Suns Can’t Take Blazers Lightly

It’s been two years since the Phoenix Suns opened the playoffs against a team they swept during the season. The opponent then was the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Suns barely survived.

The memory of that series, in which the Lakers won the first two games in the America West Arena and then took the Suns into overtime in Game 5, still haunts the Suns.

Now they have a replay. Portland and Phoenix, which was 5-0 against the Trail Blazers this season, meet Friday night in Game 1.

“This team slipped and almost lost to LA two years ago, and experience should be one of the best teachers,” said former Laker A.C. Green.

“When the Lakers went up on us 2-0, that got our attention,” coach Paul Westphal said. “I remember James Worthy spiking the ball on our home court. We know how tough the games with Portland were, and we respect the Blazers a lot. We’re not taking anything for granted.”

Portland captain Buck Williams said he and his teammates have a similar point of view.

“Yeah, they swept us, but that’s all in the past right now,” said Williams, who fattened his season rebounding average (8.2) against the Suns, averaging 9.4. “We’re focused in on what we have to do and how we match up.”

The Blazers were the NBA’s thirdbest rebounding team, collecting an average 46.3 per game, and they had the advantage on the glass in each of the five losses to Phoenix. In fact, they had a 42-27 edge against the Suns on Nov. 18 and narrowly outshot them, but Phoenix still won 124-111.

The 27 rebounds was a season low for Phoenix, which played without injured forwards Charles Barkley and Wayman Tisdale.

Tisdale said the Suns know they won’t be lucky enough to repeat regular-season wins over Portland by 3, 13, 7, 7 and 10 points if they’re still getting knocked around under the boards.

“They’re one of the best rebounding teams in the league.”