Shaquille O'Neal is picking 'the field' over Celtics to win NBA title

This year's Celtics (11.21) have the fifth-largest points differential in NBA history, behind only the 1971-72 Lakers (12.28), 1970-71 Bucks (12.26), 1995-96 Bulls (12.24) and 2016-17 Warriors (11.63). 

All those teams convincingly won the NBA title, with only the Bulls needing a sixth game in the finals series. As such, all signs point to Boston raising banner No. 18 this year to cap off a historic season.

Four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal, however, doesn't trust Joe Mazzulla's team enough to place the tag of title favorites upon them. On Tuesday's "Inside the NBA" on TNT, Shaq explained why he's picking "the field" over Boston to win the title in June.

"I'm going with the field," O’Neal stressed. "And my favorite in that field is the Denver Nuggets."

O’Neal argued that unlike the Celtics, who haven't won the NBA Championship since 2008, the reigning champions Nuggets possess "the blueprint" and know what it takes to get the job done. 

The Hall of Famer also joined the chorus of others, such as JJ Redick, in warning the Celtics and other top seeds in the East to be wary of the lurking Miami Heat. If the playoffs were to start today, the Celtics could potentially face the Heat or the Pacers in the first round.

"I mention Miami because, when you play a team that has nothing to lose, a team that can really switch their focus like Miami, that's a dangerous team," O'Neal said. "If the playoffs start today, and Boston faces Miami, everybody would pick Boston. However, that organization and that culture with them being the underdogs … all you need is Jimmy [Butler] to go off for one or two games."

Last year, the eighth-seeded Heat stunned the world by upsetting the top-seeded Bucks in the first round and the second-seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals en route to the NBA Finals. 

Could history repeat itself?