Wilt, West, Shaq and Kobe: Laker World Still Churning

The 1998 Lakers:

* Young team with a deep bench.

* Power forward away from an NBA title.

* Needed poise, maturity and experience.

The 1999 Lakers:

* Old team with a so-so bench.

* Point guard, shooting guard, power forward away from an NBA title.

* No heart, no pride, no defense.

MAX REYES, Walnut

*

Bingo! Wilt Chamberlain cuts to the heart of the defenseless Lakers in his interview with Bill Plaschke [April 28]. When Wilt was in his prime there was not and has never been (including Michael Jordan) any player to dominate at his position like Wilt did. But it wasn’t until he became a defensive force that his team won a championship. Are you listening, Shaquille O’Neal?

Then there’s Jerry West. Often said to be the best general manager in basketball, he has disappeared into the Forum woodwork. This team can’t win without Jerry being in the spotlight, even if it is to say that the Rice-for-Eddie deal wasn’t one of his greatest trades. Are you listening, Jerry?

And then there’s “whipping-boy” Kobe. He’s 20 years old, and guess what, he makes 20-year-old mistakes! However, Kobe has that rare combination of raw talent and unconscious desire that few before him have possessed. Don’t listen to them, Kobe!

CURTIS MORTENSON, Atascadero

*

Wilt who? The name sounds familiar. Didn’t he play with George Mikan? If memory serves, he had little game, was a perennial leader in lowest free throw percentage, but to quote ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, “He’s tall.”

To read this egomaniac dissing Jerry West is all the humor I need for the day. Jerry West was the best thing to ever happen to the Laker franchise and his class and lack of ego stand out today.

Wilt: Shut up, grab a volleyball and just go away.

GREGG FREEMAN, Newbury Park

*

For Shaq to criticize Kobe Bryant about his inexperience is a childish jibe from someone who has a lot to learn about team play. The next time the Lakers pay someone $120 million, make sure that player can make free throws. Personally I would rather have Kobe take a last-minute shot; at least if he gets fouled he will make his free throws 80% of the time.

Shaq should look to such players as Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson on how to make your team better by shooting less and including the rest of the team in the game. Shaq is out of line in criticizing his teammates for his inability to ignite the team. Maybe he just is not as great as he thinks he is. Maybe he needs to remember that he is neither the coach nor the general manager. Maybe he needs to realize that right now he is the one hurting the team, not Kobe.

RON GRINBLAT, Santa Barbara

*

Kobe Bryant is the only reason to watch a Laker game. It’s certainly not to see Shaq brick another free throw, fail to box out, or run out of gas in the fourth quarter. O’Neal had a problem with Penny Hardaway, was disgusted by Nick Van Exel, couldn’t play with Elden Campbell and now blames Kobe. Suggestion to Jerry West: Shaq to Charlotte for Eddie and Elden.

JOHN CLARKE, Dana Point

*

The date is March 7, 1999, and NBC just went to a commercial after a Laker victory:

“When you wish upon a star . . . “

“Hey Jerry West, you reached the Western Conference finals in 1998, you’re on a 10-game winning streak, and you’ve just defeated Utah at the Delta Center, what are you going to do next?”

West: “Well, I’m going to trade our hustling all-NBA defensive player and all-star Eddie Jones, I’m going to try to replace our leader in the clutch Nick Van Exel with point guards who cannot penetrate. Then I’m going to trade our only center, Elden Campbell, who can play both offense and defense.

“In addition, I’m going to waive a solid defensive player (Corie Blount) to give inexperienced rookie Patterson some minutes. And finally, I’m not going to step in to help resolve the tension between Kobe and Shaq. I guess I don’t want to go to Disneyland.”

LUIS ALVAREZ, Pasadena

*

OK, Lakers. We fell for it. The April Fool’s joke is on us. You lured us into falling in love with that jester, Dennis Rodman. You tricked us into believing that Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell are really gone. You teased us into continuously watching 20-plus point deficits, while we say to ourselves, “It’s OK, Kobe Bryant will save the day!” You fooled us into thinking that the only person on this makeshift championship team with the desire to win is a tiny third-string point guard named Tyronn Lue.

Ha-ha-ha. You got us with our mouths open that time, Lakers. Joke’s over. Now that April is over, and the second season is near, the real Lakers will come out to play serious basketball, right? Right?

ROBERT ORDO, Hacienda Heights

*

Watching Kobe’s commercial about “What if I was a waiter, an architect, a farmer . . . ?” three things came to mind:

My food would be cold, my house would fall down, and my fruits and vegetables would be spoiled.

KENNY WILLIAMS, Los Angeles