O’Neal’s mind is at full speed, but his body isn’t there yet

PHOENIX -- Shaquille O’Neal wrestled and writhed, diving for the ball all over the court and trying to squeeze a few more gallons of diesel from a body running as much on adrenaline as on muscle memory.

In his first appearance as a member of the Phoenix Suns and first game since Jan. 21, O’Neal sometimes looked like the dominant Shaq of old. Sometimes he looked just plain old, lumbering upcourt while the game around him accelerated to a breathtaking pace.

Yet, he got stronger as the evening got later, an encouraging sign for a man who believes there are championship chapters left to be added to a career that brought him three NBA titles with the Lakers and one with the Miami Heat.

“This is only our first game playing and we’re not really used to each other,” he said. “And when we get used to each other, we’re going to be the most dangerous team ever created.”

The man never was understated, was he?

Whether inspired by playing against the Lakers or gratitude he was airlifted out of Miami and plunked into the middle of a terrific Western Conference playoff scramble, O’Neal found a competitive groove Wednesday.

He scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded three assists in nearly 29 minutes, saving his best effort -- nine points and three rebounds -- for the fourth quarter.

If he didn’t quite rediscover his rhythm during the Lakers’ 130-124 victory over the Suns before a pumped-up crowd at US Airways Center, he’s sure he and his new teammates will soon be able to make beautiful playoff music together.

“I haven’t been this happy in a long time,” he said, smiling. ‘I’m happy to be here and I’m happy these guys accepted me for me. I just have to fit in.”

Asked exactly how long it has been since he was so joyful, he didn’t miss a beat.

“About a couple days,” he said, trying but not succeeding in maintaining a serious expression.

He has had only that short a time to learn his teammates’ tendencies and for them to learn his. The Suns don’t plan to change anything to accommodate O’Neal’s less-than-springy legs. Coach Mike D’Antoni pointed to the Suns’ prolific scoring effort as proof no strategic changes are needed.

On second look, he might want to look at the four 30-plus-point quarters the Lakers put up and Kobe Bryant’s total mastery of an overmatched Raja Bell. And the fact the Lakers’ point total was a season high for an opponent in a game that didn’t go to overtime.

“Offensively it was really good, the way we played,” Boris Diaw said. “It was more defensively that we had trouble finding a way to play together.”

D’Antoni said the Suns had become “stale” with Shawn Marion in their lineup and had been “for so long, running uphill.” Acquiring O’Neal was a gamble, he acknowledged, but a calculated one.

“If we can get him back to the way he was going with Miami in his first year there or his Laker years, we could have a much better shot at winning,” D’Antoni said.

“And it doesn’t mean you couldn’t win it the other way. And it doesn’t mean this way is going to win. . . . We don’t think it’s that big of an if. We think he’s healthy and he’s going to stay healthy. We have faith in our guys what they do in here. And we’ll see.”

They saw enough Wednesday to know that life with O’Neal won’t be dull. It never is.

It might even be successful, given some time.

“He looked great for us,” said Amare Stoudemire, who led the Suns with 37 points.

“As a team we’re getting used to playing with him. The second half showed that.”

Seeing his new teammate dive on top of referees, opponents and courtside spectators was a source of inspiration for Stoudemire.

“With his energy he gave us energy,” Stoudemire said. “Unfortunately we lost the game tonight, but there were a lot of positives from this game.”

Among the most encouraging moments, O’Neal said, were his ability to almost sprint downcourt after Bryant was called for goaltending on a shot that allowed the Suns to cut the Lakers’ lead to 115-114 with 4 minutes 17 seconds left.

“I was the first big man to run the court,” O’Neal said. “A couple of knickknack injuries the last couple off years have slowed me down so you earthlings automatically think I can’t run.”

If his body is slower, his mind is still quick. How soon he can synchronize them might go a long way toward determining the course of the West.

The Lakers tied the Suns for the Pacific division lead Wednesday and they’ve had more time for their newest addition, Pau Gasol, to blend into their lineup. But it’s never wise to count O’Neal out if he scents a championship.

He called his arrival in Phoenix “the final chapter of my book,” one that has been “suspenseful and dramaful.” He believes he can expand his collection of championship rings by one or two, and the pursuit will surely be entertaining.

Said O’Neal: “I’ll be a bitter old man if I end my days with four.”

--

Helene Elliott can be reached at helene.elliott@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Elliott, go to latimes.com/elliott.