Kobe: It’s one but not done

Kobe Bryant has swept confetti from his hair in joyous sun-soaked parades, so please excuse him if he had a few laughs at the expense of Coach Phil Jackson.

Besides, he was merely trying to add a little perspective after Jackson warned the Lakers not to get too overconfident after winning Game 3.

“I kind of joke around with the guys about what Phil said as far as being full of themselves,” Bryant said. “We won one game, you know what I mean? It doesn’t make any sense for us to even think about being full of ourselves. We did a good job last game. Hopefully we can play with that same type of energy and effort [today].”

If every game in a playoff series is more important than the one that preceded it, Game 4 this afternoon at Staples Center is no exception.

If the Lakers win, their series against the Phoenix Suns becomes a series, tied at 2-2 and going back to Phoenix. If they lose, it’s not officially over, but, well, there’s always next season.

The Lakers were playoff laughingstocks after their 28-point loss in Game 2, but they earned a modicum of redemption by coming back from 17 down to win Game 3. Their defensive trap stymied the Suns’ pick-and-roll sets, and Bryant was as well-rounded as could be, collecting 45 points (on 26 shots), six assists and six rebounds.

But the Suns, owners of the league’s second-best record and the highest-scoring team during the regular season, won’t be caught off guard again by the Lakers’ defensive scheme. They fully expect to return to form today.

“It just didn’t seem like we were carefree [in Game 3]. We’ve got to have that attitude,” Suns Coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters Saturday. “We’ve got to be able to play our game. We kind of got conservative and it played into their hands. We won’t do that again. Steve [Nash] will push the issue.”

The Lakers are running out of healthy players with which to push, period.

Lamar Odom practiced Saturday with a large brace on his hyper-extended left elbow, the latest injury on a team riddled by twists and tweaks.

Odom hurt the elbow when his hand slammed into the backboard while trying to block Leandro Barbosa’s shot in Game 3, but he won’t be sitting out Game 4, even though his left shoulder still stings, his right knee still needs treatment before every game, and the cut over his left eyebrow continues to look menacing up close.

“If you’re out there in the playoffs, to hell with being hurt,” he said.

Luke Walton also will be adjusting to a new injury after sustaining a dislocated right pinkie finger at Friday’s practice. He spent extra time Saturday at the team’s training facility to work on his shot with the pinkie and ring finger of his right hand taped together.

The Lakers, injured and everything, trying to lure the Suns into another difficult first-round series: Today will be important, undoubtedly.

“If you think about it, if we give up this game on our home court, the series will be 3-1, there will really be an uphill battle from there,” Odom said.

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The Lakers’ reserves have been clearly outplayed by those of the Suns, a source of frustration for Jackson.

“I think our bench was one for 16 [in Game 3],” he said. “They’ve shut down our bench significantly in this series. We’ve got to find someone that can contribute.”

With Barbosa doing a majority of the damage, the Suns’ reserves outscored the Lakers in Game 3, 34-6, and in Game 1, 31-8.

Because of the imbalance, oft-maligned forward Vladimir Radmanovic could return to the active roster for today’s game. Radmanovic was deactivated for Games 2 and 3.

“I’d like to get Vlade back dressed again,” Jackson said. “He’s looking like he’s shooting his shots again [in practice].”

Brian Cook, who has a couple of minor injuries this series -- a sprained left thumb and a sprained left ankle -- could be put on the inactive roster to make room for Radmanovic.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com