Notes on a Scorecard - March 15, 1995

During his pregame interview with reporters Monday night at the Forum, Laker Coach Del Harris was asked for an injury update. . . .

He spent the next several minutes detailing Sam Bowie’s rib, Elden Campbell’s ankle, Tony Smith’s calf, Nick Van Exel’s back, George Lynch’s foot, Randolph Keys’ abdomen, Eddie Jones’ shoulder and Cedric Ceballos’ thumb. . . .

“Maybe we should call this ‘L.A. Hope,’ ” said Harris, alluding to “Chicago Hope,” the television show about life in a hospital. . . .

Hope is something the Lakers never seem to lose. . . .

They fell behind the Indiana Pacers by 17 points in the first quarter and came back to win, 93-91, on Lloyd Daniels’ three-point play with 12 seconds left. . . .

It was the eighth time this season that the Lakers had rallied from a deficit of at least 13 points and won. . . .

They are 11-3 in games decided by three or fewer points. . . .

What makes those numbers even more remarkable is that the Lakers’ leading scorer, Ceballos, has missed the last 19 games and their outstanding rookie, Jones, the last 15. . . .

There have been better Laker teams but none with more heart. . . .

“I’ve never been with a team quite this enthusiastic,” said Bill Bertka, who is in his 14th season as an L.A. assistant coach. “They don’t realize that they’re not supposed to win. They believe in each other. Those early-season wins on the road gave them confidence.” . . .

“We’ve been down a lot since I’ve been here,” said Daniels, who played his first 34 games this season with the Ft. Wayne Fury of the CBA. “But we play defense and get back into it.” . . .

“We like to compete,” Vlade Divac said. . . .

That’s L.A. Hope. . . .

*

Harris is glad that Michael Jordan didn’t play for the Bulls against the Lakers Saturday in Chicago, but is looking forward to his return. . . .

“The NBA needs him,” Harris said. “He’s a role model. I’m talking about what he does inside the arena. The rest of it, I’ll leave to the sociologists.” . . .

Harris added, “He demands so much of himself and the people around him. It’s not a ‘90s thing. It’s now fashionable to point fingers and not be responsible for anything. He stands for responsibility on the court.” . . .

Shaking hands in the hallway before the game Monday were former longtime Laker teammates Kurt Rambis and Byron Scott. . . .

Upset: The Lakers’ Miller, Anthony, outscored the Pacers’ Miller, Reggie, 17-12. . . .

Anthony Peeler was one for 10 from the floor, but helped hold Miller to four for 11. . . .

A couple of NBA advance scouts, Rex Hughes of the Orlando Magic and Lou Campanelli of the Portland Trail Blazers, would like to return to coaching. . . .

The NCAA women’s West Regional at Pauley Pavilion March 23 and 25 might be the best regional in the nation. . . .

If seedings prevail this week, the field will comprise defending champion North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Stanford and Purdue. All have reached the Final Four at least once this decade. . . .

The Master’s College, led by sophomore point guard Mike Penberthy, begins play in the NAIA Division I tournament at Tulsa tonight against Southeastern Oklahoma, a game that will be broadcast by KBET (1220) of Santa Clarita. . . .

There is a question whether anybody will be willing to take on Afternoon Deelites and Timber Country, so the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes Sunday may turn into a match race between the Kentucky Derby future-book favorites. . . .

In another match race, Kent Desormeaux’s 19 riding victories in the last 10 days have narrowed the gap between him and Santa Anita leader Corey Nakatani to 71-67. . . .

Junior Coffey, former University of Washington and Green Bay Packer running back, won his first Santa Anita race as a trainer Sunday with Run Away Stevie in the third race. . . .

The $800,000 Toshiba Senior golf tournament Friday through Sunday at Mesa Verde in Costa Mesa will be the first PGA event in Orange County since 1968. . . .

In 1962 at Mesa Verde, Champagne Tony Lema got his nickname by celebrating after defeating Bob Rosburg on the third overtime hole for his first PGA Tour victory. . . .

Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team is ranked first in the nation in three polls--by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and USA Today Baseball Weekly. . . .

After his wardrobe was criticized on ESPN’s “Up Close,” hefty Utah Coach Rick Majerus explained: “I spend all my clothing money on desserts.”