Lakers Have the Makings to Fold or Flourish

The Lakers puzzle me. . . .

I can’t decide whether they are going to be eliminated by the two-time NBA defending champion Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs or make it all the way to the Western Conference finals. . . .

A lot depends upon their behavior. . . .

They will be better off if they pay more attention to their real opponents, the other team, than to their imagined opponents, the referees. . . .

The first time L.A. and Houston met in a first-round series was 1981. . . .

The Lakers were the defending champions, but the Rockets upset them in a best-of-three games series, 2-1. . . .

The Houston coach was Del Harris. . . .

Wonder whatever happened to him. . . .

I am going out on a limb and picking the Chicago Bulls to win the championship. . . .

The Angels should keep Troy Percival as their closer even after Lee Smith returns from the disabled list. . . .

San Diego Padre starter Fernando Valenzuela, 35, gave up no runs and two hits and struck out seven in six innings against Atlanta on Sunday and lowered his earned-run average to 2.04. . . .

Forget about his fielding. It is Jose Offerman’s lack of hitting that has the Kansas City Royals concerned. . . .

Little-known American League rookie of the year Marty Cordova of the Minnesota Twins is on his way to becoming the little-known sophomore of the year. . . .

Larry Kahn, who is calling USC games on KWNK, is better than most major league baseball announcers I’ve heard. . . .

Defending NCAA champion Cal State Fullerton has dropped into a tie for first place with Long Beach State in the Big West Conference. . . .

The College of St. Francis’ 71-1 victory over Robert Morris prompted a rule change in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Any team that leads by 25 runs, regardless of the inning, will be declared the winner. . . .

The new Lancaster franchise in the California League is proving to be a smash hit on the field and at the box office. . . .

Jerome Bettis might be able to regain his form running behind a Pittsburgh Steeler line that is better than the one he left behind in St. Louis. . . .

With the NFL draft lasting only seven rounds, there are several attractive free agents coming out of school, including USC linebacker Errick Herrin. . . .

New York Jet fans traditionally gripe about the team’s first draft choice. This time, Keyshawn Johnson was a popular choice. But the Jets’ second-round selection, Alex Van Dyke from Nevada, wasn’t. Why another wide receiver when running back Leeland McElroy from Texas A&M; was still available? . . .

Ask me three years from now and I’ll tell you for sure which teams had good drafts and which had lousy ones. . . .

UCLA will conclude spring practice with a scrimmage Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Spaulding Field. It is open free to the public. Coach Bob Toledo and his staff and players will have a photo and autograph session afterward. . . .

A record crowd of 48,659 saw the Nebraska spring intrasquad game on Saturday. . . .

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The oldest of the NCAA’s 80 championships, the track and field meet, will be held for the 75th time May 29-June 1 at the University of Oregon. . . .

When Ato Boldon of UCLA clocked a 9.93 in the 100-meter dash at the Mt. SAC Relays on Sunday, he broke one of the oldest records in the Pacific 10 Conference book. The previous mark of 10.02 was set by James Sanford of USC in 1980. . . .

Prince Of Thieves showed that he might be a factor in the Kentucky Derby after all, by finishing a fast-closing second in the Lexington Stakes despite a troubled trip. . . .

Trainer Wayne Lukas has said all along that Prince Of Thieves has the most potential of any of his 3-year-old colts. . . .

The Bulls won six more road games this season than Minnesota, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Vancouver combined. . . .

The Grizzlies, 15-67, won their first two and last two games of the season. The 76ers, 18-64, won their first and last. . . .

Boston Celtic Coach M.L. Carr, who will be back next season, should be thankful that his general manager is M.L. Carr. . . .

Greg Norman shot a 68 Sunday to finish in a tie for 22nd place in the Heritage Classic. Nick (El Foldo) Faldo shot a 70 to finish in a tie for 29th. . . .

News item: Albert Belle hits photographer with thrown ball. Reaction: Oh, so no more Mr. Nice Guy.