Suns notebook: 'Shogun’ Shaq schools Oden

Maybe it’s the Suns training staff’s two-a-day workouts on his body, or the yoga classes he’s now started taking. But one thing can’t be argued: Shaquille O’Neal definitely has more spring in his step these days.

Suns burn Blazers with hot 3rd quarter

SLIDESHOW: Suns. vs. Trail Blazers

The 19-point, 17-rebound effort he put up against Portland Saturday night – proving in his first meeting with Greg Oden that the old master still rules the roost inside – is one indication.

“I’m the Shogun, and before you get to the Shogun, you’ve got to go through a lot of ninjas,” O’Neal said. “He has to go through Dwight Howard, Yao Ming … and by that time, I’ll be out of here.”

But a better one might be the late fourth-quarter dive he took into the stands in pursuit of a loose ball.

It’s the second time O’Neal has gotten up-close and personal with the US Airways Center fans since coming to Phoenix. But while he barely reached the third row of fans in last year’s leap against the Spurs, O’Neal got more lift this time and would have threatened the fourth row this time – which, lucky, didn’t exist in that area.

“Those stuntman classes have served me very well,” O’Neal said.

Phoenix coach Terry Porter had a word of advice for those fans who found themselves in the path of the stuntman. “Watch out. Move quick,” he said. “I don’t think he’s going to get hurt nearly as much as the people underneath.”

O’Neal’s 17 rebounds were one shy of his best as a Sun.

He had 18 last season (March 5 at Denver).

BO-DACIOUS

Several Suns have had trouble finding their role early in the season, but reserve Boris Diaw hasn’t been one of the them. Diaw had another strong first half against the Blazers, hitting four of his five shots from the floor and adding three rebounds and three assists — including rebound and pretty, length-of-the-floor baseball pass that caught Grant Hill in stride for a layup.

“I think Boris, from Day One to now, has been the most consistent guy in terms of doing what we’ve asked of him,” Porter said. “We’ve really tried to get him to be more aggressive at the offensive end, either at the post or pick-and-pop shooting situations. He’s done a really good job of doing that. He’s so multi-talented, he can do so many things.”

Diaw has also done a better job of recognizing mismatches and taking smaller players to the basket when switches leave him being marked by guards.

“When we see that, it’s immediately an advantage we want to try to work,” Porter said. “We’ll pull the ball out to make sure we can reset and go to him.”

BARBOSA HEADED BACK

The Suns said guard Leandro Barbosa has begun the journey back to Phoenix from Brazil and will rejoin the team for practices on Sunday and Monday before the Suns start a two-game road trip in Oklahoma City Tuesday.

Barbosa left the team last Thursday to attend his mother’s funeral in San Paulo, and the Suns have allowed him to take his time returning. The tradition in his country is for the funeral to be held quickly, with a celebration following a week later. Barbosa will have missed five games during the bereavement.

BONUS SHOTS

How long has it been since last time the Suns lost a home game to the Blazers (Feb. 4, 2004)? Steve Nash was still in Dallas, Porter was the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Nate McMillan was the head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics and Greg Oden was a 16-year-old sophomore at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis.

The Suns have held eight of their first 14 opponents under 100 points this season. Last year, it took Phoenix 25 games (Dec. 15) to hold eight opponents under the century mark.