Today’s Second-Round Series Opener

HOUSTON ROCKETS at SEATTLE SUPERSONICS, 12:30 p.m., Channel 4

* Season series: Seattle, 4-0.

Talk about no respect. The SuperSonics have beaten the Rockets nine times in a row over three seasons, have home-court advantage, have won all four postseason meetings (1982, ‘87, ‘89, ‘93)--and are still underdogs.

SuperSonic Coach George Karl says they’ve been successful at changing defensive tactics against Hakeem Olajuwon. Everyone wants to see if they can bother him when it counts.

After two first-round upsets, the SuperSonics beat lowly Sacramento. But even that was a struggle. The series was 1-1 and the Kings were ahead by eight points with 5:49 left in Game 3 before subs Frank Brickowski and Sam Perkins awoke the SuperSonics with a three-point barrage.

The SuperSonics don’t like half-court offense. The Rockets specialize in slowing opponents down and rocking them to sleep. The Lakers outrebounded Houston by eight a game--and might have been swept if Olajuwon hadn’t fouled out of Game 2. How? The Rockets held them to 41.9% from the floor.

Both teams get a quick turnaround, playing a day and a half after their first-round series ended. That could help the Rockets, who had an easier time and have to steal one in Seattle.