A STAR ON THE RISE : LAKERS SWINGMAN, KNOWN FOR DEFENSE, IS PRIMED TO BECOME ONE OF NBA'S ELITE AFTER EXPERIENCING BREAKTHROUGH SEASON.

Byline: Marc Stein Daily News Staff Writer

First on a Sports Illustrated list of ``10 Fearless Predictions'' last fall was one of the most frightening items Eddie Jones ever read.

Eddie Jones will make the All-Star team.

Yikes.

``You know, I believe in jinxes and stuff like that,'' the Lakers' defense minister said.

In Jones' superstitious mind, it was the worst way possible to start his third NBA season - with a tout from the nation's foremost sports publication.

The magazine famous for its bad-luck covers.

The weekly that . . . that was actually right?

``Let everybody else think about it,'' Jones said.

In a few hours, debate will no longer be necessary. By this afternoon, or Wednesday at the latest, Western Conference reserves for next week's All-Star Game in Cleveland will be announced, and Jones is expected to make that list as well.

And even if he does get omitted, it won't be because of any media hex. Jones' first-half performance has been unquestionably All-Star caliber; his only fault is that he plays the same position as some of the best gunslingers in the West or anywhere else: Mitch Richmond, Latrell Sprewell and Clyde Drexler.

With Gary Payton and John Stockton already voted in as starters by the fans, there might only be room for three of the aforementioned four. It's believed that the coaches' vote - in which the West's 14 bench men can select anyone who's not on their own team - will come down to Jones and Drexler for the last spot in the backcourt.

``I'd certainly vote for Eddie if I could,'' said Lakers coach Del Harris. ``I expect him to be on there.''

High as Harris and obviously Sports Illustrated are on Jones, it would be folly to suggest that anyone expected all this.

The 16.6 points per game. The league-best 2.67 steals. The 41.4 percent shooting from 3-point range. The 38.7 minutes every night.

A skinny kid whose first two seasons were interrupted by injuries couldn't be capable of that sort of breakthrough, could he?

Jones wasn't about to guarantee it in print, but he did believe it inside. So he returned to Philadelphia soon after the Lakers' disappointing first-round playoff loss to Houston. Although he averaged 17.3 points on 55 percent shooting in that series, Jones went home to sweat.

``I worked on my body, even though you can't tell now,'' Jones joked.

Mostly, he was serious. He fine-tuned his jumper, practiced ball-handling and attacked the weight room. The regimen only got more intense when the Lakers signed Byron Scott, a workout addict who adopted Jones as his protege.

Once the games started, so did the highlights - especially when Cedric Ceballos hurt his knee Nov. 13 at San Antonio, forcing Jones to switch to small forward. In the first game after Ceballos' injury, Jones torched the Clippers for a career-high 32 points.

On Nov. 26, in Philly, he had a career-high eight steals. A month later, when the Sixers were at the Forum for the rematch, Jones predicted seven steals and got seven.

In between, he held Sacramento's Richmond and Indiana's Reggie Miller, both Dream Teamers, to a combined 9 for 32 from the floor on back-to-back nights.

There were also lots of 3s - two or more in the first 17 games. Combined with the last five games of the '95-96 campaign, Jones' streak of 22 straight outings with at least two triples tied an NBA record.

``He's better in everything,'' Harris said. ``He's kind of carefree. He's an all-league defender and an outstanding offensive player. You can't ask a player to do more.''

Said Scott: ``I don't see a 2-guard in the West playing any better. It took him a couple of years, but he's definitely coming into his own.''

The reputation is spreading. When the Lakers went to Chicago in mid-December to face the Bulls, Michael Jordan stopped by to pat Jones on the backside and say, ``Keep it up and good things will happen.''

Two weeks ago, Detroit's Grant Hill did the same. Even the less-than-gentlemanly J.R Rider is gushing with praise.

``I respect Eddie Jones to the fullest,'' the Portland bad boy said.

Jones, ironically, isn't sure how to react. The impeccable reflexes that have allowed him to supplant Payton as the league's best thief don't carry over into the street. Jones still gets embarrassed when fans can't hide their worship.

``I'm a role player on this team,'' Jones said, explaining why he doesn't bother to track the progress of rivals like Richmond and Sprewell. ``We have a superstar. Shaq (O'Neal) is our superstar. I back him up.''

Reminded of his ever-improving numbers - Jones averaged 14 points and 2.1 steals as a rookie and 12.8 points and 1.8 steals last year - the 25-year-old insists that opportunity is the overriding factor.

``I always tell everyone that if you're in this league and they run plays for you, you're definitely going to get (numbers),'' Jones said. ``A guy's got to do something if he's out there 35, 40 minutes.''

It's a very rare evening that he does nothing. Harris has said repeatedly that Jones' steal average is doubly impressive given that he isn't allowed to float around the perimeter like a free safety. Against just about everyone, Jones is asked to approach the 20-point plateau and guard the other team's top scoring threat.

So he approaches his sport like a pool player.

``I might not be making all my shots and doing all the things I want to do, but I make sure I don't leave my man with a shot he can make, either,'' Jones said. ``That's how you win.''

And that's why so many teams seem to be running their offense away from Jones, making it that much tougher to keep stealing the ball at a league-leading pace.

``He's become the best in the league,'' backcourt mate Nick Van Exel said. ``He's so good out there, he makes all of us better on defense.''

Offensively, Jones has been unable to maintain his early standard, dipping to 43.7 percent from the floor and about a basket shy of the 18-plus points he was scoring in November and December.

Then again, Jones has yet to miss a game because of injury - after suffering serious shoulder and thumb setbacks in his first two years - which means more to him than sheer statistics.

Jones, in fact, is so thankful to have played through various wrist, ankle, back and groin ailments this season, he prefers to ignore health-related questions to guard against . . . yup, jinxing himself.

Just like he'd rather not assess how close he is to defying the Sports Illustrated jinx, letting out a big ``Oh, man'' when the subject was broached.

``It'll mean that I achieved one of my goals in life . . . you feel as though you reached the pedestal,'' Jones said of being named to the West squad. ``(But) you can't put so much pressure on yourself. You can't try to be a superhero.

``I'll be disappointed if I don't make it. I would. I think any player in my position would be sort of disappointed. But I know my attitude is, let the cards fall where they may.

HONOR GUARDS

In all likelihood, balloting of Western Conference coaches will result in three of the following four players being named as backups to fan-elected starters Gary Payton and John Stockton for next week's All-Star Game in Cleveland:

Latrell Sprewell, Golden State

The league's fourth-leading scorer (25.8 points) and third-busiest player (41.9 minutes) also averages 4.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

Mitch Richmond, Sacramento

Everyone knows he's shooting but they still can't stop him; ``Rock'' is fifth in scoring (24.9) and 10th in 3-point percentage (42.3).

Clyde Drexler, Houston

The Rockets' third wheel is a sentimental favorite with such big numbers (18.3 points, 5.9 boards, 5.7 assists, 2.0 steals) late in his career.

Eddie Jones, Lakers

Can't match rivals' offensive statistics but plays the best defense of the bunch (No. 1 in steals at 2.67) and scores well (16.6) for a No. 2 option.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--color) The Lakers' Eddie Jones is making a name for himself this season by averaging 16.6 points and NBA-best 2.67 steals per game.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News

(2) no caption (Eddie Jones)