Shaquille O’Neal is ready for a new challenge out in The Desert. He’s also apparently prepared to add two more championship rings to his collection looking to match Jordan and Magic.

The four-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP even had a strong message for any doubters who didn’t like the Suns’ newest acquisition from the Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

“I’m very upset,” the 35 year-old 14-time NBA All-Star said during an afternoon press conference where GM Steve Kerr and coach Mike D’Antoni introduced the newest Phoenix Sun. “You just don’t really want to get me upset. When I’m upset, I’m known to do certain things- like win championships.”

For those who pondered if the big man can still run and fit into the Suns’ run and gun system featuring point guard Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire, a defiant Shaq seemed eager to get back on the court.

“The last couple of years I was in a system that we really didn’t run, so you automatically think I can’t run,” he pointed out of his former team who won their only NBA title a couple of years prior thanks in large part to his huge addition. “But I love to run, especially if I’m playing with a great guy like Steve Nash. I look forward to making people eat their words, I really do.”

In 32 games with the Heat this season, O’Neal is averaging a career low 14.2 points-per-game marred by injuries including a bad hip which shouldn’t keep him out much longer. The Big Aristotle had plenty of fun with reporters during the conference cracking jokes and even referring to himself as “the new assistant vice chair general manager” who felt his new team had all the pieces in place to win the franchise’s first NBA championship in its 40-year history.

“This team has always been there in the Western Conference,” he noted. “They just couldn’t quite get over the hump. I think with my experience and my on the court-off the court leadership, I can help them get over the hump.“

The Suns are banking on that veteran leadership to finally get them over the top in a very strong conference chalk full of contenders including defending champion San Antonio, Dallas, Shaq’s former three-time championship teammate Kobe Bryant’s Lakers along with rising teams New Orleans and Utah. It will be far from easy even with a motivated big man ready to “surprise a lot of people.”

During his brilliant 16-year NBA career, he’s averaged 25.6 PPG and 11.5 rebounds. Most importantly, he’ll provide that interior defensive presence the Nash Suns have lacked the past few years. They should be tougher around the basket with a shot blocking presence and be able to rebound the ball even better to get out on the break.

On a very happy day, Shaq even gave the media a free new slogan to run with:

“The Sun will rise in Phoenix.”

We’ll know in the coming months if that proclamation turns out to be true. Let the fun begin. 

Shaq is on the verge of becoming a Phoenix Sun. Who ever would’ve believed that a couple of years ago when he helped lead the Heat to their first NBA title? Just goes to show how far the once mighty big man has fallen the past couple of years.

So, the big question is is this the right move for the Suns? The reported deal would send All-Star forward Shawn Marion and backup point guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for the larger than life perennial All-Star.

Shaq has been out with a bad hip and underwent an MRI yesterday in Miami. The soon to be 36 year-old Newark, New Jersey native still has to pass a physical in order for the trade to go through sending him to The Desert.

Assuming he passes, the four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP will try to go for ring No.5 teaming up with the best PG in the league Steve Nash and power threat Amare Stoudemire, who would move back to his natural power forward spot.

On paper, it gives the Suns a double inside threat along with the shot blocking presence they’ve lacked for so long. How much does Shaq have left? This is only the second time in his brilliant 16-year career that he won’t be an All-Star. Quite obviously, he’s not the same dominant inside force but if motivated like a couple of years ago, everyone knows what the former LSU standout is capable of.

So, can an intimidating frontline of Stoudamire and O’Neal coexist? They’ll each want to get their touches. It should be interesting to see how that chemistry unfolds.

The Suns will still have valuable sixth man Leandro Barbosa coming off the bench filling it up from the outside. Veteran Grant Hill is an excellent secondary option who is very unselfish and still is seeking his first NBA championship. Top perimeter defender Raja Bell can also get double digits and knock it down from behind the arc.

Don’t forget too that this trade would allow them to keep versatile PF Boris Diaw. He certainly is capable of instant offense off the bench.

