Shaq predicts first-round playoff exit for faltering Bucks

The devastating loss invoked the wrath of coach Doc Rivers, who called out his team's lack of effort to the point where he suggested "We had some guys in Cabo" instead of being present on the court.

Elsewhere, Shaquille O'Neal had a rather extreme take on Milwaukee's ongoing struggles.

"When you’re not playing well, you want to end the All-Star break on a positive note," Shaq said on "Inside the NBA" on TNT. "They were supposed to come and smash this team. They had trouble with their defense -- no timely stops, no effort.

"It’s a championship team on paper but they're nowhere near a championship. The way they're playing right now, they're gonna get swept in the first round."

Ironically, the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard after suffering a first-round exit in last year's playoffs , albeit with Giannis Antetokounmpo dealing with a lower back contusion. If the Bucks flame out of the first round again, would they break up the Lillard-Giannis experiment after just a year? 

For those keeping count, the Bucks are 3-7 since Rivers took over as head coach. They were 30-13 under dismissed head coach, Adrian Griffin.