Suns Keep Heads Out of Clouds : Phoenix: Despite needing only one victory to clinch, they know that cornered Lakers often prove dangerous.

Cotton Fitzsimmons was sprawled on the carpet in his office late Sunday afternoon, a large electric fan blowing cool air in his direction. He tilted back his head, letting the breeze ruffle what’s left of his hair. He seemed as content as could be.

And why not?

His Phoenix Suns had beaten the Lakers again to take a 3-1 lead in this Western Conference semifinals series. Comfortable though he may have been, Fitzsimmons said he and his team will not be lulled into a sense of security.

“We haven’t done anything yet,” Fitzsimmons said. “We’ve just narrowed this down to a three-game series. You know who we are? We’re the new kids on the block. We’re not trying to replace the Lakers or anything. The Lakers are still the Lakers. If you all are naive enough to think the Lakers can’t win three games in a row from anybody in this league, then I can’t do anything for you.”

Fitzsimmons then smiled sheepishly. He apparently sensed that reporters were no longer accepting the underdog status Fitzsimmons has cultivated throughout the series, so he added that, yes, he likes his team’s position.

“Certainly, we like being up, 3-1. We have to win one out of three games against an outstanding team. All I’m saying is that we haven’t done anything yet.”

Sun players guarded their optimism as closely as they did James Worthy in Sunday’s game. They tried to remain as calm about their situation as they were when the Lakers’ made a spirited, if futile, fourth-quarter comeback.

“We have to try to win it right away, even though it’s on their home court,” guard Jeff Hornacek said.

“We feel confident. We came home and did what we were supposed to do. I still think we can improve, but we’re happy we put two key games back-to-back and played well.”

Added former Laker Kurt Rambis: “We feel good about ourselves. Everybody knows that, if you look at the Lakers playing one game at a time, they can beat anyone three straight. But we’re capable of beating anyone when we play hard. Playing consistently hard for 48 minutes has been our challenge all season. We’re doing it now.”

Tom Chambers, who leads the Suns in this series with a 24-point average, said the Suns will beat the Lakers in Game 5 Tuesday at the Forum if they play as well as they did in a 13-point victory Sunday in Game 4.

And, if not, the Suns can return to Veterans Memorial Coliseum for Game 6.

“We’re not going to wait until the last opportunity,” Chambers said. “We know what it takes now. We’ve had two good, consistent games. Hopefully, we can remain intense. I think we’re beyond becoming frustrated. We just go out there and do whatever it takes.”

Fitzsimmons, meanwhile, was regaling reporters with memories of past playoff failures with teams he has coached.

“I do think we have a shot at winning the series,” he said. “But I haven’t changed my opinion any. It will be a longshot.”

Obviously, Fitzsimmons is talking as good a game as his team is playing.