FAMILIAR RING WITH THESE LAKERS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore

So many differences, so many similarities.

The Lakers' 2000 NBA championship, their first in 12 years, does more than bring a title back to championship-starved Los Angeles. It also restores glory to a proud, stately franchise - possibly pushing it toward another long run of domination while stirring memories of its last dynasty.

The parallels between these Lakers and the Lakers teams of the 1980s are unmistakable, although there are enough differences to make each team unique.

To some, Kobe Bryant's brilliant play during overtime in Game 4 was reminiscent of Michael Jordan.

But for longtime Lakers fans, Bryant's performance was more similar to Magic Johnson's signature game in the 1980 NBA Finals, when he stepped in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 against Philadelphia and had 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to clinch the championship.

As Magic did without Kareem, Kobe took over without Shaquille O'Neal, who fouled out at the beginning of overtime.

Young guard stepping up in the absence of the older, more established superstar center, then leading his team to a critical victory? Haven't we seen this before?

The Lakers won four more titles with Magic and Kareem, and if Kobe and Shaq stay together as long as their predecessors, a similar run isn't out of the question.

To be sure, there are contrasts between the teams.

The Lakers of the 1980s were Showtime, playing a fast-break style as pleasing to the eye as it was effective in the win column. Those Lakers won with dazzling flurries, running opponents off with long, scintillating runs.

They were Magic taking the rebound at one end then barreling down the court, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound point guard in a power forward's body, passing off to James Worthy for a majestic slam dunk or Bryan Scott for a feathery jump shot. Or maybe he'd keep it himself, charge down the lane and kiss a layup off the glass.

The Lakers were Kareem in the halfcourt, sinking skyhook after skyhook over frustrated opponents. They were Jamaal Wilkes winding up and tossing in baseline jumpers. They were Kurt Rambis diving on the floor for a loose ball, then tipping it to Magic to start a fast break.

The Lakers were Michael Cooper, at the beginning of his career a leaping ally-oop specialist, then becoming a spot-up 3-point shooter and defensive stopper later in his career.

The Lakers were the '80s. Flamboyant, starstuck and entertaining.

This Lakers team isn't nearly as exciting to watch, generally grinding down opponents with O'Neal's strength inside, then delivering a knockout punch at some point. They don't blow anyone out as much as they wear them down, stealing their will as they dare, almost taunt, them to stop O'Neal.

Eventually you see it in an opponent's eyes and facial expressions. After a while, they throw their hands in the air and say: ``Fine, you win.''

This is Shaq's team, but Bryant is the brilliant second half of the best one-two punch in the league.

Shaq destroys people, body slamming them in the lane for power dunks or outmuscling them for offensive rebounds.

Kobe is much more subtle but only slightly less effective. Bryant adds artistry to Shaq's brutality, flipping in long-range jumpers or twisting in the air on pretty drives to the basket. When Kobe's on the floor, you dare not blink, the danger being you'll miss something spectacular.

Much like the Lakers of the early '80s, when Abdul-Jabbar had possession of the team, Bryant defers to Shaq. Eventually ownership will flip-flop, and just as Magic and Kareem's roles changed, so to will Shaq and Bryant's.

The key is that the same owner and general manager are in charge. The two Jerrys - Buss and West - know how to build around two superstars, bringing talent in to surround Kareem and Magic for a decade. They'll do the same now with Shaq and Bryant, trying retool and replenish for another long march.

Time will soon mark the exit of role players like Brian Shaw, Ron Harper, Robert Horry, Glen Rice and A.C. Green, just as it did for Norm Nixon, Wilkes, Rambis, Bob McAdoo, Cooper, Mychal Thompson and Byron Scott.

The constants will be Shaq and Bryant, the goal being to build around the two dominant players.

They might be different in style, the results have been similar so far. But only the next six or seven years will decided if these Lakers are to match or surpass the former Lakers.