Bill Simmons has called out Shaquille O’Neal as the weak link in TNT Sports’ Inside the NBA cast. I don’t know what coverage the Sports Guy is watching. But in my book, Diesel is bringing the heat to his analysis of this year’s NBA Finals for the legendary studio show, which is now licensed to ABC/ESPN.
While other analysts are ripping Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for their allegedly “dirty” play, O’Neal praised them for playing the aggressive, physical basketball they needed to climb out of a 2-0 series deficit against the red-hot Knicks.
O’Neal had several strong moments during ABC/ESPN’s coverage of Game 3 coverage Tuesday night.
With the Knicks holding a 64-57 lead at halftime, O’Neal zeroed in on a pivotal play where the 7’4” Wembanyama threw 6’2” Knicks star Jalen Brunson to the hardwood like a rag doll.
Charles Barkley thought it was a “dirty” play. So did ABC’s announce crew of Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson and Mike Breen. But O’Neal—one of the most dominating centers in NBA history at 7’1”, 325 pounds—begged to differ. The Alien was effectively punking the smaller Brunson on his own home court. The passive Knicks didn’t fight back.
