The Shaquille O’Neal era at Turner Sports started off with a bang Tuesday afternoon as the former center took a direct shot at Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh.

“The Miami Heat, they’ve got a lot of great players, the `Big 2.’ They will be back,” O’Neal said on NBA TV during the 2011-12 NBA schedule release special. “LeBron James is taking a lot of criticism, but I know LeBron very well. He hears everything that everyone is saying, so I think he’s going to come back and have an MVP year this year.”

Big 2, eh? So much for that Big 3 the media dubbed James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade last July.

When called out by Steve Smith about leaving Bosh out the mix, O’Neal simply brushed off the omission and took one last jab by omitting Bosh once again.

“Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, you know, they’re great players, they’re probably the greatest backcourt ever assembled,” O’Neal said. “And you know, they’re going to get back. They’re going to get back. They play well, they went through a lot, they put a lot of pressure on themselves. That’s how they like it. And they will be back.”

I think Shaq will fit in just fine with the Inside the NBA crew.