LOS ANGELES — The decibel levels soared, the sellout crowd rocked and, finally, the Los Angeles Lakers hurtled to a 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night in their home opener.
It was almost enough obscure a fact.
These Lakers are not as good as advertised – yet.
Two days after a humbling loss to the Denver Nuggets in the season opener, the Lakers struggled again. This time against the short-handed Suns, who were missing All-Star guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to injuries.
LeBron James, who spurred the Lakers to victory with an inspired fourth quarter, said the team’s continuity is not where he’d like it to be.
"But that’s OK, because it’s only the second game of the season," he told reporters after the game. "I’m not looking for it to be where we want it to be going down the stretch.
"We have new pieces that we’re trying to integrate into the system, so it’s going to take time."
During the first half, Lakers once again gave up second-chance points in bunches. But entering the fourth quarter down by 12, the Lakers overtook the Suns with suffocating defense. They allowed the Suns just 11 points in the quarter.
"There’s a lot to like," James said, citing how the Lakers responded after a lackluster start against Phoenix. "… We knew in order for us to win this game we had to take the challenge defensively, and we took the challenge and got it done."
Lakers coach Darvin Ham recalled a conversation he had with James before the start of the fourth quarter.
The Lakers have indicated they intend to reduce James' playing time to keep his 38-year-old body fresh. He already had played 23 minutes, with the Lakers were down by 12 and looking at the prospect of an 0-2 start to the season.
"He has that spirit, that intensity to put the team on his shoulders, and I had timeouts to play with," Ham said. "And so I went to him and I said, 'How we feeling? What do you want to do?'
"He answered my question, and you all saw the results."
James played the entire fourth quarter and during those 12 minutes powered the Lakers to victory. He scored 10 of the team’s 28 points and made his presence felt even when he wasn't scoring.
"He never ceases to amaze us," Ham said.
Kevin Durant, who scored a game-high 39 points for the Suns, said James’ impact went beyond what could be measured statistically.
"He was pretty much coaching the team on how to guard certain actions," Durant said, "and that’s what he’s been doing his whole career."
Anthony Davis’ critics skewered the Lakers big man after he went scoreless in the second half of the team’s loss against the Nuggets. On Thursday night, Davis responded with 30 points and 13 rebounds – and James responded with spicy language on an postgame interview on TNT.
"We don't give a (crap) about criticism about AD," James said. "… So, he doesn't see that other crap. He rarely talks, unless it’s to us, so we don't give a (crap) about it and he definitely doesn’t."
Ham addressed matter differently.
"He takes a lot of pride at how he performs," the Lakers coach told reporters of Davis. "And at the end of the day, whether he hears the outside noise or not, he knows that we have all the faith in the world in him. And that’s not going to change."
Durant moved into 12th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, ahead of Hakeem Olajuwon – a particular favorite of Durant’s mother.
"My Mom had a crush on Olajuwon when I was a kid," Durant said. "So that’s all I used to hear. It wasn’t Jordan. It was Olajuwon in the house."
Hakeem "The Dream," who starred for the Houston Rockets, amassed 26,946 with a skill and athleticism unseen in a 7-footer during his career that spanned from 1984-2001. The 6-10 Durant, still dynamic at 35, now has 26,949 points after torching the Lakers for 39 points.
"I really admire his game and his journey as a man and a basketball player," Durant said of Olajuwon. "So it’s always amazing to be amongst the greats."
