For Jackson, Series With Suns Is Crucial

The Lakers reacquainted themselves with their system and their teammates for two days, then boarded a charter flight bound for Phoenix, a home-and-home weekend series against the suddenly potent Suns, and perhaps a touch of enlightenment.

Fairly certain they’ve found the energy and direction that eluded them for two months, the Lakers get their first hot team since Sacramento on Christmas Day, when they played well for two-plus quarters and then were overrun in the third and fourth. They don’t have a quality win since, well, Orlando on Dec. 15? Utah on Dec. 8? Dallas on Dec. 6?

“I’m confident these guys know how serious these games are for us,” Coach Phil Jackson said.

Undoubtedly, the Lakers view the Suns, who don’t have a playoff series win in three years and finished 36-46 last year, as just the sort of challenge they’ll need to get through if they hope to reach the All-Star break at .500, an oft-stated goal. The Suns have won 10 of 12 games and stand three games behind the Kings in the Pacific Division, and seven games ahead of the Lakers.

The Lakers and Suns play tonight at America West Arena and Sunday night at Staples Center.

Phoenix Coach Frank Johnson calls rookie Amare Stoudemire “a man among boys,” saying something for a 20-year-old fresh to the NBA. Stoudemire scored 38 points -- the most by a rookie straight out of high school -- in a six-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday and averages 12.4 points and 8.9 rebounds.

While the Lakers have spoken often of imposing their will -- Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, the system -- on an opponent, more often this season they’re playing through someone else’s, and the Suns are feeling good about themselves.

“I think these two games against Phoenix will be a real factor,” Tex Winter said. “We’ve got to come away with a split, at least. We really probably need to win them both. We need to have a good January. Then we’ll see.”

*

Rookie Kareem Rush returned from Kansas City late, was fined for missing Thursday’s practice, and joined practice Friday.... Jackson did not expect to limit playing time for Samaki Walker, who suffered through the week with tonsillitis.... While Internet voting and the Chinese interest are being credited for Yao Ming’s All-Star popularity, the NBA office says Yao also leads O’Neal in paper votes.

*

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 6 PST

Channel 9

Site -- America West Arena.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 13-19, Suns 20-12.

Record vs. Suns (2001-02) -- 2-2.

Update -- Sun center Jake Tsakalidis is out six to eight weeks because of back surgery. That leaves Scott Williams, Jake Voskuhl and Bo Outlaw to defend O’Neal.... The Suns won 11 of 16 games in December.