It Was Tough Enough When Lakers Won

Hey Lakers, do you hear that?

That’s the sound of ping-pong balls.

Robert Balandran

Woodland Hills

*

I watch the Lakers these days and I am reminded of Ali late in his career against Spinks and Holmes. Waiting for Ali to get on his toes and dance, to make yet another incredible comeback, sticking and moving. Yet, all you get is Larry Holmes looking at the ref after every blow waiting for him to stop the fight so he doesn’t kill him.

I saw West from 63 feet against the Knicks, I saw the 33-game winning streak, I saw the baby skyhook in Boston, the Coop-a-loop, Showtime and Horry from anywhere at the buzzer. I’ll take Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel over these new guys.

Tony Bledsoe

Los Angeles

*

This Lakers’ season is not a disappointment, it’s an embarrassment. The facts are now in. Kobe is not an effective leader and can’t win games with his exceptional athletic ability alone.

The Spurs sure are lucky to have a low-maintenance guy like Tim Duncan for their team leader. Is it a coincidence that San Antonio is, once again, the team to beat this year, while the Lakers stink?

Daniel Zampelli

Los Angeles

*

The game against the Knicks was the perfect microcosm for this Laker team. Kobe has bent over backward, alienating fans and colleagues, to fashion a team that defers to no one but him. Luke Walton’s pass in the final second is the perfect example of the type of mentality that Kobe himself fought so hard to create. Then, when confronted with the damage that it does to a basketball team, he has the nerve to look surprised.

Brett Elliott

Van Nuys

*

Kobe Bryant has settled his lawsuit. And I’m sure that it had nothing to do with guilt and simply with him wanting to get on with his life. And I’m also sure that the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny are real.

Craig P. Fagan

San Diego

*

As the Pistons’ rout of the Lakers last week was mercifully coming to an end, I heard Jim Gray repeat one of the most absurd things in sports annals: that Jerry Buss was the architect of two previous championship-caliber Laker teams and that this was a cause for optimism.

What a crock! The true “architect” of those championship teams now works for Memphis. Buss’ contribution was to keep his mouth shut and his wallet open while Jerry West went about his work.

Buss’ first foray into making a basketball decision was a disaster and is the prime reason the Lakers are in their current state. Buss chose Phil Jackson over West, the only individual Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant respected and liked.

Kenneth O. James

Ashland, Va.

*

The way the Lakers and Clippers have played for pretty much the entire season, is there any way we can reverse things and have the Kings and Ducks playing while the Lakers and Clippers are involved in a work stoppage?

Erik Schuman

Fountain Valley