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That actually did make me feel a little better about the deal. Just to know that Shaq really is motivated.

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nba/index

^ ESPN's Shaq to Suns headline says it best.

At least it's not as lopsided as the Lakers/Grizzlies deal where 99% of all Laker fans loved the deal, but 99% of all Grizzlies fans want to go on a killing spree.

At least here 99% of all Heat fans love the deal, while all Suns fans are about 50/50 with it.

ESPN poll:

1) If the Suns swap Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal, how far will they go this season?

34.4% Western Conference semifinals (2nd-round exit)
27.6% First-round exit
17.6% Western Conference finals
13.9% NBA champs
6.4% NBA Finals

2) What should the Heat do if they acquire Shawn Marion?

59.0% Resign him to a max contract
41.0% Cut him loose after his contract expires

3) Which team would win this trade?

80.3% Miami Heat
19.7% Phoenix Suns

4) What's your take?

53.2% With Marion gone, the Suns' running game will stall.
31.6% With Shaq, the Suns will be stronger in the postseason.
15.2% The Suns will keep running and gunning.

5) How surprised are you that the Heat are trading Shaq?

34.5% Not at all surprised
23.5% Somewhat surprised
22.5% Very surprised
19.4% Slightly surprised

6) How surprised are you that the Suns are trading Marion?

29.2% Not at all surprised
28.2% Somewhat surprised
22.7% Slightly surprised
19.9% Very surprised

7) Who will leave the league first?

51.5% Pat Riley
48.5% Shaquille O'Neal

8) What impact will Shaq have on Amare Stoudemire?

44.7% Make Stoudemire more effective
31.1% No significant impact on Stoudemire?s production
24.2% Make Stoudemire less effective

9) How would you rate a foundation of Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion for next season and beyond?

62.1% Enough to make the Heat competitive again
21.5% Still lottery material
16.4% Makings of Eastern Conference contender

10) Where will Dwyane Wade sign his next contract?

44.9% Miami
37.8% Elsewhere
17.2% Chicago

he let MIA down the last few years..what is his excuse now?

He didnt let mia down.... Miami's front office let him down in failing to put up a competitive team around him. Shaq is a winner in the last few years of his career. He needs motivation, he has 4 rings. all the money in the world and 14 years in the league. How can he be motivated being on the worse team in the league?

Im telling all phoenix fans here.. i understand the concern, but mark my words... Shaq has a lot more left in the tank that most people think here. He cant carry a team anymore, thats obvious, but in Pho he has all the help he needs, and the best pg he can play with in Nash. Nash will find Shaq over and over in the spots where ha is still effective and dominant.

This move will put phoenix over the top. I can already see Nash with the Finals MVP and Phoenix winning the Championship at last.

The only concern is the helth, thats obvious, but Shaq latest injuries has been a result of Miami tanking, and maybe Riley saving Shaq cause he knew the deal was coming.

I guess well see what happens, but this is a blessing in disguise imo.

I will also like to say that i will be here a lot from now on, Shaq is obviously my favorite player, and i follow him wherever he goes... so i hope i can be accomodated without any problems! Thanks!!

I never understood these rumors about what someone said over the phone. Did Steve put it on speaker phone and told people to gather around?

Miami wasn't winning a title with Wade playing at 50%, at best...

I know the "pundits" are questioning this trade, but I think it pays off for Phoenix come June...

...Phx fans should be very happy with this trade...Shaq isn't going to dominate, but his role on this team isn't going to be to dominate...

Shaq will be asked to play interior defense against dominant bigs and to protect the lane against penetration...a motivated Shaq can do this with the best of them and it is EXACTLY what Phx's main weakness has been...

Phx has plenty of scoring to go around...Shaq allows Amare to go back to PF and continue to dominate without getting smoked on D...

This is the first legit title contending Suns team IMO because they can now finally do something to negate Duncan's impact on the game as well as limit easy looks in the paint by penetrating perimeter players...

The team is now built for the postseason...I say they are the favorites now over SA and LAL...jmo

billfromBoston wrote:
The team is now built for the postseason...I say they are the favorites now over SA and LAL...jmo

+1

I can see why Suns fans might not like this deal but if Shaq can play 25 minutes a game, you guys will be golden. The Suns already have the best record in the West and now they can compete, and probably over take the front courts of SAS and LAL. Congrats guys, see you in the finals.

BigDaddyPR wrote:He didnt let mia down.... Miami's front office let him down in failing to put up a competitive team around him. Shaq is a winner in the last few years of his career. He needs motivation, he has 4 rings. all the money in the world and 14 years in the league. How can he be motivated being on the worse team in the league?

Im telling all phoenix fans here.. i understand the concern, but mark my words... Shaq has a lot more left in the tank that most people think here. He cant carry a team anymore, thats obvious, but in Pho he has all the help he needs, and the best pg he can play with in Nash. Nash will find Shaq over and over in the spots where ha is still effective and dominant.

This move will put phoenix over the top. I can already see Nash with the Finals MVP and Phoenix winning the Championship at last.

