NBA PLAYOFFS : Experts on West: Edge to Portland : Conference finals: Nelson, Fitzsimmons, Barry, Vecsey find much to like about Lakers, Trail Blazers.

OK, Laker fans, can you spell underdog ? For the first time in 20 years, the Lakers begin the Western Conference finals without the home-court advantage.

If you’re looking for hopeful signs, pass up this historical precedent. In 1971, Wilt Chamberlain was a Laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a Buck, and Milwaukee romped, 4-1.

If you’re looking for hopeful signs, here’s as good as it gets:

Underdogs win sometimes.

A poll of four experts, among them Warrior Coach Don Nelson, an unabashed Laker fan now that his own entry has been shelved, has no trouble arriving at a consensus: The Portland Trail Blazers are the favorites.

Phoenix Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, Turner Network’s Rick Barry and NBC/USA Today’s professional curmudgeon, Pete Vecsey, agree, with varying expectations of the Lakers.

Here’s how they see it:

DON NELSON

“I think Portland is the best team, but there’s something about the Lakers. They’ve been there before. They know how to win. I think they’re playing pretty well so it’s going to be interesting. I really don’t know. I’m looking forward to watching it on TV.

“Vlade (Divac, held to 16 minutes and five rebounds a game against the Warriors) is going to be an important factor. I think Vlade plays pretty well against bigger guys, with his quickness and outside shooting. I made it difficult for him (forcing Divac to guard smaller Warriors). He really couldn’t play in our series. We wished he’d have played more, but (Dunleavy) was too smart for that.

“For the Lakers to win, they have to do the same kinds of things they did against us. I think Portland is going to be able to outrun the Lakers if they want to. The Lakers have to control that.”

PETER VECSEY

“I’ve picked Portland all along, so I can’t leave them now. That doesn’t mean I’m not worried.

“All of a sudden Terry Teagle looks great in a Laker uniform. Sam Perkins is getting all the credit he deserves for all the intangible things he does. Then they’re playing the rookie, Elden Campbell. The question I have is why they didn’t play him before.

“It makes you think Jerry West didn’t do too shabby a job. Everyone else is groveling before the salary cap, and he winds up fitting three players under it.

“What more can I say about Portland? Five best starters in the league. The way they go after every loose ball and offensive rebound, how badly they want it.

“But then you’ve got Magic (Johnson), who obviously wants to prove to everybody he can win a championship without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. How could you be surprised? Basically, this is an even series. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lakers win it.”

RICK BARRY

“It’s just a matter of whether or not Portland plays its best basketball. I think if the Blazers do, they’ll win.

“They’re the best team in the league, man for man, depth-wise. If they play up to their full potential, they’ll win.

“The Lakers’ three big guys have to play well, Johnson, (James) Worthy and (Byron) Scott. They don’t have the luxury of going to the bench and bringing in a Danny Ainge.

“They’ve got to get Vlade back playing or they’re going to be out to lunch. . . . He has to play the way he did in the Houston series.

“Portland is a streaky kind of team. They’ll run off a 17-0 spurt. They had a 23-point lead on Utah (in Game 2 of the West semifinals) and should have lost the game. It’s unbelievable. They go into these lulls and disappear on you.”

Is that because Clyde Drexler takes naps?

“I think the whole Portland team does that. I don’t think Clyde does it anywhere as much as people say. I think he’s had his best season. When it’s on the line, he comes through, elevates his game.”

COTTON FITZSIMMONS

“The Blazers haven’t lost at home in the playoffs to a Western Conference team lately. They won them all last year and they’ve won them all this year. Home court has meant something to them.

“I look at Portland--and I’m not saying they’re as good--I look at them the same way as the Lakers in the ‘80s. The Lakers wanted to blitz you, make some steals, block some shots, run off a 20-4 spurt. (Tuesday) Portland had a 29-4 run on the Jazz.

“Are they vulnerable anywhere? I’ve talked to Rick (Adelman, Trail Blazer coach) about this. They have a tendency to give up leads. Maybe it is a lack of concentration, but maybe it’s their style of play.

“The Phoenix Suns do the same thing. The Lakers used to, when they were running out (fast-breaking) on you. When you play an open game, your players have so much freedom, sometimes they take quick shots or bad shots and give the other team a chance to get back in the game.”