FIRST LOOK

Lakers vs. Seattle SuperSonics

(Best-of-seven series begins Monday)

* Records: Lakers 61-21, SuperSonics 61-21.

* Home/Road Records: Lakers 33-8/28-13, SuperSonics 35-6/26-15.

* Season Series: SuperSonics, 3-1.

* Playoff records: Lakers beat Trail Blazers, 3-1; SuperSonics beat Timberwolves, 3-2.

* Lakers at a glance: How good are things? They’re not only coming off an impressive Game 4 to close out the Trail Blazers, but feeling like the schedule has broken just right. Three days off won’t be enough to lose the edge, but will be enough for Kobe Bryant (sore groin and back) and Rick Fox (sore right foot) to get some genuine healing time.

* Seattle at a glance: Trouble started long before the surprise of a five-game series against Minnesota. The SuperSonics nearly lost the Pacific Division title the Lakers had all but conceded, going 3-3 to close the regular season. Include the first round and the SuperSonics have won only six of the last 11.

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LAKERS’ PROBABLE STARTERS

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P Player Ht Pts Reb F Robert Horry 6-9 7.4 7.5 F Rick Fox 6-7 12.0 4.4 C Shaquille O’Neal 7-1 28.3 11.4 G Eddie Jones 6-6 16.9 3.8 G Derek Fisher 6-1 5.8 2.4 LAKERS’ TOP RESERVES G Nick Van Exel 6-1 13.8 3.0 G Kobe Bryant 6-7 15.4 3.1 F Elden Campbell 7-0 10.1 5.6 SEATTLE’S PROBABLE STARTERS P Player Ht Pts Reb F Vin Baker 6-11 19.2 8.0 F Detlef Schrempf 6-10 15.8 7.1 C Jim McIlvaine 7-1 3.2 3.3 G Hersey Hawkins 6-3 10.5 4.1 G Gary Payton 6-4 19.2 4.6 SEATTLE’S TOP RESERVES P Player Ht Pts Reb F Jerome Kersey 6-7 6.3 3.6 G Dale Ellis 6-7 11.8 2.3 F Sam Perkins 6-9 7.2 3.1 G Nate McMillan 6-5 3.4 2.2

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BACKCOURT

* Derek Fisher, Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel and Bryant combined to go 47 of 126--37.3%--in the first round and now face a set of guards who can kill an opponent from the perimeter. Dale Ellis led the league in three-point percentage--the SuperSonics did the same among teams--and Hersey Hawkins and Greg Anthony tied for 13th, along with forward Detlef Schrempf. Meanwhile, Gary Payton, the NBA’s best point guard, has been especially hot in the playoffs.

FRONTCOURT

* The SuperSonics have an all-star power forward in Vin Baker and an all-star-caliber small forward in Schrempf, but no center. Jim McIlvaine gets the title for the starting lineup, just none of the benefits. He’s been invisible in the playoffs and lasted all of 41 minutes against the Lakers in the regular season. Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal tore through various Seattle defenses for 30.8 points and 12 rebounds, both better than his numbers against the league. Also, Robert Horry got 9.3 boards versus the SuperSonics.

INTANGIBLES

* The SuperSonics have a tough turnaround, going from a difficult series to getting only one practice and a shoot-around to prepare for the Lakers. With that in mind, home-court advantage immediately shifts if the more-prepared Lakers can steal Game 1.

COACHES

* Speculation in Los Angeles over the future of Del Harris is nothing compared to the uncertain status in Seattle of George Karl, in the final year of his contract and not one to hide frustrations over the lack of a written, or spoken, commitment. The more pressing decision for Karl is whether to stay with his regular-season plan against O’Neal or to brush the cobwebs off McIlvaine, who at least has size and shot-blocking skills.

THE PICK

* Teams that each finished 61-21 could go to the final day again, except that the Lakers, playing much better, will prevail this time.