The Golden State Warriors could face the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-in tournament. Currently, the Warriors, Lakers and Sacramento Kings are tied for eighth place with two games remaining in the regular season. All three teams likely feel they’ve underperformed throughout the regular season.

During a recent episode of his “The Big Podcast,” Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal shared his opinion that the Warriors would likely overcome his former team if they faced each other in the play-in tournament. He also noted how Klay Thompson could be the swing factor in the Warriors’ postseason chances.

“Golden State Warriors … they’re going to beat the Lakers if they play against the Lakers in the play-in,” Shaq said. “Right now, everyone’s killing him, ‘oh he’s coming off the bench,’ ‘you lost it.’ He’s still playing, all it takes is one of those games where his elbow is tucked in and he’s feeling it and everybody’s counting him out. Klay Thompson is the factor everybody’s not really counting on. We know what Steph’s going to do, but if I can get Klay for two or three games.”

Golden State will try to avoid finishing as the ninth or 10th seed. That would mean it needs to win two games to qualify for the postseason, as opposed to one game if it finished eighth.

The Warriors must win their next two games if they’re going to stand a chance of securing the eighth seed. Otherwise, they could end up facing LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a win-or-go-home game, and that’s never an easy situation.