NBA News: Big L.A. Lakers Trade; New-Look Phoenix Suns

How about the Lakers making the blockbuster trade for Pau Gasol and then venturing out on an impressive nine game road trip?

The Lakers made it back to L.A. with a very impressive 7-2 record on the longest road trip for the Lakers since 1976.

The Lakers are hot right now, and I do not know if they are happy the All-Star break is this weekend.

The Lakers enter the break at 35-17. While most are anxiously awaiting the return of Andrew Bynum, the Lakers look like they could be okay without him for a while longer.

They are on a four game winning streak, 19-8 in their conference and 8-2 in their last 10 games. Los Angeles will resume play one game out of first place in the Western Conference. This goes to show that the Lakers could definitely be a force when Andrew Bynum returns.

Does this mean the Lakers will be revisiting the finals this year?

I do not think they will, but they just might have enough to make a deep playoff run. Deeper than some expect.

One of the threats to the Lakers in the West is the Phoenix Suns. The Suns made a very questionable trade sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Heat for Shaquille O'Neal.

Some think that the "Diesel" is running out of fuel, but Shaq claims that he is willing and able to keep up with the Suns' pace.

He practiced with the team for the first time a couple of days ago and said that the practice left him "winded."

I like that the Suns made the trade because they have had the same roster for the past few seasons. With that roster, they were unable to get to the Finals, so it was time to go in a different direction.

Shaq will give Phoenix the defensive boost they needed to get over the hump. Shaq does not have to put up big numbers to be productive in Phoneix.

All they need Shaq to do is rebound, block shots and ignite the break with crisp outlet passes.

Amare, Nash and the rest of the Suns should be able to handle the scoring load, and as long as Shaq accepts his role by doing what he needs to do, the Suns will be fine.

Better yet, mostly for GM Steve Kerr, they will not regret trading for the big man.