During the past few days we've heard arguments from expert analysts (I know, I know, expert and analyst should never be placed beside each other in a sentence regarding any sporting event) as well as fans from both teams and the consensus is clear, one team has an undeniable advantage over the other.

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I think a lot of people are in for a surprise this year.  I think the odds-makers are going to make a killing because there is so much action on the Colts, but no one is really taking a good hard look at the Colt's path to the Super Bowl.  They beat two teams who had each been beaten seven times during the regular season.  From my perspective, that's hardly the stuff of Champions.  I know you play who's on your schedule, but I'd be very concerned if I were an Indy fan.  This is the first complete team they will have faced all year.  There's no doubt it's the best offense and best QB they've faced all year, considering that no one has ever been more accurate than Drew Brees this season, and the Saints lead the league in scoring (yes, Indy fans, we even score more points than you).  Put simply, they didn't beat any world beaters this post season, and did not flat out dominate two teams that have a combined 14 losses between them.

The Saints, on the other hand, well, let's just say their road to the Super Bowl was a little tougher.  So can someone please tell me what I'm missing that will explain make it clear why the Colts are favored to win on Sunday?

For most of us Suns fans, our biggest complaint about Shaq was that he slowed us down, just didn't fit into our offense, and wasn't enough of a defensive playmaker to make up for what was lost on the offensive end when he was on the floor.  When he came to the Suns, we had the best record in the West and our biggest fear was losing (again) to San Antonio.  Management made the call and POOF!, no more Best in the West.  Whether you want to admit it or not, us Suns fans love a high-octane running game, especially when we have a great PG running the show (Nash, Kevin Johnson, etc.).  We're a team built for speed, and Shaq, well, let's just say his speedier days were behind him when he arrived in Phoenix. 

So my question to you, Suns fans, is this:  With a healthy Amare playing the 5 (as he did before Shaq arrived), Grant Hill, Richardson, Nash, and a Marion-like player via draft, trade, or free-agency such as Earl Clarkson or Josh Smith, is it possible that by giving away Shaq for next to nothing has actually made our team better than it was a year ago?