Magic Changed, But 36-Year-Old Refused To Adjust

That wasn’t my Magic.

The Magic Johnson I knew didn’t bump referees, blow up his coach (OK, once, a long time ago) or talk big without being able to back it up. There was no question of putting himself ahead of the team, either, since he and the team were indistinguishable.

The Magic of 1996 seems desperate to be the old Magic and when he’s frustrated, lashes out - at a ref who didn’t give him a call, a coach asking him to adjust. It’s as if he can’t understand. If Michael Jordan gets to come back as the old Mike, why can’t he?

Of course, Jordan was gone 18 months. Johnson was gone five years, a generation in basketball, and he was 31 when he left.

When Jordan returned last spring, Johnson, who’d already aborted one comeback, promising never to say the words again, was almost sucked out of his shoes. After months of soul-searching, hint-dropping and mind-changing, during which he rapped his putative teammates (“I could never come back with a team like this”), he took the plunge.

At first he accepted the new order, coming off the bench, playing forward. Thrilled when they took off, he said he’d be back, adding he didn’t need a lot of money. After all, he’s a multi-millionaire and the less he took, the more the Lakers could offer a free agent.

For all his bravado, Johnson worried about embarrassing himself. He’s still a fine point guard and a commanding presence. What he can’t do any more is take over games at will. At 36, he doesn’t get to the basket as well and depends on his post-up repertoire. Some days he has it, some days he doesn’t.

In less than four months, while the Lakers went 32-11, everything changed.

Three fits of pique - one by Johnson - disfigured their regular season. In the playoffs, following his lead, they turned into a jumbled, finger-pointing mess.

When Johnson bumped his referee, Lakers officials were flabbergasted. When he publicly second-guessed coach Del Harris after the Game 1 loss to the Rockets, even close friends winced.

As the days went by last week, Magic announced he wanted the ball in his hands, 50 percent of his minutes at point guard, a Jordan-Shaq contract. If he couldn’t get it here, he knew where he could (Hello, Riles?).

As the Rockets took over the series, he asserted that either of them would have won the West. Actually, the Lakers’ title hopes were more a projection of his dreams than reality. The old Magic didn’t contrive silver linings; he went home, locked himself in and wouldn’t even take phone calls from his mother.

Johnson has always been the billion-pound point guard, granted his run of the franchise by doting owner Jerry Buss, even if executive vice president Jerry West fretted about building a team around one player’s whims. It remains to be seen if anyone wants Magic back in a Lakers uniform, including Magic.

Added Sabonis

Portland’s sizzling twosome of Arvydas Sabonis, averaging 26 points and 10.8 rebounds, and Rod Strickland, averaging 23.3 points and 8.5 assists, may be too much for the Jazz.

“When Sabonis is in there and the rest of their guys are playing their game,” said Utah guard Jeff Hornacek, “they’re one of the best teams in the league. So we can’t put our heads down because they beat us twice at their place. I see nothing but a war (in Game 5 today).”

A big problem for the Jazz remains John Stockton’s bad right elbow, which he refuses to say is a problem. But Stockton, still a major offensive option, has attempted just two 3-pointers in the first four games.

Said coach Jerry Sloan: “John’s playing when a lot of guys wouldn’t.”

Stockton, a free agent, is expected to sign a $15 million three-year deal after the season. Karl Malone quietly signed a two-year $20 million extension through the 1999-2000 season earlier this year.

Jordan’s back, but is his back?

Though coach Phil Jackson expects Michael Jordan to be “fine” for today’s opener against New York - and though Bulls trainer Chip Schaefer said he’s not worried - the coach said Jordan should have made more progress. Jackson said Saturday he was perplexed because “we just anticipated that he’d be a little looser and more capable of having a better practice.”

The back spasms started last Sunday in the second game against Miami and recurred Wednesday.

Miller practices, could play

This is the time of year Reggie Miller lives for.

But Miller has been sidelined since April 13 with an eye socket injury, forced to watch from the bench as his Pacers struggled in their first-round series with Atlanta. Now the Pacers have returned home for the fifth and final game today, a seemingly perfect scenario for Miller’s return.

Miller was examined Saturday by the doctor who reconstructed part of his right eye socket. A decision on whether Miller can play will be made today.

Miller did practice during the team’s light workout Saturday, draining jumper after jumper. He wore protective eye gear that teammates and coach Larry Brown took turns trying on, ran through a few drills and stayed after practice to take extra shots.

Non-denial denial

David Robinson, apparently taking the sainthood Sports Illustrated conferred upon him seriously, questioned Jordan’s dedication to his family.

“David’s got to worry about his own family,” Jordan said. “He can’t worry about mine, too. I’ve won and I like to win and I’m still capable of winning. If he’d ever experienced a championship, he’d know what it means to experience it again.”

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Mark Heisler Los Angeles Times The Associated Press contributed to this report