The only concern is the helth, thats obvious, but Shaq latest injuries has been a result of Miami tanking, and maybe Riley saving Shaq cause he knew the deal was coming.

I guess well see what happens, but this is a blessing in disguise imo.

I will also like to say that i will be here a lot from now on, Shaq is obviously my favorite player, and i follow him wherever he goes... so i hope i can be accomodated without any problems! Thanks!!

I completely agree, as a Laker fan I despise the Suns but the truth is Shaq will bring so much to what the Suns need. He is a team player, humble, exceptionally smart and he is one of the players in this league with the most playoff experience. Plus his size alone will make things harder on any other team. Suns got the better deal imho Marion is an overrated All Star Scrub whos motivation should be questioned and his commitment, you don't win championships with those kind of players. (again this is my opinion and expressed only to make a valid point and not to so called troll).

Good for you Suns.

DorfonCeltics wrote:+1

I can see why Suns fans might not like this deal but if Shaq can play 25 minutes a game, you guys will be golden. The Suns already have the best record in the West and now they can compete, and probably over take the front courts of SAS and LAL. Congrats guys, see you in the finals.

A Celts-Suns Championship series would be the highest-rated playoff series since forever.

I'm hoping as well my friend.

Mr. Sun wrote:"I will not let you down," O'Neal told Nash on the phone.

Somebody forgot to cue the violins?

BigDaddyPR wrote:He didnt let mia down.... Miami's front office let him down in failing to put up a competitive team around him. Shaq is a winner in the last few years of his career. He needs motivation, he has 4 rings. all the money in the world and 14 years in the league. How can he be motivated being on the worse team in the league?

Im telling all phoenix fans here.. i understand the concern, but mark my words... Shaq has a lot more left in the tank that most people think here. He cant carry a team anymore, thats obvious, but in Pho he has all the help he needs, and the best pg he can play with in Nash. Nash will find Shaq over and over in the spots where ha is still effective and dominant.

This move will put phoenix over the top. I can already see Nash with the Finals MVP and Phoenix winning the Championship at last.

The only concern is the helth, thats obvious, but Shaq latest injuries has been a result of Miami tanking, and maybe Riley saving Shaq cause he knew the deal was coming.

I guess well see what happens, but this is a blessing in disguise imo.

I will also like to say that i will be here a lot from now on, Shaq is obviously my favorite player, and i follow him wherever he goes... so i hope i can be accommodated without any problems! Thanks!!

Welcome aboard BigDPR...we already added another playa based fan in NeverFear....

da more da merrier

though reserving the true moment of glee when all is approved, I still am in disbelief that Phnx actually has a 'real' center, No slam on Stat...but our past is not exactly littered (or perhaps it is when examining the quality) with BONAFIED big men. I am liking the news of the BigNomad's conditioning.

Sun Scorched wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



A Celts-Suns Championship series would be the highest-rated playoff series since forever.

I'm hoping as well my friend.

Not Bigger than a Lakers Celtics series.

Rox_Nix_Nox wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Not Bigger than a Lakers Celtics series.

Agree, not sure if there is much of the world who wants to watch the Suns in the finals.

Tenbomber wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Somebody forgot to cue the violins?

theyre out of tune anyway

SHAQFU!

he will not let you down.

while you will miss marions energy, intagibles, and defensive rebound

you gain the strongest guy in the league, a guy who can block a yao ming fade away, can guard garnett and duncan when motivated, cant get pushed around by dwight howard, will find nash barbosa hill and bell on the perimeter, will get amare about a million open shots

you guys needed a change, and im not sure if youre even done making moves

shaqs gonna frustrate you at times but he always finds a way to have some monster games in the playoffs

nash will be the best thing that could ever happen to him at this point in his career (besides maybe kidd)

Sun Scorched wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



A Celts-Suns Championship series would be the highest-rated playoff series since forever.

I'm hoping as well my friend.

Nope.

A Lakers-Celts series would draw huge bucks.

BigDaddyPR wrote:I will also like to say that i will be here a lot from now on, Shaq is obviously my favorite player, and i follow him wherever he goes... so i hope i can be accomodated without any problems! Thanks!!

Franklin Lee wrote:Welcome aboard BigDPR...we already added another playa based fan in NeverFear....

da more da merrier

I don't remember you being so welcoming when I came aboard there Frank.

Anyways, BigDaddyPR welcome. Just to get this straight are you now a Suns fan or are you a Miami fan that still likes Shaq?

I am a Grant Hill fan, as you may be able to tell, always have been and always will be. If Grant Hill retires here in Phoenix then I will be a Suns fan for life. I also have a saying, "I have always been a Suns fan it just took till Grant Hill signed with them to realize"

Finally, sorry but don't expect me to fall in love with the Big Fella. I have never been a fan of his. I will cheer him when he does good things, but that don't mean I have to like him. But don't worry, my dislike of him wont be all that obvious as that really isn't who I am.

Again, welcome to the show..............hopefully it is still that.