LAKERS AT A GLANCE

* 1997-98 season: 61-21, tied for first with Seattle in Pacific Division, lost in Western Conference finals to Utah, 4-0.

* Who’s new: Forward Travis Knight, guard Derek Harper, rookie forward Ruben Patterson, rookie guards Sam Jacobson and Tyronn Lue.

* Who’s gone: Point guard Nick Van Exel, reserve forward Mario Bennett and reserve guard Jon Barry.

* Projected starters: Center Shaquille O’Neal (28.3 points, 11.4 rebounds); forwards Rick Fox (12 points, 4.4 rebounds) and Robert Horry (7.4 points, 7.5 rebounds), guards Eddie Jones (16.9 points, 3.8 rebounds) and Derek Fisher (5.8 points, 4.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds).

* Key to season: First, if O’Neal gets injured for any sustained length of time in this stacked schedule, there will be serious trouble. But beyond that, the Lakers need to fall into a consistent pattern--solid point-guard play from Fisher, somebody emerging at power forward to toughen things up, and steady play from Kobe Bryant, either off the bench or as a starter.

* Outlook: The Lakers seem tougher, but will they be tough enough to get through the West, which has been pumped up by the addition of Scottie Pippen to Houston and the continued tradition of hard work in Utah? The season probably will be determined against Utah again, in May or June, when the Lakers will have to find the answers that have eluded them.