In the good news for the Suns, the Western Conference finals are still best-of-seven, so this series didn't end Monday night... appearances to the contrary in the Lakers' 128-107 romp.
"They're a lot bigger than us, and they're probably going to continue to be taller than us as the series goes on."
“他们身高上占有很大优势，随着系列赛的深入，他们可能会更多运用他们身高上的优势。”
With all their other problems, the Suns ran into a ticked-off Kobe Bryant, upset either because Grant Hill was bumping him around... or because the Suns knocked the Lakers out in 2006 and 2007... or seeking vindication for, quote, tanking Game 7 in '06... or, in a safe bet, up to here with being asked about the quote, tanking controversy.
Whatever it was, Bryant turned his full fury on the Suns, scoring 40 points. It could have been 50, but with the issue settled, he watched the last minutes from the bench.
Not that the Suns didn't show that new defense they're supposed to play, but after the athletic, swarming Thunder and the physical, rock-ribbed Jazz, the Lakers looked like those furry mascots who come running down the lane and dunk, jumping off a trampoline.
Of course, if you really want to see a fireworks show, imagine the Suns' offense against the Suns' defense.
当然，如果你真的想欣赏一场烟火秀，想象一下太阳的防守面对的是自己的进攻。
For the piece de resistance, Shannon Brown tried to tomahawk one, vaulting right over the head of 6-foot-5 Jason Richardson, and almost pulled it off.
最具亮点的是，香浓布朗尝试战斧扣篮那次，在6尺5的贾森·理查德森面前高高跃起，几乎完成这一壮举。
With Richardson called for a blocking foul, Brown went to the line and made one of two free throws, although he didn't try to dunk either.
而理查德森被判防守犯规，布朗在罚球线上2罚1中，尽管他没有尝试扣篮。
As far as Bryant's knee, which he recently had drained, if there was any problem, it wasn't apparent Monday.
至于科比的膝盖，他已经抽出了积水，如果有任何问题的话，周一的比赛显然没有反应出来。
Said Bryant, with the usual bemused disdain in the postgame news conference:
科比用自己一贯令人困惑的轻蔑语气在赛后的新闻发布会如是说：
"Feels a little lighter. I lost a couple pounds."
“感觉到变得有些轻了。我好像减了几磅体重。”
For the Lakers, that knee — which has swollen up after rest on four occasions since April 1 — had better be good to go.
对湖人而言，科比的膝盖--自从4月1号起的四场比赛就开始肿胀的膝盖--最好是能好起来。
Instead of featuring Kobe and the 7-Foot Tandem, the combination that can make them great, it looks more like Kobe and Pau Gasol, with Andrew Bynum's sore knee rendering him less and less of a factor.
Showing what they're capable of in Games 1-2 against Utah, Gasol and Bynum combined to score 72 points with 51 rebounds.
双塔已经展现了他们的能力，在对阵爵士的前两场，二人联手拿下72分、51篮板。
Showing where he is now, Bynum played 19 minutes Monday with four points and four rebounds.
而拜纳姆现在的表现只是在周一的比赛出战19分钟，4分4篮板。
Guess who that leaves to save the day?
猜猜哪个人站出来拯救了比赛？
Before the game, Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry, amused at the local press reviving its own speculation that Bryant tanked Game 7 of their series in 2006, asked, "Can you get him to do that the next four?"
Any notion Bryant was hurting ended when he came out firing.
任何关于科比伤病的轮调都在他出场开火的一瞬间灰飞烟灭。
Missing his first two shots, making his first at the 11-minute mark, Bryant then knocked down two more, including a three-pointer, and wound up with 11 points in the first quarter.
"I've never, since he walked into the league, I don't think I've ever underestimated him," Gentry said. "You knew at some point of the game he would try to take the game over...
“自从他进入联盟，我从没有认为我完全理解他，”詹特里说“你知道他会在比赛中的某个时间接管比赛。”
"I think our attitude was fine. We ran into a guy who's a great player. I'm pretty sure we're not the first team he scored 40 against."
“我认为我们的态度很好，我们只是面对着一个伟大的球员。我确信我们不是他斩下40分的第一个对手。”
Indeed, they're not.
确实，他们不是。
That was just one of the silver linings for the Suns.
