Phoenix Suns crowd brings passion against archrival Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5
Suns #Suns
This is Phoenix.
Purple. Orange. No. 1 replica jerseys and T-shirts that say “Booker.” No. 3 jerseys that say “Paul.” Traffic two hours before tip-off. And a ring of honor that says McCoy, Van Arsdale, Hawkins, Colangelo and Barkley.
Superfans are Phoenix, too.
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“I couldn’t even sleep,” said Patrick “Mr. Orng” Battillo, as the arena filled up before Game 5 of the best-of-seven series between the Phoenix Suns and their longtime nemesis, the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday evening.
“It was like being a kid again. … to know that we have home-court advantage and that we’re able to make the difference here in the arena as fans. It’s been over a decade since we’ve been able to feel that energy.”
This is the biggest game for the Valley’s original franchise since May 29, 2010, a season-ending loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals against the rival Lakers.
That’s 11 years and 3 days. Or 132 months. It’s 574 weeks … 4,021 days … 96,504 hours … 5,790,204 minutes.
But let’s just call it for what it is to fans, an eternity.
‘LeBron’s gonna lose tonight’
This is Phoenix.
Lakers fans wearing horrible shades of gold and the wrong color purple that they somehow consider “blue.” Not to mention those eye-sore throwbacks in baby blue from the franchise’s days in Minneapolis. Kobe Bryant jerseys. Anthony Davis jerseys. And, of course, LeBron James gear.
“LeBron’s gonna lose tonight,” Gail Alfred said, giving her sister, Sharon Anderson, a hard time. “How’s he gonna take losing?”
They were among the first fans in the arena.
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Alfred was wearing Suns gear. She’s been a fan since the days of Steve Nash. Anderson was wearing Lakers gear, she’s been rooting for James since he was in high school.
“I’m gonna enjoy watching LeBron do what he do,” Anderson said. “He’s gonna do his thing tonight.”
They anticipated the atmosphere of a kindergarten class on a field trip.
“It’s gonna be some high energy in here tonight,” Anderson said. “It’s Game 5. Phoenix needs their crowd. And I’ve got LeBron and the whole Lakers team.”
This is Phoenix.
Devin Booker getting up shots an hour before tip-off. Fans taking his picture. Then taking selfies. Deandre Ayton mugging at half court for the crowd before launching Rick Barry-style, underhand shots that would clinch any game of H-O-R-S-E … if he ever hit one. (Sorry, big fella, you know it’s all love.)
Monty Williams kept his trademark poker face, but he acknowledged the moment.
“I think it’s great for our guys to have the fanbase in this arena going nuts for our team,” he said. “It gives us energy, for sure. It’s great for the city. It’s great for our state to rally around the team this time of year. It’s the best time of year.”
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‘I’m ready for the win’
The Suns allowed 16,000 fans in, the biggest crowd since back before the world shut down.
“It’s gonna be electric in here tonight,” Veronica Philpot said.
She’s been a season-ticket holder for six seasons and sports orange and purple hair to go with an orange tutu and a black Jae Crowder jersey. She also wears Suns-colored mascara. At this point, she’s as much of a fixture as the 1976 and 1993 Western Conference championship banners hanging above the court.
She was first in line.
“I’m ready for the win,” she said. “Suns in six.”
This is Phoenix.
Optimism. Excitement. Beer. Pizza. Popcorn. And orange T-shirts with white Suns logos draped over every other seat.
This is the Valley’s original franchise. The city’s first love. The Suns got here in 1968. That trumps 1988, when the Cardinals arrived. It beats 1996, when the Coyotes moved in. It beats 1997, when the Mercury started heating up. And it beats 1998, when the Diamondbacks hit town.
This is Phoenix. This is special. This is playoff basketball, the biggest game this town has seen in a decade. This is what all the Valley lifers have been trying to explain to the newbies.
It’s different out here when the Suns are hot.
“I’m just excited to be back,” Mr. Orng said, “both coming out of the COVID, when we weren’t able to see basketball live and in person and being in the playoffs again against the defending champs … what more could you ask for?”
Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @SayingMoore.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns crowd brings passion against archrival Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5