Despite success, Suns not quite the same

Fresh off the longest winning streak in Suns history at the time — 15 games — the Suns played their 28th game last season Dec. 28 in Dallas, losing to the Mavericks.

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They left the floor with a record of 20-8, and they led the surprising Lakers (18-10) by just two games in the Pacific Division.

This year, after losing for the fifth time in their past eight games to the Lakers on Tuesday, the Suns are one game worse in both categories — sitting at 19-9 and with a one-game lead over the Lakers, who are exactly in the same spot (18-10).

Now add in the fact the Suns have played 17 of their first 28 on the road, have two of their long Eastern road trips behind them, and have as many wins as San Antonio and Dallas in the battle for the Western Conference lead. Not bad, eh?

So why is the vibe surrounding this team — which is on pace to win 57 games and a fourth Pacific Division title — feel so much worse?

A nationally televised Christmas Day loss to the Lakers is as coach Mike D’Antoni pointed out “only one game.” But it was also the game that shouted what others have been whispering since the Suns needed a fourth-quarter rally to beat Seattle on opening night, and were blitzed by the Lakers at home 24 hours later.

Something just doesn’t feel right here.

Is it the 0-3 record against the two up-and-comers (the Lakers and Golden State) in their division? Is it the recent head-scratching losses to bottom feeders Minnesota and Miami?

“We have lost nine games, and a lot of them we should have won,” center Amaré Stoudemire said. “We should have beaten Atlanta, we should have beaten Minnesota. We should have beaten the Lakers home and away. They are a tough team, but we have to find a way to get them. Anything less is an excuse.”

Or is it that several Suns are totally unimpressed with their play to this point, and feel that the key to improvement has so far come at a price they haven’t been willing to pay?

“We keep thinking that next time out it’s just magically going to show up. It doesn’t work like that,” Suns guard Raja Bell said. “You have to continue to work before you get that chemistry. I think we’re in the right direction, but maybe we have to work harder.

“It’s hard to walk around proud as a peacock when you’re not getting the wins you want, you know?”

The same old problems still haunt the Suns — rebounding, interior defense and a floor leader to keep the blood pumping when Steve Nash goes to the bench for a break.

After watching a string of emerging enemy big men post career games (Minnesota’s Al Jefferson, Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Andrew Bynum of the Lakers) D’Antoni admitted “That’s where we’re weakest, there’s no doubt.”

But several areas where Phoenix has historically thrived — 3-point shooting, free throws and overall energy — have also waxed and waned through the first two months.

But the Suns have four months and 54 regular-season games to work out the kinks.

“We’re not playing our best basketball. We haven’t put it all together yet. We keep saying it, but we haven’t done it,” said forward Grant Hill, whose first 28 games as a Sun are one of the few areas to exceed expectations. “But come May, nobody cares about December. The good thing is no one has run away with anything. We haven’t played great, but we’re still right there.”

The question is: Do the Suns have all the pieces here to get where they want to go? And if not — with the Suns already hugging the luxury tax — how deep into the core of this team do you cut in the makeover?

Suns general manager Steve Kerr and the rest of the personnel team have used the last run of games as an evaluation tool, and a 3-5 record with wins over Utah, Tony Parker-less San Antonio and Toronto might not be enough to instill confidence.

There appears to be at least a peripheral disconnect between Kerr — a staunch believer in defense and depth — and D’Antoni’s high-octane offense/tight rotation mantra that will also play a role in the decision-making.

“The last time I checked, we’re one or two games off the lead in the West, so I think we’re OK,” D’Antoni said. “Could we dominate? Maybe, but we’re not. Each year presents a different problem.”

Beginning with Game 29 last year, the Suns reeled off 17 straight wins to break their own franchise record just as the Lakers ran into injury problems — ending the division race by the All-Star break. But that’s not likely to happen again.

“We can’t think, 'OK, we’ll run off 17,’ because if you look back, we hit some incredible shots and some teams didn’t show up with a couple of players, which keeps streaks going sometimes.” D’Antoni said.

“It just seems like it’s going to be the kind of season where it’s going to be a dogfight,” Bell said.

“And that’s OK, we’ll have to find a way to get it done and be a better team.”

Suns at Clippers

When: 8:30 p.m. today

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

Radio: KTAR (620 AM)

TV: KUTP (Channel 45)

Records: Suns 19-9; Clippers 9-17

Series History: The Suns lead the all-time series 110-63 and have won 10 of the past 13 meetings, including a 113-94 win on Nov. 23 in Phoenix. The Suns were 11-2 at that point.

Scouting report:

Suns – The Suns are 3-5 after a 16-4 start and haven’t strung together back-to-back wins since a five-game streak ended Dec. 8 in Minnesota. They had their Pacific Division lead shaved to one game in the Christmas Day loss to the Lakers. Phoenix is 12-2 against the East but a pedestrian 7-7 against the West and 3-3 in their own division, beating only the Clippers and Kings (twice). Phoenix scored 115 points Tuesday, but the offense still had several long droughts and relied on 3-point shooting to stay afloat.

Clippers – They have had four days off and needed it since they have lost four straight overall and their last six home games. Injuries continue to kill the Clips. Elton Brand (Achilles tendon) and Shaun Livingston (knee) have been out all season, Sam Cassell (knee) missed 12 games and returned for just nine minutes in Saturday’s loss in San Antonio. Corey Maggette (knee) also missed that game and to make matters worse, ex-Suns Tim Thomas hurt his knee against the Spurs. Chris Kaman (12 straight double-doubles) has bounced back this season, about the only good news for coach Mike Dunleavy, who had this team a game away from the Western Conference finals two years ago.