say someone with the shield TA is adjacent to a character without the shield TA. i can still give tha character without the TA the whole range bonus thing righhhhhhht........?

Yes. The character getting modified by the character using the SHIELD team ability does not need any team ability of its own.

This thread here gives a good explanation of how shield works as well.

Scenario:

Hulkbuster Squad Leader is adjacent to Punisher and is on his last click, with an action token.

I'd like to boost Punisher's damage using the SHIELD TA but that'd push the HBSL to KO. Does Punisher still have the damage boost?

Never mind, it's a no. The SHIELD figure needs to be adjacent at the time of the ranged combat attack and a KO'd figure isn't adjacent, so no.

No, you would give the Hulkbuster an action to activate the ability and then that action would resolve, as it resolves you would deal pushing damage and he would be KO'd.

The ability is Lost because he is off the board and no longer adjacent to punisher.