So, what do the Suns subtract here? By losing Marion, they get rid of an unhappy player who didn’t like being the third option. The 29 year-old former UNLV star is a reliable scorer who gets double doubles. He was averaging 15.8 points-per-game while pulling down 9.9 boards. His scoring is down to its lowest dating back to his rookie season when he netted 10.2 PPG in 1999-00. 

The Suns lose one of their three-point options but maybe that’s for the best considering that being a dangerous perimeter-oriented team usually doesn’t translate to winning NBA titles. Look at the Spurs. They have the perfect balance with star trio Tim Duncan, 2007 Finals MVP Tony Parker and the ultra-dangerous Manu Ginobili. Each makes their impact on the game which is why they’ve won three championships together making it four overall for the Big Fundamental.

Will a slower Shaq offset what a quick distributor like Nash does well? He loves to run n’ gun. That might not work. The Suns are a great transition time. Now, they’ll need to adjust to a halfcourt set slowing down Nash’s frenetic pace.

Defensively, they improve. Inside on offense, they get better which is where they want to compete against the Spurs, Mavs and Lakers (now with Pau Gasol).

For Miami, the move also makes sense since it’s obvious that Shaq is slowing down and can’t be relied upon. They needed to get younger and Marion should give them a boost offensively where he’ll team with Dwyane Wade.

Banks meanwhile is a solid backup PG who can spell starter Jason Williams. He had virtually no role in two seasons with Phoenix but is capable of more. The scenery change should allow him to get more PT.

Who Wins This Deal? Depends if the Suns can come out of the West and win the franchise’s first ever NBA title with Shaq. If they do, then they win because Marion is not exactly putting the Heat back in the mix. He also could option out after this year and become a free agent. So, the Heat could be a big-time loser here. 

It happened a few days ago but with all the Super Bowl stuff this past weekend I never got around to the Laker key acquisition of Pau Gasol. The Lakers acquired the 27 year-old center last Friday sending Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Gasol’s brother Marc along with two first round picks plus cash to the Grizzlies. The Lakers also received a 2010 second rounder.

Analysis: Are you kidding?!?!?!?!?! That’s all the Grizzlies could get back for the former 2002 NBA Rookie of The Year? What. Chris Mihm wasn’t available? Why not get two ex-high first round picks who never developed morphing into two-bit scrubs for an All-Star caliber big man?

This deal is an absolute joke. No wonder Kobe Bryant’s grinning ear to ear inside that Laker huddle in the above pic with Gasol also with a similar look. Can’t say I blame him. He got out of the NBA’s version of Siberia. Well not counting the Knicks, Memphis is.

Gasol will turn 28 this summer. In 39 games this season, he’s averaging 18.9 points-per-game (PPG) 8.8 rebounds and three assists- all right at the 7-0 center’s career averages. He’ll make his Laker debut later tonight when they visit the Nets. Figure him to get at least 20 and 10 with a couple of blocks in that one.

How pathetic are the Nets? My good California buddy Nate Sousa messaged me yesterday and noted how the Nets are basically promoting tonight’s home game by showing a photo of both Kobe and Gasol. Don’t believe it? See for yourself at the official Nets site.

What? Is the team that unwatchable? I’d still pay to watch a disgruntled Jason Kidd play. Even with half the effort, he’s more fun to watch ball than Vince Carter. The Nets have never exactly drawn well playing in that dump of an arena now called the Izod Center. Is it any wonder it’s called that since the Devils relocated to Newark and took all their championship banners with them? Sponsored by Andy Roddick’s label. Kind of seems fitting considering what’s become of Roddick’s tennis career.

So, how much better did the Lakers get with this one impact move? Well, considering that they subtracted nothing because that’s exactly what Kwame Brown and some guy whose name rhymes with crouton are. They added a capable big who can score the ball inside and out who should mesh well with Kobe and possibly Lamar Odom. Nate still refers to the former Christ The King star as scrotum. No comment.

Just wait till former Metuchen NJ product Andrew Bynum returns. Who’s going to want to deal with this team in the playoffs? They certainly look very formidable. Plus any team who has Derek Fisher automatically improves their chances of going deep into the Spring.

Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, Vladimir Radmanovic and Ronny Turiaf all are capable of contributing making the Lakers one of the deepest teams in the NBA.

So, who’s coming out of the West? It’s anyone’s guess between the Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, Suns, Hornets and Jazz. The Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets and Blazers aren’t exactly pushovers either.

Team To Watch: Sacramento Kings (22-24)-Finally healthy with starters Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and leading scorer Kevin Martin, look for this team to make a run at the final spot out West. Along with versatile scorers John Salmons, Bronx product Francisco Garcia plus versatile big man Brad Miller and underrated backup PG Beno Udrih, this team can score with anyone.

They currently sit 11th in the conference trailing eighth place Golden State by six games (five in loss column). With still 36 games remaining, there’s enough time for them to catch up. Only problem is they’ll have to leapfrog at least three solid teams to make the cut. 

It was a busy Sunday in the NBA. So let’s take a look at some of the exciting games which went down to the wire:

1.In the game of the day, the Magic got a buzzer beater from money perimeter shooter Hedo Turkoglu to beat the league’s best team the Celtics 96-93. If you caught some of this, it was a very high quality game between two of the East’s best. It looked like the Magic would run away with it when they led by as many as 16 in the second half thanks to a 22-4 run as Boston struggled without Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain).

Credit Celtic long distance threat James Posey for sparking a strong comeback in the final quarter. He dialed up four big shots from downtown to the tune of 16 points and six boards off the bench. Boston second-year starting PG Rajon Rondo played superb D notching a game-high six steals while finishing with an all around performance with 15, five rebounds and six assists.

Paul Pierce paced the Celts with 24 but his biggest play was when he drove down the lane and found a wide open Ray Allen for the tying trey from the left corner with 14 seconds remaining. Out of an Orlando timeout, a cutting Turkoglu came around and got the ball from Carlos Arroyo, took a couple of dribbles and then hoisted up the game-winning three near the key with Pierce defending. It hit nothing but net sending teammates out to congratulate the former King.

“It was a good shot,” Pierce acknowledged to the Associated Press. “I thought I played pretty good defense — cut off his initial drive, he turned around and shot a 3-pointer from two or three feet off the line and sunk the shot.”

“I didn’t really want to settle on a jumper,” Turkoglu later admitted. “I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul, but they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot. I’m just glad it was right there today.”

Bottom line is the 28 year-old from Turkey drained a tough shot. Something he seems to have a penchant for doing. He’s one of the most overlooked players in the league. He can flat out score the ball beating you outside or off the dribble. What makes him so tough is his awkwardness.

Dwight Howard (double double- 18 and 16 with five blocks) might get all of the credit for the Magic’s turnaround but Turkoglu is one of the key reasons this team is where it is sitting atop the Southeast.

2.Another good game took place at the Staples Center between the Cavaliers and Lakers in the second of an ABC doubleheader. Oddly enough, due to the extremely odd January weather California is having where there’s been snow and torrential downpours, this game was delayed at one point in the first half due to a leak from the ceiling.

Once they finally fixed the issue, this back-and-forth game featuring a couple of the NBA’s best superstars in LeBron James and Kobe Bryant came down to crunchtime. It was the 23 year-old man child who won the duel with Kobe scoring 14 of his game-high 41 in the final 12 minutes as the Cavs prevailed 98-95 over the Lakers.

A big bucket by James gave his team a one-point lead with 76 seconds left. A Kobe aggressive drive resulted in an empty trip due to a charge giving the ball back to Cleveland. LeBron milked the clock and then perfectly drained a jumper from inside the three-point line to put his team up a field goal.

A Ronny Turiaf putback cut it to one with 13 ticks to go. A wild sequence nearly resulted in a Laker steal and go-ahead basket but Kobe’s try from in close didn’t go and the Lakers were called for a loose ball foul.

Following a pair of James’ free throws, the Lakers called time and setup their final play. Unfortunately, poor execution resulted in them not getting a desperation three off on time due to some indecisiveness from Luke Walton. I already heard about it from Hard Hits co-host Nate Sousa earlier. He was furious and dissed Walton, who former Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy praised for his “high basketball IQ.”

