PHOENIX ADJUSTS ROLES ON THE DEFENSIVE END THOMAS STARTS, HAS 19 POINTS AND 14 REBOUNDS.

Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE Staff Writer

A group of reporters crowded around Suns coach Mike D'Antoni two hours before Phoenix beat the Clippers 94-91 in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center on Friday.

Each one of them wondered the same exact thing.

Was the Clippers 25-point victory in Game 2 significant enough for D'Antoni to contemplate switching up defensive assignments?

Yes, D'Antoni told them. Major changes were in store.

``I'll be guarding (Clippers coach) Mike Dunleavy),'' D'Antoni said, drawing laughter.

If only it were that easy.

D'Antoni knew better, of course. That's why Tim Thomas was in the starting lineup in place of James Jones and why Shawn Marion and Raja Bell flip-flopped defensive assignments.

Those changes, more than anything else, enabled the Suns to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Marion guarded Sam Cassell and Bell was on Cuttino Mobley. Thomas, meanwhile, drew Clippers power forward Elton Brand.

It wasn't an ideal situation -- the Suns won't have power forward Amare Stoudemire back until next season -- but a 25-point drubbing and a crucial Game 3 on the other team's home court necessitated major changes.

The goal was to get bigger, with the 6-foot-10 Thomas offering a better matchup against Brand and the 6-7 Marion using his long body and wide wingspan to contain the wiry Cassell.

The results were stunning.

Brand scored 11 first-quarter points but finished with just 20 and had only three in the fourth quarter. Cassell was a complete non-factor, finishing with just six points.

Meanwhile, Marion finished with 32 points and 19 rebounds and Tim Thomas had 19 points and 14 rebounds.

``We showed them we can play some good defense,'' D'Antoni said. ``We do it in spots, we don't do it all the time. But I think they knew the importance of playing good defense and it showed.''

Brand agreed.

``Marion guarding Sam forced some mismatches,'' he said. ``This is a chess match, and they made some good moves that worked out positive for them.''

Thomas has been a revelation for the Suns in the playoffs. He joined the team late in the season after being exiled in Chicago only to develop into a key cog at the most important time of the year.

Mostly it's been on offense, but Friday he showed he can play defense, too. He got plenty of help guarding Brand, but his physical style and strength contributed to Brand's 10 missed shots.

``We've been hearing all year how bad people are going to beat us up inside, and all sorts of things,'' Thomas said. ``But we don't listen to it. We just come out to play basketball.''

In many ways it was an unlikely Suns' win, one framed on defense and on the boards. The Suns shot just 37.2-percent from the field, but they nearly matched the Clippers in rebounding, 46 to 47. They also limited the Clippers to 42.2 percent shooting, with Brand (7of17), Cassell (2 of 10) and Corey Maggette (3 of 10) all being forced into difficult shots.

``The shooting numbers aren't indicative of the way we win, but the intangibles were really big for us,'' Nash said. ``Getting on the floor, the loose balls and the rebounding went our way.

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(1) THOMAS

(2) MARION