About last night

Random thoughts . . .

For all the havoc he’ll create on offense with Shaq around, if the Suns are going to get anywhere Amare Stoudamire better demonstrate at least an interest in playing defense. . . .

How’s this for an acid test on the Big Cactus experiment: First, the Lakers. Then three of the Suns’ next four are against Boston, Detroit and New Orleans. . . .

Nobody’s worried about Kobe’s finger anymore. But what happens over the next six weeks? . . .

Lamar Odom sure is looking a lot like Scottie Pippen . . .

Shaq, with an inadvertant elbow, wasn’t the only one to give Raja Bell a headache. Kobe’s old foil not only gave up 41, he was shutout himself — missing all three 3-pointers he took. . . .

Stat of the night: as breakneck as the pace was, the teams combined for only 21 turnovers (Lakers 9, Suns 12) — or two less than the Knicks had last night. . . .

Sasha Vujacic, who hit a pair 3-pointers and contributed 15 points off the bench, had better get used to hitting open shots. Same goes for Radmanovic, Farmar, and others members of the supporting cast. Phoenix allowed Bryant, Gasol and Odom to take about 70 percent of the Lakers’ shots (61 of 92) and free throws (18 of 26). Don’t expect that to happen in the playoffs.

Sasha Vujacic