Suns Appear to Be in Playoff Forecast

The Lakers’ hard-fought battle to secure a playoff berth continues, but after nearly an entire season of trials and tribulations, they have found their footing, won four in a row and appear poised to attain that goal.

Trouble is, they appear to be playing right into the deft hands and nimble feet of the Phoenix Suns -- a team they have not beaten in six tries since trading Shaquille O’Neal before the 2004-05 season.

The Lakers are seventh in the Western Conference, with a reasonably comfortable 2 1/2 -game lead over the Sacramento Kings, who hold the eighth and final playoff position.

The Suns are second, 7 1/2 games behind the San Antonio Spurs and 7 1/2 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets, so their seeding is not likely to change.

Thus, a first-round series between the Lakers and Suns, though not imminent, appears likely.

“Didn’t we win the first time we played them?” said Smush Parker, who shrugged when told the answer was no but went on to say the Lakers are “much more focused” now than they were then. “We’ve done our homework. We know their personnel. We know their plays, so we can execute our defensive strategy as well as our offensive strategy.”

The Lakers have been more cohesive down the stretch, in part because of the improved post play of Kwame Brown, who has scored in double figures in each of their four recent victories, including a season-high 21 points March 22 against the Kings.

“He’s not having to think and play at the same time,” said Kobe Bryant, who also implied that the team finally appears to be comfortable with the complex triangle offense. “And that’s for everybody. That’s Lamar [Odom], Smush ... everybody that’s out there on the floor.

“Once you get comfortable in this offense ... it’s more of an instinctual type of offense. You start getting better at it.”

The Lakers were winless in four games against the Suns last season, with the closest margin of defeat five points and the largest 26. This season, Phoenix prevailed, 122-112, on Nov. 3 as Shawn Marion scored 30 points to lead six Suns in double figures.

The Suns won, 106-93, on Jan. 20, as Marion again led the way with 22 points and the Lakers shot only 40% from the field.

Bryant scored 39 and 37 points, respectively, in those games, but he made only 12 of 33 field-goal attempts in the latter and his teammates looked confused at times in both games. The Lakers and Suns meet twice more before the end of the regular season: at Phoenix on April 7 and at Staples Center on April 16.

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If the Lakers fall behind the Kings into the eighth playoff spot, they probably will play the Spurs, their opponent Thursday night at Staples Center, or the Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers are 1-2 against the Spurs and 2-1 against the Mavericks, but playing either in the first round may not be preferable to playing the Suns. Both would enjoy home-court advantage; the Spurs are 30-4 at home, and the Mavericks are 30-6. The Suns are 28-9 on their home court.

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Bryant (back spasms) did not practice Tuesday but said he would play Thursday against the Spurs. Parker, who jammed his right thumb Sunday in a game against New Orleans, also is expected to play. Andrew Bynum (sprained right foot and ankle) is doubtful.