The OKC Thunder just make Shaquille O’Neal mad. All that talent, yes, but the big fella can’t believe they don’t play smarter. After Game 4 against the victorious Portland Trail Blazers, Shaq was frank about Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the whole Thunder style.
“I don’t like the way the play,” Shaq said, adding that OKC played “hero ball” and that “Westbrook and Paul George should know better.”
After Damian Lillard sent the Thunder on early summer vacation (again) with a 50-point performance, Shaq was the only analyst in the TNT studio who seemed unsurprised by the Thunder’s futility. The Thunder have lost 12 straight road playoff games — a stat that Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith couldn’t believe. The Thunder have too much talent for that, they agreed.
Shaq pooh-poohed all that talent, noting that the Thunder are 4-13 in the playoffs since Kevin Durant left. Shaq: “Talent? I’d rather have two talented players and nine, ten, eleven smart guys.” The Thunder blew a 15 point lead with seven minutes to play.
