`NO FEAR' FROM THE SIXERS PHILADELPHIA PLAYERS SAY THEY WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

They are not chump change, lucky to be here, or some simple fodder in another team's season of glory.

They are not a one-man band, not completely anyway. They are not all walking wounded and ready to concede to superior forces and talent.

If the Lakers are unsure exactly what awaits them in the NBA Finals, those who have followed the 76ers can offer a tip:

A resilient, resourceful, excellent team will stand on the opposing sideline in Game 1. They will not go down without a struggle, will not be intimidated, will not believe they cannot win.

``This is a special group of guys,'' said Sixers center Dikembe Mutombo. ``A group of guys with no fear.''

If they look one superstar short to the Lakers, there is no reason to discount the supporting players who rotate around Allen ``MVP'' Iverson.

Their road to the Finals was something less than 11-0, but the Sixers will argue they've been left the tougher for it. The Lakers took the minimum number of games to get here, the Sixers one under the maximum.

``Gritty'' is a word that has suddenly become automatic when discussing the 76ers. They had to win a decisive Game 7 in each of their last two series. They had to overcome the loss of starting forward, and ex-Laker, George Lynch to injury. Guard Eric Snow is playing with a fractured ankle. Iverson has more sore body parts than a voodoo doll.

And now they are here, ready to let a little air out of the Lakers, ready to demonstrate the real NBA championship was not earned when the Lakers swept the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

The Sixers had the best record in the NBA for much of the season but then lost 10 of their last 18 games to finish at 56-26 - the same record as the Lakers. This series likely would be starting in Philadelphia if coach Larry Brown hadn't decided to rest Iverson in the Sixers' final game against Chicago, a surprising loss that ended up costing Philly homecourt advantage against L.A.

The Lakers and Sixers split their two regular-season meetings, the Lakers earning the homecourt edge in the Finals based upon a better record against the opposing conference.

Iverson, sore tailbone and hip, sat out Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee. Without him, the Sixers scored 74 points. In their last two games against the Bucks, Iverson appeared plenty healthy, scoring 90 points. The Lakers should know something about this, Iverson having scored 40 when the Sixers beat the Lakers 112-97 on Feb. 14 in Philadelphia.

When he is on, he draws double- and triple-teams. And when the moths are drawn to the flame, Iverson is adept at passing off.

None of this will be news to Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who will try to have his players guard Iverson one on one and deny him his favorite spots on the floor, which ususally look like about any spot on the floor.

Kobe Bryant normally guards Iverson, but fearful of getting his playoff star in foul trouble, Jackson might use Derek Fisher a lot. Fisher is a tough defender but not one of the quickest guards in the league, and Iverson is one of the quickest things ever seen on hardwood.

The Sixers have a legitimate center in Mutombo, who averaged 16.6 points and 15.6 rebounds per game against the Bucks. Mutombo is 7-f00t-2, same as Shaquille O'Neal, which is about where the similarity ends.

Mutombo, the four-time defensive player of the year, is used to using his long limbs and jumping ability to dominate in the middle. That might have worked against the smallish Eastern centers, but O'Neal is too strong for Mutombo to deny him position.

Sixers coach Larry Brown, Iverson's new best buddy, might bring in his other 7-footers, Matt Geiger and Todd McCullouch, to give fouls and send O'Neal to the line. Geiger has been nursing a sore right quadriceps tendon, but said he'll be ready ``if I have to drag my leg up and down the court.''

Brown could also elect to have 6-9 forward Tyrone Hill guard O'Neal, and have Mutombo come off Horace Grant to double.

Aaron McKie is one of several tough Philly defenders and he figures to see a lot of Bryant, as well as take on the scoring load in those rare moments Iverson is on the bench.

The Sixers are one of the NBA's top defensive teams, holding opponents to 90.4 points per game during the regular season. The Sixers had five turnovers in Sunday's Game 7, the Bucks 15.

The Sixers might not exactly appear rested for Game 1, but they're looking at it as one more tough challenge in a postseason full of them.

``It's strictly business, man,'' McKie said. ``Strictly business.''

SIXERS AT A GLANCE

Pos. Ht. Player PPG RPG APG 

Guard 6-0 Allen Iverson 31.1 3.8 4.6

Guard 6-5 Aaron McKie 11.6 4.1 5.0

Center 7-2Dikembe Mutomo 10.0 13.5 1.0

Forward 6-9 Tyrone Hill 9.6 9.0 0.6

Forward 6-8 Jumaine Jones 4.7 2.9 0.5

--Notes: The Sixers have a deep bench that coach Larry Brown is not afraid to use. Witness Raja Bell, who was in the CBA a couple of months ago. ... Sports Illustrated called the Sixers the ``first summer-league team to make it this deep into the postseason.'' ... Eric Snow (9.8 ppg, 7.4 apg) is their main man off the bench, pin in his ankle and all. ... The last time these two teams met in the NBA Finals, there was a sweep - the Sixers took the Lakers 4-0 in 1983, their last trip to the finals. ... The Sixers were 27-14 on the road this season, best mark in the league.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Allen Iverson will have to play up to his Most Valuable Player status if the Philadelphia 76ers are to challenge the Lakers for the NBA title.

Rusty Kennedy/Associated Press

Box: SIXERS AT A GLANCE (see text)