivalry, we're not gonna live what happened four months ago, this is a new season.' In order to be the champs, you have to beat the champs. I think LeBron and the guys know, so Denver is the team to beat. A lot of people, including myself, we want the Lakers to win."

With Lakers ties, O'Neal would like to see them defeat the Nuggets after being swept by them last season. With the current landscape of the NBA, there is no guarantee Denver and Los Angles even see each other again in the postseason, but it would certainly be a fun matchup if they did.

There has been a lot of back and forth this summer between the two teams, as several Lakers players responded to some of the offseason noise from Denver's side. This makes for some added intrigue, making this an even more exciting matchup.

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