Now, back to 24

As long as the Lakers keep Mr. One-on-Five, who believes that the 1st Commandment is “Thou shalt not pass,” they will not be champions again, regardless of what other players they might acquire. Kobe already has as good a supporting cast as LeBron James and Baron Davis.

The problem is that Kobe’s ball-hog attitude makes all players around him worse. Why should a teammate work to get open for an easy shot when Kobe will not pass him the ball?

With credit to Shakespeare, “the fault, dear Kobe, is not in your [co-]stars, but in yourself.”

EDWARD A. RUTTENBERG

Rancho Palos Verdes