NORTHWEST PASSAGES

What papers in the Seattle area are saying about the series:

DAVE BOLING, THE NEWS TRIBUNE OF TACOMA

We now join the Seattle Mariners’ season, already in progress . . .

OK, not so fast, the Sonics aren’t quite done yet.

But unless someone can interject into this team more aggressiveness, more intensity, more vitality, and the willingness to exceed a level of customary competence, the demise is simply a pending formality.

STEVE KELLEY, THE SEATTLE TIMES

This is the best Laker team since the era of Showtime. It beats you with the same kind of withering runs those Lakers used.

This team wants to run like Showtime. It rebounds better than Showtime, is as athletic as those Lakers and plays more consistent defense than the Laker teams of Magic, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

These Lakers aren’t better than Showtime. Magic Johnson was to those Lakers what Michael Jordan is to the Chicago Bulls. But they are serious contenders.

RON C. JUDD, THE SEATTLE TIMES

Some new Burma Shave-style billboards touting the new “Godzilla” movie are sprouting around L.A. The first one says, “It starts here.” The second, a block later, reads, “And ends here.” We’re not sure if they’re talking about Godzilla’s tail or the span between successful Dale Ellis playoff three-pointers.