At least they won’t get swept

The Lakers are just good enough for us to think that they’re not as bad as they actually are.

MIKE STRYER

Pacific Palisades

*

As we watch the Lakers sink to the Suns, let us put the blame where it belongs. Our general manager thinks we are one player away from being a top-tier team. Unless Magic Johnson is coming out of retirement, Mitch Kupchak is showing he has no clue that players who shoot well in practice but not in the game, players who do not step up or who refuse to play defense will never combine to be a winning squad.

His comments to T.J. Simers only show how satisfied he is with mediocrity and that being the 11th-best team seems to be OK with him. I wonder how well that sits with his boss. It sure doesn’t sit well with the fans.

HARVEY HIRSCH

Sherman Oaks

*

The sad thing isn’t that the Lakers are not competitive in the playoffs. The sad thing is that the best years of the best player in the NBA are being wasted.

If the Lakers didn’t have Kobe Bryant they would be the worst team in the league. They can squeak into the playoffs just because of him. And Kupchak says he likes this team as it is. I’m sorry, Kobe.

DOUG DUNLAP

Valencia

*

Look at the bright side Lakers fans. Tickets to Lakers games at Staples Center next season might be easier to get, and also a little cheaper after three seasons that have seen the Lakers go 34-48, 45-37 and 42-40, and probably getting bounced in the first round these last two.

MICHAEL LIPOFSKY

Simi Valley

*

Watching that horrible game on Tuesday night as the Lakers went down 2-0 to the Suns seemed more like I was watching the Harlem Globetrotters against the Washington Generals.

JEFF CALZADA

Monterey Park

*

Since Kobe assumed command of the Lakers franchise, it seems that no one can determine why the team constantly fails to support the great Kobe properly. Lots of theories, finger-pointing and low morale.

Could it be that no one wants to play on Kobe’s team because they know that when they win he claims all the credit, and when they lose it’s their fault? And this analysis is supported by the coach to keep the peace -- and his job?

GREY R. BROOKS

Prescott Ariz.

*

The essence of coaching is imitation. If something works everybody jumps on board. What does that say about the triangle offense because no other NBA team uses it?

JIM WOODARD

Woodland Hills

*

Why is everyone blaming Smush Parker for his poor play? He’s doing the best he can. He’s just overmatched. Blame the Lakers organization for taking a rarely used guard with two years of experience in the NBA as a benchwarmer and thrusting him into the starting point guard position.

MOSHE SHAYA

Los Angeles

*

The current failure of the Lakers is the world’s smallest surprise. In a team sport, the day that a supposedly clever coach becomes content to allow one player to score 81 points in a game, at the expense of good defense and team balance, is the day that guarantees that team absolutely no chance of success on the road to a championship.

CAY SEHNERT

South Pasadena

*

Seeing Kareem on the Lakers’ sideline I can only imagine how glad he is to have been a Laker at another time, because playing alongside Kobe Bryant he never would have become the league’s all-time leading scorer, just another role player unable to measure up.

RICK NEVLIN

Ventura

*

Hey Amare, your teammates took a vote and it was unanimous. Please keep your big mouth shut. All the Lakers say, run it some more, please. It’s our turn to finish.

DUANE WALL

Cambria

*

If I learn to whistle with my fingers may I be the next coach of the Lakers?

ART KOCHMAN

Mission Viejo