All Is Not Well in Purple and Gold

Perhaps the best indication of how hard a big man (including Shaquille O’Neal) is playing is in the rebounding totals. In 39 minutes Shaq got nine rebounds (four offensive). The two Golden State centers, Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle, got 10 rebounds (six offensive) between them in a combined 37 minutes.

Maybe we need to add another name to the list of Lakers who aren’t playing hard enough.

Jim McFerson

Placentia

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What’s wrong with the Lakers? It’s not Shaq -- even though he should have had his surgery sooner. It’s not Kobe -- even though he plays selfishly sometimes. It’s not even Phil Jackson -- even though he doesn’t really coach.

The problem is that Jerry Buss is arrogant and cheap. After the first championship, he decided that the Lakers could win with Shaq, Kobe and any stiffs available. And over the past three years, he has awarded contracts accordingly. While every other team has tried to improve, Buss has been more interested in avoiding the luxury tax.

Fourth championship? Forget about it. They will be lucky to win four games in a row.

Rick White

La Verne

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The Lakers’ situation is really not that bad. Teams not making the playoffs get a shot at a great-first round draft pick. When was the last time the Lakers had that? Maybe they can draft someone who can play defense.

Fred Schor

Los Angeles

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To all the Clipper fans who have written about the Lakers’ slow start: It doesn’t mean as much as you think. The season is young yet. There are miles to go before we sweep.

David Ando

Rancho Palos Verdes

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Ever since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles, they have striven to be as good as the Lakers. Guys, congratulations.

John Fisher

Los Angeles