Forget Comparisons: Just Let Kobe Be Kobe

Doctors rushed to the Staples Center because Kobe Bryant had a back problem. They said if he stops carrying the whole team for a while, he’ll be fine.

R.J. Johnson

North Hollywood

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I am amused by the recent comparisons of Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan.

Jordan won six titles on a team “anchored” in the middle by the Three Stooges -- Moe (Bill Cartwright); Larry (Bill Wennington); and Curly (Luc Longley). The Lakers’ title run has been spearheaded by three-time Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal, arguably the greatest and most dominant center in the history of the NBA.

Unless, and until, Kobe wins one title, much less six, without Shaq, let’s put an end to this foolish debate.

Mark Roth

Los Angeles

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Here’s an experiment: NBA teams begin anew by holding a draft to include all players in the world today; each general manager writes the name of his No. 1 pick in the draft on a piece of paper; a lottery then decides which team gets its first choice.

Question: How many general managers name Kobe Bryant?

Comment to The Times on the interminable coverage given to its choice of records and comparisons: Enough already.

Don Ylvisaker

Woodland Hills

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Wilt Chamberlain scored a lot of points, but some of the teams he played on still didn’t make it to the Finals. Kobe, are you listening? This could be one of those kinds of years for the Lakers.

Robert H. Williams

Monterey Park

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Bravo to Phil Jackson. He is finally starting to recognize why Laker fans love Mark Madsen -- great hustle and tough defense. In recent games, “Mad Dog” has forced Karl Malone, Rasheed Wallace and Elton Brand out of the low post in the fourth quarters of games the Lakers went on to win handily.

Let’s hope Phil remembers these games when he sets his lineup come playoff time. Way to go, Mad Dog.

Alex Wiles

Los Angeles

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If the Lakers win the NBA title again this season, what can they possibly do next year? Will the entire team have an operation right before the season starts? Then they can forfeit the first 10 or 15 games and have to make a huge stretch run to make the playoffs, needing something like a 50-game winning streak to do this.

Terry Calabrese

El Monte