It definitely wasn’t on display on that awful play which de-proved the Lakers to 2-4 since big man Andrew Bynum went down.

“We ran our last-second play, I was hoping to get the shot off,” Walton lamented despite finishing with nine points, five rebounds, five dimes and four thefts. “I kind of fumbled the ball a little bit, wasn’t aware the clock was as low as it was, and as soon as I passed it back to Kobe, I realized that that was a mistake, and unfortunately it cost us big.”

“It was designed for me to come up from the top of the floor and get a good look at a 3,” explained a frustrated Bryant despite pacing his team with 33 (10-of-21 FG, 13-for-18 FT), 12 boards and six dimes. “We had to run a dribble weave in that situation and they both came with me, so I kicked it out. I don’t know if he had a clear look at the basket. I think they rotated to him pretty quickly. There’s always other options.”

Whatever the reason, suddenly the Lakers (27-15) who a week prior had the best record in the West are sitting sixth in a strong conference while the surging Cavs (24-19) have pushed into a tie with the Raptors for fourth in the weaker East.

The Cavs lost power forward Anderson “Sideshow Bob” Varejao in the third quarter due to a left ankle injury. It looked pretty bad when he was helped off clearly limping but the encouraging news was that X-rays were negative. The valuable energizer off the bench is expected to undergo an MRI later today.

3.Another interesting finish occurred in Minnesota where the league’s worst team used a game-closing 10-0 run to stun the fading Nets (18-26) 98-95. This was just a pathetic loss by a heartless bunch who clearly aren’t playing for coach Lawrence Frank. Will he ever get canned?!?!?!?!?! Somewhere in New Orleans with the West’s best record (no joke), Byron Scott must be smiling.

You really can’t make this stuff up for a team which features the East’s starting PG for the All-Star game in Jason Kidd plus star duo Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. I listened to the final 90 seconds on the radio courtesy of WFAN as their team did an outstanding job describing the latest meltdown which ran their losing streak to an inexplicable nine.

With the game seemingly at hand thanks to a big game from RJ (team-high 35 pts, 11-of-22 FG, 11-for-16 FT) and 25 and five dimes from Carter, it looked like the Nets would finally snap their eight-game skid. Suddenly, consecutive treys from Rashard McCants and ex-Celtic Ryan Gomes cut the lead to one with 40 seconds left. That’s when Carter forced the issue missing a key shot giving the T-Wolves the ball with a chance to go ahead.

They did thanks to emerging star Al Jefferson, who was fouled and sank both free throws. Then Jefferson missed on a driving lay-up, forcing the Nets to foul Jefferson again. He killed the Nets all night going for a career best 40 and 19 rebounds (eight offensive). The recently turned 23 year-old who was the centerpiece in the Garnett blockbuster deal wasn’t going to let down teammates sinking two more from the charity stripe where he made a living finishing 14-for-17.

Trailing by three with still five seconds remaining, the Nets got the ball to Carter but his three was short leaving the Nets and their broadcasters speechless.

“This is how it goes when things are going bad,” a disappointed Frank pointed out. “You lose games that you are in control that you should win. But, you have to kind of break through the karma and just keep on fighting, keep your head up.”

“Look, we have to be hungry,” the embattled coach said. “We have to be a desperate team for a win. We’re in a position now where we have lost nine games in a row, and each one is going to be harder.”

As ex-Knick Micheal Ray Richardson once said:

“The ship be sinking.”

Final thought. Does anyone else think the Celtics could regret that trade if they don’t add another banner to the rafters? Just some food for thought as Jefferson continues to dominate games. Gomes (9 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists) and former Lincoln star Sebastian Telfair (12 pts, four dimes) aren’t chopped liver either. Both are doing their part.

Minnesota (8-35) still has a long way to go. 

4.What would an around the league be without an entertaining Knicks-Warriors game in the Golden State? You betcha. Despite a solid effort on the first of their five-game Western trip, the Knicks (14-29) fell to the highscoring Don Nelson Warriors 106-104.

