Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 17, 1991

Elgin Baylor sits in the front row behind the north basket at the Sports Arena, but it long has been one of the worst seats in the house. . . .

Baylor is the general manager of the Clippers, and from 1986-87 to 1990-91, he was a sitting duck for the catcalls of his critics as the team lost 122 games at home and won only 83. . . .

But now Baylor is hearing the cheers again in the same building where he and Laker teammate Jerry West put basketball on the map in Southern California. . . .

There can be no doubt that this team that has won an Los Angeles Clipper-record eight consecutive games is Baylor’s team. Mike Schuler is the fourth coach since Baylor arrived. Not a player remains from 1986-87. . . .

Baylor has reshaped the roster with the lottery draft choices that accompany low finishes and trades that have brought Ron Harper, Olden Polynice, Doc Rivers and James Edwards. And, lest we forget, Baylor got rid of Benoit Benjamin. . . .

“I’m not a superstitious person and I don’t believe in jinxes,” Baylor says about the series of injuries and other misfortunes that have struck the franchise since the move here from San Diego in 1984. “Bad things just happen. Unfortunately, they happened to us every year. But I’ve always felt that our time would come.” . . .

It is still too early to declare that the Clippers’ time has come. Fifteen of their 24 games have been played at home. Next month, they will play 10 of 13 games on the road. . . .

But for the first time, the Clippers are playing with confidence. If the game is close in the final moments--or if they are losing to Utah by 19 at halftime or Golden State by 18 in the first half--they believe they will find a way to win. . . .

Rivers, a coach on the court, and Edwards, who played for championship teams in Detroit, are greatly responsible for the change in attitude. . . .

Although they beat Utah and Orlando while he was resting his swollen knee, the return to action of Charles Smith is what ignited the eight-game winning streak after a run of eight defeats in nine games. . . .

“Smith can do everything,” Baylor said about the fourth-year, 6-foot-10 forward from Pittsburgh. “He can drive, shoot outside, rebound and defend. He’s very quick. Exactly what level he reaches will depend on how badly he wants to become great.” . . .

Maybe the Clippers’ luck really has changed. That comeback victory over the Jazz? It happened on Friday the 13th. . . .

Karl Malone may have gotten a bum wrap. TV replays indicate that his intent Saturday night in Utah was to block Isiah Thomas’ shot, not smash his face. . . .

Department of Strange Scheduling: The only two games played Sunday in the NBA were within a few miles of one another, the Lakers against Sacramento at the Forum and the Clippers against Orlando at the Sports Arena. . . .

A factor in the Phoenix Suns’ winning streak has been the emergence of Tim Perry, who had been a disappointment since he was drafted in the first round from Temple in 1988. . . .

Of the last four NBA expansion teams, only the Miami Heat is making significant progress. . . .

Maybe Dale Brown isn’t having such a disappointing year, after all. He led Kentucky in scoring Saturday against Arizona State. . . .

Michigan freshman Chris Webber is demonstrating the potential to become the first choice in the NBA draft when he decides to turn pro. . . .

On the winning touchdown pass from Warren Moon to Haywood Jeffires Sunday at Cleveland, Houston Oiler center Bruce Matthews put a crunching block on his brother, blitzing linebacker Clay Matthews. . . .

You may not have heard of Marv Cook, but the New England Patriot tight end has caught 78 passes this season. . . .

The Detroit Lions came back to beat the Green Bay Packers Sunday, although Barry Sanders was held to no yards rushing in 14 carries in the second half. . . .

There will be a new look to the NFC playoffs, in which the field will be made up of teams with a minimum of 10 victories. The Atlanta Falcons haven’t played a postseason game since 1982, the Lions since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1985. . . .

You have to wonder why the New York Giants, who are out of playoff contention, would still play Lawrence Taylor when he has an injured knee. . . .

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, where the Falcons played their last game Sunday, won’t be missed as a football facility. . . .

The New York Jets need a new quarterback. . . .

I wonder if Mark Gastineau will do his sack dance tonight at the Country Club in Reseda. . . .

The surprise isn’t that 640 people voted for Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, but that 113 didn’t. . . .

The Raiders could play another 60 minutes in New Orleans and still not score. . . .

Santa Ana Mater Dei High’s 35-14 victory over Rialto Eisenhower Friday night in the Southern Section Division I championship game was the best performance by an Orange County football team at Anaheim Stadium this season.