Magic Johnson sounds off on Lakers on Twitter (again)

Despite his job as an ESPN analyst, Magic Johnson never hides his love for the Lakers.

After all, he’s a vice president for the team even though he doesn’t get paid for it.

So just as the Lakers were arriving for their Monday morning practice, Johnson sounded off on Twitter. Nobody was spared. Maybe Robert Sacre.

Johnson started his lengthy rant (by Twitter standards) by complimenting Times columnist T.J. Simers for a Sunday column that panned the job Coach Mike D’Antoni had done this season.

Then Johnson went another direction.

“I’m tired of blaming the coach, the responsibility is on the Lakers players,” he wrote.

He was only just beginning.

He said Dwight Howard needed to “stop complaining and start dominating on offense.” Howard received plenty of attention for noting the Clippers’ on-court chemistry was better and eminently more fun than the Lakers.

Johnson then added that Pau Gasol needed to “stop playing soft” and start getting 18 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Then he said that Kobe Bryant was “having an MVP season but the team needs him to be a better leader.”

Also, Metta World Peace has to “stop making great quotes and start playing great defense” and Jodie Meeks has to “start making better shot selections.”

The Lakers’ big men should stop giving up easy offensive rebounds and their perimeter players should get back more quickly on defense, Johnson added.

Johnson couldn’t quite keep his word, however. He ended up blaming the coach as well.

“Coach D’Antoni has to start teaching better pick & roll defense and better defensive rotations,” Johnson wrote. “He also has to make sure that every Lakers players role is defined.”

Johnson has often criticized the Lakers on Twitter, including their decision to hire D’Antoni instead of Phil Jackson after firing Mike Brown two months ago.

Finally, there was a parting request.

“Above everything else the Lakers players need to start having fun on the court!”

The Lakers (15-18) are 11th in the Western Conference, three games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot. They play at Houston on Tuesday and at San Antonio on Wednesday before a home game Friday against Oklahoma City.

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