THIS TEAM IS GROWING UP BEFORE OUR EYES.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Consistency was the goal, something the Lakers could actually rely on. They had played well in Phoenix, felt they had discovered something.

Yet coming back home, there was still much to prove. To the Suns, certainly, more importantly to themselves.

This is all such a learning experience for the Lakers, but they are growing right before us now, with every game taking another step towards something no one could have imagined only a few months ago.

The Lakers responded to their newest challenge, to winning a home playoff game, downing a Suns team that played with much high intensity 99-92 Friday night at Staples Center.

The victory gives them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, but more importantly, a growing awareness of how could they can be if they move the ball, play aggressively, keep their cool.

They are far from a finished product, far from resembling some veteran team beaming with confidence of battles past.

But they are beginning to believe now. They are carried by Kobe Bryant's swagger.

They are buoyed by Lamar Odom's now determined play.

They are spreading the attack, moving the ball, playing their game.

Early on Friday, all went well enough. The Lakers seemed to play with a new confidence, with the calm that Phil Jackson desired, like a team that knew who it was.

They went quickly back to their Phoenix gameplan, going inside, spreading the ball, attacking but controlling the pace.

They broke out to an early 8-point lead and the Staples Center crowd was buzzing like it was old times.

The celebrities were out in full force - Denzel Washington, Charlie Theron, Regina King, David Arquette, and naturally, Jack Nicholson.

Former Laker champs Rick Fox and Derek Fisher were there, too.

When Smush Parker threw down a ferocious dunk, the crowd exploded. In years past, the first home playoff game was treated almost like some required evil. Crowds were mostly polite.

On Friday night they were alive, cheering on their unlikely underdogs. A buzz was back in Staples. Amazing what one victory can do.

In the first quarter, they had to like what they saw. The Lakers moved the ball, controlled the tempo, held the Suns to only one fastbreak basket.

For a moment it appeared they really were going to exert their will in the series, that the Suns might shrink in self doubt.

But if the Lakers secretly hoped Phoenix might wilt from their pressure, they learned quickly there was plenty of fight left in the Suns.

Phoenix charged back within one at the quarter's end and led by three in the middle of the second when the Lakers suddenly started settling for jump shots.

The Lakers answered with a 12-0 run, Sasha Vujacic hitting a pair of 3-pointers, and a pattern had been established for the game, if not the series.

Both teams were playing like it was playoff basketball, both ready to dig in and raise their level of play.

Neither team has ever been confused with being physical. Finesse teams, skilled teams, but never the rough-and-tough stuff.

But in the first quarter Luke Walton fouled Tim Thomas on a drive, and he landed awkwardly, falling fairly hard on his back. Thomas glared at Walton, and took a half step towards him.

That was about all that would have happened, but Parker - looking like he was trying to get between the two - appeared to inadvertently push Thomas and he went to the floor.

There was some chest bumping, but not a lot else. Walton was charged with a flagrant foul. Boris Diaw with a foul.

Things got testy again early in the third quarter.

Shawn Marion's arm got stuck under Kwame Brown's, and Brown shoved him off, sending Marion to the floor. Brown took one step over Marion, hovering momentarily before being led away by Parker.

Players again scrummed. There was some minor pushing and Kobe Bryant, as he did in Game 2, seemed to point directly at Steve Nash. The two superstars are not becoming fast buddies in this series.

The third quarter was of the see-saw variety. Nash, 1 of 7 from the field the first half, came alive. Kobe, 2 of 9 at the break, followed suit.

By the quarter's end, however, Kobe had the lowest point total of any Laker. And unlike in the series opener, it didn't seem a bad thing.

The Lakers led the series. The Lakers were walking with a new hop to their step. The Lakers were growing up before us.

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Photo:

Kobe Bryant has been the Lakers' leader all season, and now his teammates are starting to give him more support.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer