Warriors not best foe for Suns right now

With or without Shaquille O’Neal, facing Golden State isn’t high on the Suns’ to-do list. Without Shaq — and with Shawn Marion — Phoenix was soundly walloped in its last two trips to the Bay Area.

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The Warriors run at a pace that makes even the Suns feel like plow horses.

And now, as the Suns are poised to drop a 320-pound part into their engine, the team most Western Conference contenders would like to avoid in mid-April is up next on Phoenix’s schedule.

The Warriors (first) and the Suns (second) lead the NBA in scoring. But comparisons between their styles got really fuzzy when the Suns moved Marion and added O’Neal to their attack.

The Warriors recently added an aging postman themselves in Chris Webber, but he’s surrounded by a team that took down Dallas in the playoffs last season with its hair-on-fire pace.

The Warriors will have their own problems dealing with O’Neal, but not tonight. He is still one day — and perhaps even one week — away from playing. He’ll travel with the team and take part in the late afternoon walk-through before a decision is made on a possible debut Thursday in Phoenix against the Mavericks.

“He said he feels good and the hip doesn’t hurt,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It’s just game condition. He knows he’s not quite ready, and we have no intention of rushing him.”

But after beating Seattle and Washington short-handed, the Suns step up in class this time. In their last meeting with the Suns, the Warriors’ trio of Baron Davis, Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson riddled them for 81 points in a 129-114 walkover.

Guard Steve Nash marvels at what his old coach in Dallas, Don Nelson, has put together in Oakland. Even with Amaré Stoudemire at center and Boris Diaw at power forward tonight, the Warriors can trump the Suns’ normal quickness advantage.

“They are really the small-ball team in the league right now,” Nash said. “We’re not the same anymore, if we ever were. They’ve taken it to another extreme. If we were way liberal, they’re even more liberal. They’re getting red.

“(Nelson) has gone really small and really athletic. It’s a fun combo and successful combo to watch. They could have gone another round in the playoffs last year, and they aren’t the favorite for anyone to play in the first round this time.”

So, against the Warriors, having a Plan B won’t hurt.

“I think we’re versatile in a different way all of a sudden,” Nash said. “When Shaq’s not on the floor we’re the same old team and when he is we have totally different capabilities. I’d like to think both will be good and difficult to defend.”

O’Neal was happy he didn’t have any soreness after his first workout on Monday and a repeat of that could pave the way for at least a short stint against Dallas. The Suns then have six days off for the All-Star break, but only one more practice before hosting the Lakers on Feb. 20 because of All-Star game restrictions.

“(Adjusting) isn’t going to be difficult, I just have to get out of some old habits,” O’Neal said. “When I step on the court, I don’t want to be slowing us down in any way. I want to know what to do and where to go. It’s coming soon.”

Suns at Warriors

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.

TV: ESPN/FSN Arizona

Radio: KTAR (620 AM)

Records: Warriors 31-20; Suns 36-15

Series history: The Suns lead the overall series 121-77 and have won six of the last nine, but the Warriors have taken the last two – both in Oakland. Golden State put up 45 first-quarter points in a 129-114 blowout win on Nov. 26, with Stephen Jackson (32), Monta Ellis (31) and Baron Davis (28) combining for 81 points. The Warriors hit 13 of 28 3-pointers and scored the most points against the Suns in regulation this season. Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists for Phoenix, who is 7-4 against the Pacific Division this season.

Scouting report:

Suns – Phoenix won’t have Shaquille O’Neal again tonight and now don’t have Shawn Marion to help against a small, athletic, lightning-quick Warriors team. Leandro Barbosa (flu) practiced Tuesday and will play. The Suns, who face Dallas Thursday, are 10-0 in the front end of back-to-backs this season. It is the first of six straight nationally televised games, and the first five are against playoff teams (the Warriors, Dallas, the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston and Detroit). Phoenix is only three games off last year’s 61-21 pace – and that team had winning streaks of 15 and 17 games.

Warriors – Golden State has won 11 of its last 15 games after rallying from a 23-point deficit to beat Washington on Monday night. It marked the 12th time the Warriors have come back from a double-digit deficit to win this season. Jackson had a season-high 41 points including 10 of the final 12 Warriors points. Golden State is working in its own new big man – Chris Webber has started three games since signing as a free agent but played only 14 minutes against the Wizards. Ellis has hit 30 of 37 field goals over the last three games, but Davis is 5-for-25 from 3-point range.