Morgan: Shaq, Kobe, Phil play nice before reunion

Lakers coach Phil Jackson couldn’t resist the jab when asked recently what Shaquille O’Neal’s role would be with the Suns.

Shaq will start Wednesday against Lakers

“Taking the ball out of bounds and waiting for the other team to get back,” Jackson said.

On Tuesday after Suns practice, O’Neal answered his former mentor.

“That’s funny,” O’Neal deadpanned. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”

The start of another spicy chapter in the Shaq-Phil-Kobe Bryant saga?

Hardly.

“I don’t take anything personal,” O’Neal said. “I just have a certain file in my head so other teams must be careful what they say because my file has a lot of microfiche and nothing ever gets deleted.”

Microfiche?

That’s pretty old school.

“So am I,” O’Neal said.

But there are no old grudges, Shaq insisted.

“We had more great times than bad times together, but they’ve moved on, I’ve moved on,” O’Neal said. “I have a new team now and I have a new focus.”

Time apparently is the universal healer.

At least that’s what O’Neal, Bryant and Jackson would have us believe.

On the eve of Shaq’s much-anticipated Phoenix debut — and on the eve of another reunion with his former Lakers running mates — Shaq spoke in such glowing terms of Bryant and Jackson that it appears this once dysfunctional relationship has transformed back into a love triangle.

“Kobe’s the best player in the league right now,” O’Neal said of his former verbal sparring partner. “He’s playing fabulous.”

On Jackson: “Phil taught me how to win. He taught me to believe in myself.”

The bulletin board material wasn’t any better on the other side of the desert.

Just more bland.

“I really don’t have any (feelings),” Bryant told the Los Angeles Times. “It doesn’t matter to me either way.”

“As many jerseys as this guy has put on, that’s not the weird part,” Jackson told the Orange County Register.

“It’s weird, probably, seeing him in that building. I think it’ll be interesting to see him play,” Jackson said.

There’s no way of knowing what the trio’s true sentiments are, and it’s revealing to note that Bryant has avoided all Shaq-related topics since the trade, refusing even to speculate on how Shaq might impact the Suns and the West.

“I have no idea,” he told the Register. “I don’t know what they’re going to do or how they’re going to execute or how they’re going to decide to use him. I have no idea.”

If there are no bitter feelings or ill-chosen words to further flavor this matchup, that’s OK.

There’s enough at stake already.

By adding Pau Gasol, the Lakers are ready to make a run at the Suns’ recent dominance in the Pacific Division — and at the franchise’s 14th NBA title.

By adding O’Neal, the Suns are taking a major risk that his age and speed won’t toss a wrench into Mike D’Antoni’s Maserati offense and doom the franchise to the NBA repair shop for years to come.

Toss in the Shaq-mania that’s overtaken the Valley — from the crush of media at Tuesday’s practice to the nonstop discussion of his attributes and shortcomings on the airwaves, to the merchandise sales at the team shop that have doubled since his arrival — and you’ve got oodles of story lines.

But let’s be clear.

When the teams take the court tonight, don’t expect an extended group hug involving Shaq, Kobe and Phil.

These are three of the biggest egos in the NBA, and they bruise easily.

So if Kobe should venture down the lane tonight and find O’Neal waiting, all the better.

Nothing completes a rivalry like a little bad blood.

And nothing completes a love triangle like a little stab in the back.