Phoenix Suns	vs.	LA Lakers
37-16		36-17
7:00 PM Mountain / 9:00 PM Eastern
TV: FSN AZ HD, ESPN
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Derek Fisher
Raja Bell	SG	Kobe Bryant
Grant Hill	SF	Vladimir Radmanovic
Amare Stoudemire	PF	Lamar Odom
Shaquille O'Neal	C	Pau Gasol

[Since we already had a good discussion going in this diary, I decided to make it the official game thread, with a tad of editing to bring it up to date and into our usual game thread format. Thanks, Turumbar, for giving us an early start on this! For those who are just coming back to the site after the All-Star break, don't miss our three All-Star break special features here, here, and here. -TexSUN]

The Wait Has Almost Ended

Well fellow fans, in just a few days hours we shall finally begin to catch a glimpse of just how worthwhile the Shaq trade was.

Granted one game won't tell us much. Hell, it probably won't be for another month where we'll get the complete picture of this trade. Regardless though, starting Wednesday today we shall finally get some kind of rough idea of what Shaq shall be like as a Sun.

In truth I am both excited and scared out of my mind. This is the kind of deal that could have a huge impact either way. And I am sure praying that that impact is positive, even if only on a small scale.

I'm still having trouble believing that this trade has even gone down. Let's hope that we can start to praise this deal.

[Update by TexSUN 10:36 MT]: Live blogging tonight? You betcha! Check the comments after tip-off.