They just couldn’t make enough stops down the stretch against the balanced perimeter attack of Baron Davis (22 pts and nine dimes), Monta Ellis (24 pts, 9-of-15 FG, eight rebs, four assists, two thefts) and ex-Pacer Stephen Jackson (25 pts, four treys, 7-of-8 FT, four boards).

Despite Jackson heating up in the final quarter to the tune of 16 of his game-high 25, we’ll highlite Ellis and big man Andris Biedrins for why the Warriors prevailed.

Ellis made some difficult shots in the late going and Biedrins got every key rebound destroying New York for a season high 26- most in the NBA in 2007-08. He was a beast owning the glass for more than half his team’s 48 boards. Just ridiculous.

Though the Knicks got a solid game from sixth man Nate Robinson (22 pts, eight assists) along with 21, five and five from Jamal Crawford, it wasn’t enough against the Warriors, who outscored them 59-52 in the second half to erase a five-point halftime deficit and improve to a season high nine over (27-18).

For Isiah Thomas’ club, there were other positives such as solid defense from second-year guard Mardy Collins (2 pts, four rebs, 2 assists, +13) and excellent energy from Renaldo Balkman who came off the bench for 11, four rebounds, a game best three blocks and two swipes in 27-plus.

Problem was that Thomas opted not to play either bigs Zach Randolph (nine pts, seven rebs, six assists, minus-12) nor Eddy Curry (17 pts, minus-10) down the stretch due to how slow they were covering the speedy Warrior players.

The Knicks would be much better without either defensive liability. What are the odds of that happening though?

“We had our chances to win it,” a philosophical Thomas noted. “We had good looks and a couple of open shots that didn’t go down. … I thought we played some pretty good basketball.”

He’s right. They had their shot but just didn’t make enough plays on the defensive end which is why his team despite talent continues to struggle in an erratic bottom of the East.

Shame on MSG announcer Gus Johnson for making a preposterous excuse when Quentin Richardson and Crawford misfired on late three’s in the closing seconds. The King of the HaHaaa Club sadly indicated:

“It’s okay. They played hard.“

So, that’s it?!?!?!?!?! Playing hard when you’re 14 under but falling short is acceptable!!!!! Only in the Dumb and Dumber Clown Mgt 101 warped world of Jim Dolan. What? Did he bark out the instructions to the usually smooth announcer???

What a joke this franchise has become. A laughingstock. Always full of excuses. They LOST! Only you wouldn’t know it by the way Johnson talked. Man. Where’s Bob Page when you need him?

5.On a brighter note, the Portland Blazers edged the Atlanta Hawks 94-93 at home thanks to the play of their star point guard Brandon Roy who didn’t care that he had a fever. The 2006-07 NBA Rookie of The Year led his young team to the victory snapping a two-game skid by sinking the winning free throw with just 2.3 ticks left.

“I didn’t even ask the doctor,” the former University of Washington star indicated after helping his team overcome a 19-point deficit. “I just said, ‘It’s fine and I’m going to play.’ He said some guys have their best games when they’re under the weather so I said I would try and use that tonight, and I was able to have a good fourth quarter.”

In a conference loaded with star guards, the league has to find a way to get this kid into this year’s All-Star Game. He’s the biggest reason the Blazers (26-18) minus Greg Oden are one of the league’s biggest surprises.

The 23 year-old Seattle native who amazingly enough was swapped straight up in the 2006 Draft for former Villanova guard Randy Foye is a breath of fresh air. He logged over 40 minutes finishing an efficient 9-of-15 from the field while making six-of-seven from the line and handing out five assists. 

“I was so disappointed in the first half in how we were playing. These fans fill this building up to see us play hard,” Roy expressed. “I was disappointed in our effort and I think in the second half we did a better job of giving them a good show.”

He’s the catalyst as one of my fave commentators Walt “Clyde” Frazier likes to say.

Kudos to Roy for coming up big when his team needed it most.