Laker Fans Not Seeing Much Ho-Ho-Hope

Here is what I learned during the big Christmas Day game:

* All this discussion about LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony should include Dwyane Wade.

* The aging Shaq is, at best, a really good role player. He is in no way as dominant as he used to be. What he does have now is a lot of motivation.

* Kobe, baby, you can’t do it yourself. It was painful watching the Lakers play isolation offense during 75% of the game, especially during the end. When your four teammates are standing there watching you, as awesome as you might be, you can’t win.

* As great a guy as Rudy T. is, I don’t think he is good enough to coach the Lakers. With Shaq out at the end, this was a must-win game. There’s a reason the Lakers keep losing the close games. Rudy, we paid you good money to coach; don’t expect Kobe to bail you out every time.

Yvette Tung

Hacienda Heights

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In all the hype and hoopla surrounding the return of Shaquille O’Neal to Los Angeles, the best quote came from Bill Walton, who said, “If Shaq was in this shape during the past two seasons, he’d still be a Laker.”

So true.

Brian K. Haueter

Ventura

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Is there a law that Kobe Bryant must take over and try to dominate the fourth quarter? Is there a second law that says Bryant must be the only Laker allowed to take the final shot?

To the former, I say, if distributing the ball a bit more and involving your teammates for three quarters is working, then don’t “fix” it. To the latter, what would have been the crime if the ball had gone right back to Lamar Odom after he’d inbounded the ball for the final attempt? No one was guarding him and he had the hot hand. Oh, sorry. I forgot the above laws.

Rick Solomon

Lake Balboa

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Only in L.A. can you make more than 50% of your shots from the field only five times in 27 games and still be considered a superstar.

Reggie Boyle

Thousand Oaks