FEW BUMPS ON LAKERS' LONG AND WINDING ROAD.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI

You've watched them beat good teams - the Houston Rockets, the Detroit Pistons, the Seattle SuperSonics - and lose to bad ones - the Toronto Raptors, the San Antonio Spurs, the Boston Celtics.

You've watched Shaquille O'Neal keep the Lakers in games and then blow them at the free-throw line. You've watched Nick Van Exel play like a left-handed John Stockton one night and a left-handed Bobby Hurley the next. You've watched Kobe Bryant look like a man against boys one minute and a boy against men the next.

You wonder how a team this good can be this bad sometimes. You wonder where it will all lead.

Relax, I've seen the Lakers' future, and it turns out all right, after another bump or two:

Dec. 29: After the season's second month, the Lakers are in second place, but say they're still adjusting to one another after beginning the year with nine new faces.

Dec. 31: At the office New Year's party, Kobe Bryant gets into the Cherry Coke pretty good, and Eddie Jones has to burp him.

Jan. 3: Cedric Ceballos' knee injury heals in time for him to miss three games for no good reason.

Jan. 6: Speaking to Portland writers before a game, Shaquille O'Neal says he can't believe former Trail Blazer Geoff Petrie isn't on the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list.

Jan. 9: Del Harris awakes in a cold sweat - ``I've been starting Rumeal Who?!''

Jan. 10: Harris, who recently referred to opponents' missed shots as ``a little help from our friends,'' begins to speak entirely in Beatles lyrics, such as when he aptly calls the up-and-down Lakers a ``yellow submarine.''

Jan. 14: You know Showtime is d

ead when the Forum message board's ``Fast Break of the Game'' ends with a 20-foot jump shot.

Jan. 20: As Van Exel continues hot and cold, Harris says the Lakers' season depends on number 9, number 9, number 9 ...

Jan. 26: Speaking to Seattle writers, O'Neal says he's surprised Downtown Freddie Brown isn't on the 50 Greatest Players list.

Jan. 27: In a surprising off-day announcement, Harris reveals that Corey Blount is the walrus.

Jan. 28: In Dallas, O'Neal says he's surprised Brad Davis, Rolando Blackman and Roy Tarpley aren't among the 50.

Jan. 31: After three months, the Lakers are in second place, but say they're adjusting to each other.

Feb. 5: The Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls at the Forum when Dennis Rodman breaks a heel going for a critical rebound.

Feb. 12: In Minnesota, O'Neal says he's surprised Randy Breuer, Thurl Bailey, Tellis Frank, Kevin Garnett and the sportswriters he's talking to aren't on the list.

Feb. 25: O'Neal makes 10 free throws in a row.

Feb. 27: O'Neal's free-throw string reaches 20. E! News Daily sends a crew out to prepare a report: ``Shaq - he also plays basketball!''

Feb. 28: Four months. Second place. Still adjusting.

March 2: O'Neal's streak ends at 30 when the second half of a one-and-one deflects off a flying pig.

March 7: Rookies Derek Fisher and Travis Knight are playing so well, Chick Hearn stops calling them Dexter Fisher and Travis Grant.

March 9: Jerry West knows he needs to hit the driving range when average NBA scores dip lower than his golf scores.

March 12: A Harris quote, played backward on the tape recorder, appears to explain the NBA salary-cap rules.

March 14: The Lakers, antsy because they haven't retired a number in weeks, find that Don Ford has a free night and would be happy to dig out his old jersey.

March 30: Four months. Second place. Adjusting.

April 4: After the Lakers go on a 10-game winning streak and take over first place, Magic Johnson announces he is willing to make a comeback if that will help his old team through this time of crisis.

April 6-17: The mere mention of Magic returning causes the Lakers to lose six straight.

April 19: Just to keep in practice, USC athletic director Mike Garrett refuses to give Harris a vote of confidence.

April 20: Harris coaches barefoot at the regular season's final game.

April 23-28: The Lakers open the playoffs by sweeping the Clippers. Before a game at the Sports Arena, O'Neal is asked if he'd like to tout any Clippers for the 50 Greatest Players list. Shaq says he's not obligated to - this isn't really a road game. Then he mops his brow.

May 1-10: The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in six tough games. Hakeem Olajuwon, hampered by having to undergo heart defibrilation during each timeout, averages 25 points and 18 rebounds.

May 15-May 30: The SuperSonics win the Western Conference Finals in seven tough games. Lakers players say they could have used another month to adjust to one another. Harris points out that this was the Lakers' best playoff run in six years, and says he's looking forward to next season, noting: ``You have to admit it's getting better.''

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Photo: Kevin Modesti's crystal ball predicts that Shaq will make 30free throws in a row.

Associated Press