Laker Fans Aren’t Shy About Taking Shots

If some ingenious executive at HBO had decided to put this Laker season on as a weekly soap opera, the show would have won every Emmy.

The only problem would have been to find enough people who might have been convinced any of this insanity could ever have happened.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

*

One of the things I most admired about Kobe Bryant was his maturity, especially when compared with his 7-foot teammate. With his “It’s my ball and if you don’t play my way I quit” performance Sunday, I must alter my opinion.

Congratulations, Kobe! You sure proved your point.

I am sure that Karl and Gary don’t mind taking that pay cut to win a ring. I am sure the fans don’t care that by throwing away the possible home-court advantage you may have cost the team another championship.

It is far more important to teach those ingrates a lesson.

Kevin Peters

Fullerton

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After the season comes to a disappointing conclusion, here is what the Lakers need to do:

1. Give Phil Jackson a new contract. He deserves this for no other reason than that he was able to finish the season without going crazy.

2. Let Kobe go. I used to think Bryant was a wonderful player because he always gave a maximum effort. Now we know Kobe is a spoiled, selfish player. It is all about Kobe.

3. Do not add more years to O’Neal’s contract. This is a player whose skills are eroding and who refuses to lose weight or work on his free-throw skills, which are worse than most high school players’, male or female.

The above steps would allow us all to get back to rooting for the Lakers, something I cannot bring myself to do now.

Jim Folks

Santa Barbara

*

Let me get this straight: Kobe Bryant rushes back from his court dates just to help his team win.

Kobe Bryant rushes back from injury, plays hurt, sick or both for the good of the team. Kobe Bryant has helped win three of the last four titles in this town, and for what? To be called selfish or passive and even purposely tanking games for his own personal agenda?

Maybe all of these “anonymous sources” should come out and show their cowardly faces. Failing that, the fans of Los Angeles should just appreciate this wonder of a talent we have been lucky enough to know and love. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

John Clarke

Laguna Niguel

*

The way Messrs. Adande, Plaschke and Brown are trying to create every imaginable controversy on the Lakers and putting most of the blame on Kobe every time the entire team doesn’t play well, I will not be surprised if Kobe goes to another team next season.

Then the real Laker fans will be left holding our breath every time Shaq goes to the free-throw line and cursing these sportswriters every time Shaq misses.

I would rather watch Kobe’s spectacular shots and determination during end games than watch Shaq being fouled intentionally and missing his free throws. I hope Kobe will consider true Laker fans, come decision time, and not be affected by the constant criticisms from these sportswriters.

Beda Sasis

Temple City

*

Kobe gets swarmed with double and triple teams and decides to be a facilitator for the first half, which everyone has been asking him to do all season. Then, the players he was facilitating can’t hit a shot. As a result, Kobe is accused of throwing the game. Huh?

All I know is that if the other players hit their shots, Kobe would have been commended for his mature and unselfish play. But, since the Laker “shooters” are a bunch of stiffs (Medvedenko, George, Russell, et al), Kobe is accused of being one of the worst things in professional sports.

It looks to me like Kobe just can’t win.

Chris Hibler

Saugus

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The Lakers have four highly functioning Hall of Fame players, yet they don’t play well together much of the time. It seems obvious to me that Phil Jackson’s unimaginative and lackluster coaching is to blame.

Jonathan Fleck

Los Angeles

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What if this entire tumultuous Laker season were just one big psychological ploy by Phil Jackson? What if it were all a ruse, a brilliant tactic of deception from the crafty mind of the Zen master, intended to lull the Laker opponents to sleep?

Then, come playoff time, the Lakers unleash a ferocious blitz against their overconfident opponents and win the title. How ridiculous is this scenario? Probably just as ridiculous as a bunch of very talented and well-paid superstars unable to find a way to play together, utilize their skills, dominate the competition and win a championship.

Adi Rhone

Santa Monica

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Kobe can make his point, or lack thereof, all he wants.

The cold, hard facts remain about the 2004 Laker team:

1. Too many generals, not enough privates.

2. Buying big names doesn’t equal instant greatness (the Yankees will find this out).

3. Quality depth is the real ingredient for championships.

The Lakers all season have proved to have very little, regardless of injury. Wake up, Laker fans. If they don’t have it by the 80th game, they aren’t going to magically have it during playoff time.

Predicting 70 wins in October was pompous. Now it looks plain foolish. It doesn’t matter if Kobe takes 13 shots or 33, the Lakers aren’t a championship team.

Matt Gage

Brea

*

There is one team that is a lock to beat the Lakers. The Lakers.

Tom Sloss

Fountain Valley