The Suns are dead-last in the NBA in offensive rebounds (400), offensive rebounds allowed (690) and offensive rebound differential (290). That facet of the game reared its ugly head again in Wednesday’s 132-130 double-overtime loss to New Orleans, when the Hornets turned 15 offensive rebounds into 23 second chance points despite playing without starting center Tyson Chandler.

 But coach Mike D’Antoni expects the addition of Shaquille O’Neal to help the Suns in both categories – not so much because of his individual rebounding, but the space he takes up inside that will deter opponents who attack the boards.

 “If we can just move up to top 15 (in each category), that’s going to mean three or four buckets a game either way,” he said. “We don’t lose many games by more than that. So if we can maintain what we’ve done, improving there alone could push us over the top.

 “Shaq knows all the tricks, when and how to make contact with people. It only takes a little nudge here and there to make a difference under there.”

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