PHOENIX — Apparently tired of falling victim to the
mighty Lakers, the Suns finally put their foot down Sunday and got their first
win over the more prominent LA team since November 2010.
"I think everybody was probably tired of losing to them," Suns guard
Jared Dudley said. "Especially playing them in their place, seeing Kobe
(Bryant) going for 48 (points) or 40. To put it in more basic words, we've
struggled against them.
"Tonight, I think we set the tone."
The Lakers scored first Sunday, but the Suns took a lead less than a minute
into the game, eventually leading by as many as 27 points — more than any team
has against the Lakers this season — and eventually snapping their four-game
losing streak with a 102-90 win.
Now 13-19 on the season, Phoenix still has a long way to go if it's to climb
back into contention, but a win over the Lakers could provide just the momentum
the Suns need to put together a string of wins.
"It was just a really good win for us," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.
"We desperately needed a good, solid win at home against a good
team."
Some might say any win can be the game to spark a streak or give a team the
confidence boost it needs to turn things around, but beating the Lakers is
different. Beating the Lakers is not just another win. That much was evident
when Dudley was asked if it gets any bigger than beating the Lakers.
"No, it doesn't," Dudley replied. "This is our rival. I think if
you ask any Phoenix Suns fan, it's probably the team they hate the most. So
we're always glad to beat (the Lakers) for them."
Gentry has remained steadfast in recent weeks that the Suns need only a streak
of five or six games to put themselves right back in the Western Conference
playoff picture. Though that kind of streak is much easier said than done, now
might be the perfect time for it.
Phoenix next takes on the Washington Wizards (7-24) at home Monday, followed by
a Wednesday game with the Golden State Warriors (11-17) heading into the
All-Star break. After the break, the Suns play nine of 11 games at home.
"For us to get back in it at a couple games behind .500, we need to get it
going," Dudley said. "There's no better place than here."
Home court may be more conducive to a winning streak, but the Suns haven't been
as solid of a home team this year as in past seasons. They are now 6-8 at US
Airways Center this year. Still, with less travel, the Suns are hoping to find
a groove.
Beating the Lakers on Sunday must have been particularly satisfying for the
Suns since it meant also beating Bryant. The NBA's current scoring leader,
Bryant finished with 32 points after scoring 48 and 36 in previous meetings
with the Suns this season.
"We actually did a good job on Kobe for the whole game," Gentry said.
"The guy ends up with 32 points, but I just thought we did a much better job
tonight of making him work. . . . It's just the way he got the 32 that really
counts."
The Suns are by and large resigned to the fact that Bryant is going to score
his points and thus are determined to at least make him earn them. They
certainly did that Sunday, as it was clear Bryant was laboring to get his team
back into the game, which may have hurt more than it helped.
With veteran forward Grant Hill primarily guarding Bryant, the Suns forced him
into committing 10 turnovers, a season high and one short of a career high set
in January 2008. As a team, Los Angeles committed 18 turnovers.
"He gets pretty determined to score, and we decided to be just as
determined to make it difficult for him," Suns point guard Steve Nash said.
"We tried to make him shoot over two guys and pass the ball. I thought our
guys were really aggressive.
"You can never stop Kobe Bryant, but (Hill) does a good job of just being
there every time."
Clearly frustrated with the loss, Bryant ripped the Lakers' front office
regarding apparent indecision over whether to trade forward Pau Gasol. Gasol,
who collected 17 points and 12 rebounds against the Suns, said the Lakers
weren't focused and simply went through the motions assuming they could pull
out a win.
Essentially what Gasol was saying was this: The Lakers should have seen this
coming.
"Especially a team you have beaten twice on your home court this season,
they want to get you back," Gasol said. "They're going to be ready to
play, so you have to make sure you step up to the challenge from the beginning
and not put yourself in a hole like we did."
The mood in the Suns' locker room was markedly different. They may still be a
sub-.500 team with a litany of problems to work out if they're going to contend
for a playoff spot, but for at least one night, the Suns had reason to be
upbeat.
The joy that came with toppling the Lakers will be fleeting, though, if the
Suns can't make something of it. A loss Monday to the lowly Wizards would
effectively erase whatever progress was made in Sunday's win. Accordingly,
Gentry acknowledged the opportunity to build momentum but was quick to look
forward.
"We say that but we still have to come back tomorrow and play well,"
Gentry said. "Yeah, we are playing at home, but once again we've got to
come back and do a good job."
