The Lakers’ blame game

The Lakers seem to believe all the experts who predict them to reach the Finals. There is little evidence so far of a commitment to actually earning that. As we’ve seen many times in sports, underdogs can prevail with heart and grit; you can’t just mail it in. I hope the Lakers wake up soon.

Jim Wetenkamp,

Claremont

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I’m sure that somewhere in the depths, Phil Jackson has a reason for allowing Lamar Odom to play point guard in crucial game situations.

The way I look at it, Lamar has come a long way this season and his strengths are around the basket, especially for rebounds.

The more he has the ball in his hands, all the more chances for a bad decision, either by way of a three-point shot or a bad pass or a charge.

It’s NBA playoff time, not “experiment time.”

Steve LaRochelle

Chatsworth

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Much has been spoken and written about the Lakers’ inability to hold big leads, both in the regular season and now in the playoffs. What hasn’t been addressed by anyone is that the reason for the shortcoming is none other than Kobe Bryant.

Game after game, the Lakers have established quick starts and big leads by getting the ball in to Pau Gasol and running the offense through him. Bryant plays the role of facilitator and moves the ball out of constant double teams to hit the open man. But all too often in the second half, Bryant wants to assert himself offensively, and the results are fewer touches in the post for Gasol, more standing around by the other players, and the loss of good ball movement.

As good as he is, Bryant still needs the ball to create his scoring opportunities. His head-down dribbling and sometimes quick and questionable shot selection stagnates the offense and, most important, has allowed many teams back into ballgames.

Andy Schwich

Santa Monica

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Conventional wisdom seems to be that Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world, but LeBron James is the NBA’s MVP (what a ridiculous, illogical conclusion, most recently echoed by Mike Penner in his column last weekend). There is no objective argument to substantiate Bryant as the “best player in the world,” just as there was no objective way to justify his choice as MVP last year.

Isn’t the best player in the NBA Chris Paul? Also, isn’t Bryant only the second-most valuable player on his own team, behind Pau Gasol, who has had an exceptionally productive and efficient year?

John Lochead

San Dimas