When the public address announcer revealed that the team ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific Division standings had won Friday night, the Staples Center fans had a telling reaction: They cheered. Yes, the main reason for the thunderous ovation was that Phoenix upset the hated Boston Celtics, but another more subtle message was also clear. For all the Suns have accomplished so far this season, it isn't enough to be taken seriously as a threat to the Lakers just yet. If Phoenix's sizzling 7-1 start has yet to rekindle the rivalry between the fan bases that burned so fiercely earlier this decade, it certainly has legitimized the Suns in the eyes of the Lakers themselves. They're approaching tonight's home game against Phoenix as an early-season barometer of how they stack up against a fellow contender.
"They're playing at that 6- to 8-second pace where they just get up and down the court and get up shots," Lakers center Andrew Bynum said. "When they're going in, they're definitely tough to beat. It's going to be a good test for us."
The showdown with Phoenix represents the first leg of what promises to be the Lakers' toughest early-season back-to-back test. Up next is a visit to Denver on Friday to face the Nuggets team the Lakers defeated in the Western Conference finals in May in six chippy games and then brawled with during an exhibition game.
"It's a great test," Kobe Bryant said. "Phoenix is hot as a pistol. Denver has struggled in its last couple games, but they're going to be very eager to go up against us, especially after that little melee we had in San Diego."
When Phoenix went through three coaches in 10 months and still missed the playoffs last season, it appeared the Suns were destined to stay helplessly stuck between good enough to contend and bad enough to rebuild this year. Instead Phoenix has won big by returning to its run-and-gun roots, re-signing Steve Nash and Grant Hill, ditching immobile Shaquille O'Neal for quick-footed Channing Frye and preaching the same shoot-in-eight-seconds philosophy that nearly won an NBA title in 2005.
Buoyed by at least 12 points per game from six players and 13 assists a game from a rejuvenated Nash, the Suns lead the league in points per game and have eclipsed 100 each time they played (112.3 average). They won four of five on an East Coast road swing, hanging 110 points on Boston's notoriously stingy defense and handing Miami its lone loss.
"You can see the determination in Steve Nash's face, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson and (Amare) Stoudemire," Derek Fisher said. "They're on a mission this year, and I don't think it's just to make the playoffs. I think they want to win."
The Lakers will be closer to full strength, with Bynum returning after missing two games with a strained right elbow. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the 7-footer will have no restrictions, aside from limiting his playing time to 35 minutes.
To Jackson, the Lakers' biggest concern is not getting caught up in Phoenix's revved-up tempo.
"It's very infectious," he said. "You've got to be very careful you're getting what you want out of the offense."
Reach Jeff Eisenberg at 951-368-9357 or jeisenberg@PE.com
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