Lakers Finally Getting Their Act Together

Utah shot 24 free throws Sunday night. The Lakers shot 49. As Phil Jackson would say, it was worth the fine to straighten out the refs.

Sid Lazarow

Orange

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Why do I get the feeling your Laker writers (twins Brown and Adande) sit there counting Kobe’s field-goal attempts? It’s as if they’re lying in the weeds, waiting -- no, hoping -- to fan the next flame of Laker discontent or dysfunction.

NBA basketball is not a perfect democracy. The best guy gets to shoot more than his teammates. They didn’t lambaste Jordan for jacking it up 30 times or more in Chicago, they erected a statue of him in front of the United Center.

I suggest your Laker boys stop critiquing Kobe from the perspective of those two big, whining, egomaniacal crybabies, Shaq and G.P. Those two should know they are categorically unable to win anything without Kobe to do it for them in crunch time. Moreover, it’s no coincidence the Lakers are winning, now that Shaq is actually earning his fat check by rebounding.

Instead of embracing the game’s most gifted player, your writers’ grudging, backhanded coverage of Kobe could be one of the factors that drives him away. And if so, shame on you. And what a loss for us.

Ted Green

Calabasas

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We have seen the “team” Kobe Bryant against Sacramento and Minnesota, and the “dribbling” Kobe against Utah.

I just don’t understand Kobe’s motivation for all the dribbling and ball hogging. When he catches and shoots, or passes and feeds teammates, the entire team plays better but Kobe still scores the most points, is the acknowledged star and receives adulation and acknowledgment from the fans. What can be better than that?

Richard Raffalow

Valley Glen

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In the summer, after the season’s over, I’ll reconsider my position as a Laker fan.

It’s not that I don’t love the Lakers. I do, really. I want to be a Laker fan for life. But privately, I’ve told insiders that I would consider moving on. After all, Kobe might leave, or he might stay; and Gary Payton could be here, or not; and Rick Fox wants to be a movie star; and Shaq wants to be a cop; and Derek Fisher just might take a look around and decide he wants to play for a more sensible basketball team.

I could keep it simple, and just be a Clipper fan. They’ve always been friendly. Also, they have Billy Crystal, and the seats at Staples are cheaper for Clipper games, so I could buy more six-dollar beers. Or I might just retire.

I just want to keep my options open.

Ellen Smucker

Los Angeles

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Male Laker fans have a plethora of opinions about Kobe’s choice this summer. Not so, we female Laker fans say!

We know that Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, will decide. We predict Vanessa will not let Kobe take her away from her friends, family, lovely home and Southern California. The Clippers? Forget it!

Pat Cohen

Huntington Beach

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I work so hard to pay my bills and eat right, but I’m confident that someday I’ll be paid top dollar to do nothing, like Phil Jackson for the past 13 years.

Mitch Chernow

Los Angeles

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OK. Now I have really had enough of all this complaining about the Lakers. First you have every columnist complaining about anything they can make up. (It’s Kobe’s team, it’s Shaq’s team, Jackson does not teach defense, Payton is leaving, Kobe is leaving, Phil is leaving). Then the so-called fans are angry when the Lakers lose or when they don’t win big enough.

I have an idea for everyone: Just shut up and watch the Lakers win the championship.

Dennis Block

Los Angeles