No story is complete without vengeance. And the Phoenix Suns made sure they got theirs through the trenches of adversity. At one point, the JJ Redick-led Lakers looked on track to be 4-0 and build on their ceremonious start to the season. The Purple and Gold held an 18-point advantage. From there came the scoring mastery of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. First, they chipped away the lead, then when the time came to seal the deal, they stepped up again.

Just like that, revenge was on their hands. The Lakers took their first loss of the season, a result they will think shouldn’t have turned out the way it did. However, why did they lose? The Lakers shot the three surprisingly better and had the same fluidity that JJ Redick has cultivated this season. Or maybe it was over excitement?

At least that’s what Kenyon Marin believes. The former defensive forward unloaded on the Lakers while on Gil’s Arena letting them know how history proves a pattern that follows their thrill. “You was raving all that s**t about the In-Season tournament last year. Y’all won that b***h and the wheel fell off that b***h right after that. So don’t be too excited by it,” he warned them before the loss to the Suns.

During the inaugural cup, when the Lakers didn’t record a single defeat, what followed was turbulence. Over the following six games, they lost 5 and fell below the .500 mark since hoisting the trophy. Tonight, it was only one loss. However, more than the Suns finding a way to overcome their deficit, the Lakers’ complacency played a major role.

Then there was also the rare showing of LeBron James

Lakers and LeBron James succumb to their own struggles

To open the proceedings, the Lakers raced to a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Anthony Davis, a reinvented MVP candidate, came firing and taking the attack to the Suns. At this time, LeBron James couldn’t hit a shot. Yet, the Lakers built up an 18-point advantage. However, a terrible 14 point quarter set the tone for what the game would bring.

James, in Year 22 for the first time in his NBA career seemed to experience the effects of aging as the 40-year-old barely kept his double-digit scoring streak alive. On the other hand, the Suns decided to efficiently tackle the 18-point slope at their hands. Each turnover became valuable as they outscored the Lakers 20-13 in points off turnovers.

Furthermore, the Suns also beat them out in fast break points, the best suit of the Lakers over the past few seasons. Those technical errors piled into becoming a grave danger for the Lakers. But just as red alert sounded, it was too late. For a glimpse in the fourth, the Lakers retook the lead. Then the Easy Money Sniper decided to take matters into his own hands.

He went to the dark arts of the mid-range, nailing three of his four shots in the quarter to successfully close the game at home. The question is, how big of a worry is such a loss to the Lakers?

The only major worry could be their ability to hold a lead. With an 18-point advantage, the Lakers’ core and defensive improvements quickly faltered due to them loosening themselves. Apart from that, although LeBron James did struggle, JJ Redick won’t be worried a lot. A game as such was bound to come, given the load his body has taken. Furthermore, the Akron Hammer is also adjusting to a new role not being the focal point of the offense anymore which can affect his readiness and instincts during games. The important part is that he and every other Laker buy into the process.

The loss will be a learning lesson on the aspects of the game they simply can’t manage to slip up in and be mindful of going forward. It’s only a minor bump as far as the season is concerned.