Zebra watching

After the Lakers’ loss in Game 4, Phil Jackson “criticized” the referees by saying that Dahntay Jones’ intentional trip of Kobe Bryant should have been called a flagrant foul and that Andrew Bynum’s flagrant foul in the fourth quarter was merely a hard personal foul.

The next day, the NBA agreed with Jackson’s assessment by changing these calls and then proceeded to assess him a $25,000 fine for “criticizing” the referees.

Go figure!

William Um

Rancho Palos Verdes

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David Stern, please give these referees a big raise for controlling both conference finals on the way to the money-making Finals -- Lakers-Cleveland.

Dave D. Doan

Lakewood

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Don’t fret, NBA. Even though it appears that this year’s dream Finals matchup is unlikely to occur, both the fans and the NBA can prosper.

Here’s how: Following the lead of the Olympic Games, simply have a game between the Lakers and Cavaliers. The fans will get their wish, and the networks will get their ratings. It will probably outdraw the Finals. It could be called “LeBron’s medal game.”

John Gasparevich

Anaheim Hills

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The NBA has certainly learned a lesson from the WWE. It’s about entertainment and not who may be the best team.

Ed Gredvig

Altadena

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Brilliant strategy by the Zen Master. The Nuggets used up all their energy rebounding in Game 4 while the Lakers regained their strength in preparation for Games 5 and 6.

Marshall Caplan

Newport Beach

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When I heard that Sasha Vujacic was shooting 15% for the Denver series I was surprised; I didn’t think he was shooting that well. And I just know that Pau Gasol harbors a secret desire to be a matador. The way he is pirouetting out of the path of the Denver rebounders makes me think he will be a good one.

David Lawler

Santa Maria

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Phil Jackson and his assistant were both wearing striped ties with a “negative slope.” George Karl and his assistant, on the other hand, were wearing “positively sloped” striped ties.

Jackson needs to start thinking “positively” and wear ties with positively sloped stripes if he wants to start winning!

Andrew Ko

San Marino

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Why hasn’t Kurt Rambis got a head coaching job yet? Simple. The defensive scheme he has deployed this whole year doesn’t seem well thought out. What’s the one thing coaches want their players to do on the offensive side? Move, cut and pass. Well, that’s exactly what the Lakers’ defensive approach forces a team to do! By bringing over weak-side help to one side of the floor, you’re inviting players to drive to the basket. Dunk you very much.

Sorry, Kurt. Enjoy your seat next to Phil for a few more years.

George Metalsky

Redondo Beach

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Most recent NBA games have come down to a free-throw contest. Obviously, the cause of too many free throws is too many fouls. The problem is that in pro basketball, it pays to foul. It’s the only sport like that. Can you imagine a football game where the defense roughed the passer, took a 15-yard penalty, but got possession of the ball?

There are two ways to solve the problem.

First, the number of fouls allotted to each player could be reduced. If a player were out of the game after four fouls rather than six, foul plays would become noticeably less frequent.

The other, more radical option would be to eliminate the change of possession after a free throw. It would be much like a flagrant foul is now. The fouled player would shoot the free throw, but his team would keep possession. In such a setting, a penalty would really be a penalty.

Stefen Malone

West Hollywood