Heat center Shaquille O?Neal is claming that it was his idea to take a pay cut worth around $10-million less than what Miami was willing to pay him per year.

''This year, there ain't no stopping us . . .'' O'Neal said Saturday at a Nestle Crunch event at the University of Miami's Convocation Center. ``The great Pat Riley has made us stronger. . . . It's going to be fun. I'm very excited. I can't wait to play the first game and then go home and watch the first game.''

Shaq told reporters that the Heat were initially prepared to pay him $30-million per year.