Notes on a Scorecard - May 3, 1993

All those people who predicted a sweep in the Laker-Phoenix series remain confident today. . . .

“A miracle,” Chick Hearn said on KLAC after the Lakers made it two in a row over the Suns. . . .

“Oh my!” Dick Enberg said on NBC. . . .

“This can’t be happening,” Magic Johnson said on NBC. “No way. No way.” . . .

If anything, Game 2 was even more shocking than Game 1. The Suns had gotten their wake-up call, had Kevin Johnson back in the lineup, and were leading by 10 points in the third quarter. . . .

However, the Lakers showed they weren’t going to settle for a split in Arizona as early as the first basket of the afternoon when the reserves gave Vlade Divac a standing ovation. . . .

My friend David Israel, the former syndicated sports columnist, believes Phoenix has lost the big advantage in intensity it had during the regular season. . . .

“With Charles Barkley showing the way, the Suns play hard every game,” Israel said. “But in the playoffs, everybody plays hard.” . . .

Among other Lakers staying focused is the hot-and-cold Divac. . . .

I doubt that Magic will be offered the Laker coaching job today. . . .

Has Byron Scott ever been more reliable in two consecutive playoff games? . . .

It is typical of the plight of the Clippers that two days after they scored the most significant victory since their move to Los Angeles, everyone in town is talking about the Lakers. . . .

As with the Lakers Sunday, defense was the key to the Clippers’ upset of the Houston Rockets on Saturday that was the franchise’s first road playoff victory since April 18, 1976, when the Buffalo Braves defeated the 76ers at Philadelphia in the climactic game of a best-of-three series. . . .

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 30 points, but made only six field goals, was limited to seven shots in the second half and wasn’t able to dictate the flow of the game in his customary manner. . . .

Thumbs-up to Larry Brown for the way he juggled his lineup after Stanley Roberts, Danny Manning and John Williams got into foul trouble. . . .

Ron Harper must have wondered what would happen if his knee that was surgically repaired 3 1/2 years ago took a heavy blow again. It did Thursday in Houston. He missed most of the second half because of a sprained ligament. But he felt ready to play Saturday and, obviously relieved, turned in a great performance. . . .

The Kings played only in flurries Sunday and that won’t work against the Canucks in Vancouver. . . .

Sometimes we are reminded just how young King defensemen Rob Blake, Darryl Sydor and Alexei Zhitnik are. . . .

No suspension by the NHL would be too severe for Dale Hunter, the Washington Capitals’ hatchet man who cut down New York Islander star Pierre Turgeon with the cheapest shot of the century. . . .

Judging by the result of Game 1 of their series, though, Mario Lemieux must be more important to the Pittsburgh Penguins than Turgeon is to the Islanders. . . .

Sign at Maple Leaf Gardens during the Toronto-Detroit Red Wing series: “We B’ Leaf.” . . .

Avondre Jones, the 6-11 center from Artesia High, is easily the most highly recruited big man USC has ever signed. . . .

For their $1-million purchase price, Sid and Jenny Craig got to watch Tossofthecoin perform longer than any other horse during the Kentucky Derby. He finished last. . . .

Jerry Bailey, who rode Sea Hero to victory, is the son of an El Paso dentist, attended Texas El Paso, and has spent much time and money on charitable activities, including the disabled jockeys’ fund. . . .

Bailey, 35, is an outstanding rider, but, like many others, he couldn’t crack the tough Southern California circuit when he rode at Hollywood Park several years ago. . . .

Chuck Knox was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Sunday. . . .

The Rams’ draft must have agreed with their fans, who bought 471 season tickets last week. . . .

It will be interesting to see how the Angels deal with reality now that it has arrived. . . .

Pitching against the New York Mets on Tuesday at Shea Stadium, Orel Hershiser looked like the Hershiser of 1988. Against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, he looked like the Hershiser of 1998. . . .

Question of the day: Can the Lakers, who were 20-21 at home during the regular season, play at least .500 basketball at the Forum against the Suns?