Time for a big change?

I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the 10 seasons Derek Fisher has given us in L.A. It has been a career of big shots, hustle plays and sacrificing the body to take the charge. And who could ever forget 0.4? But it’s time for him to make the most difficult play of his career -- to ask Phil Jackson to bench him. Otherwise, Phil is bound to stick with the veteran to the bitter end.

I’m sure all Lakers fans have been watching this postseason, and even the weeks leading up to the postseason, hoping that the next bucket will break his slump. But after watching his performance in Game 2 against the Nuggets, I’m sorry to say I’ve given up hope. The shot is gone. Every layup is blocked. Every opposing guard is too quick.

Thank you for the memories, Fish, now please request to be seated and let the Farmar era begin.

Tim Kosor, Mission Viejo

Phil, how do you continue to give Derek Fisher the majority of the minutes when Shannon Brown consistently outperforms him?

How do you sit Andrew Bynum on the bench for the fourth quarter when size is our greatest advantage against the Nuggets and Pau Gasol is less effective playing center?

How do you not synchronize Trevor Ariza’s playing time with Carmelo Anthony’s so you don’t have to guard him with Luke Walton?

How do you not call a timeout at the beginning of Denver’s comeback when your team is notorious for blowing leads?

How is it that a guy making $10 million a year needs me to point this stuff out?

Matthew Bilinsky

Beverly Hills

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In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” I always wondered where the third little pig got his bricks. Now I know. Sasha “Vujabrick” must have lived nearby.

Frank Tierheimer

Cerritos

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The standard explanation for the Lakers’ inconsistent play: They are a great team but often unable to get up for games against inferior foes.

A simpler explanation for the Lakers’ inconsistent play: They are not a great team.

Don Ylvisaker

Santa Barbara

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I hope the wins come to the Lakers because it seems that they’re too lazy and complacent to get some themselves.

Jon Umeda

Monterey Park

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Is anyone else finding it less painful to watch “The Real Housewives of Orange County” than the Lakers during this year’s playoffs?

Dave Eng

Thousand Oaks

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Say all you want about this series, but so far the reality is these are two very closely matched teams. They have played two games so far that have been very close, and nearly identical -- including the halftime and final scores. Both games were tied at 99-99. These were games that either team could have won, in the last minute -- and they did!

Jeff Drobman

Malibu

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I remember when I looked forward to picking up The Times during Lakers playoff runs. Not anymore.

Enough with pot-stirring columnists like Bill Plaschke and T.J. Simers. Enough with Laker-hating readers like Andy Schwich of Santa Monica.

This is Los Angeles. I say, “Go Lakers or go home!”

Gene Elliott

Santa Monica

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That rumbling we all felt Sunday evening was the general population collectively jumping off the Houston Rockets’ “upstart” caravan, and the shaker felt Tuesday was those same born-again (since after Game 7) former Lakers haters and disbelievers stampeding back onto the Lakers’ bandwagon.

Mark J. Featherstone

Windsor Hills

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I guess this should be directed to Stu Jackson. Hey, Stu buddy, how exactly do you become recognized by NBA referees as a team that plays “good defense”? Apparently, as soon as you receive this distinction, your team is allowed to grab, hold, hack, hug, poke, and prod with impunity. Detroit, Boston and Bruce Bowen as an individual have had or now have this carte blanche.

It seems though what constitutes “good defense” is as ambiguous as what constitutes a flagrant foul. Evidently it is not hard to become a “good defensive team,” since all it took for Denver to go from a team that plays no defense to the aforementioned team that plays “good defense” was the addition of Chauncey Billups.

Ed Fresquez

Cameron Park

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When did the NBA become the NFL without pads?

Erin Katz

Rancho Palos Verdes

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If the guy on the NBA logo says LeBron has surpassed Kobe as a player, then that’s good enough for me.

Otto Steinegeweg

Anaheim

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My initial thought when I saw the headline “Rambis will talk to Kings” was that Kurt decided he has a better chance of becoming a head coach in the NHL than the NBA. But then I realized I had made a mistake. There is no way he would leave Dr. Buss’ penthouse for Phil Anschutz’s outhouse.

Arthur Jamarr

El Segundo