Fans: Lakers to Blame, Not All That Jazz

The Lakers’ playoff run reminds me of last year’s Dodgers. Both with promising young talent, yet lacking the maturity and experience to take it to the next level. It’s frustrating as a fan to see superstars choking (Shaq and Piazza) and “on-the-rise” stars disappearing (Jones and Mondesi) when it counts most.

I know, I know. Just wait till next year. But remember Showtime? Remember Kirk Gibson’s home run? I can’t believe it has been almost 10 years since L.A. has had a champion.

THOMAS CHUNG

Harbor City

*

It was a poor performance all the way around. It was far too “in your face” controversial. It was missed shots and cheap shots. It was wasted talent. The Lakers and Laker fans will be better off if they play their skills somewhere else next year. Of course, I am referring to Nick Van Exel, Del Harris and Bill Plaschke.

JOHN NELSON

Long Beach

*

Let me be the first to thank the Sleepy One, Elden Campbell, for forgetting the plays that led to the disastrous confrontation between Nick Van Exel and Del Harris that ultimately eliminated the Lakers and possibly will lead to the ouster of Van Exel in favor of the Human Turnover, Kobe Bryant, son of the Original Turnover, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant.

Mr. Downey and Mr. Plaschke, if Games 4 and 5 didn’t open your eyes: Should the Lakers drop Van Exel and put the ball and future of the possessionally-challenged Kobe Bryant, not only will it be the worst personnel move in Laker history, it will set back the championship program three or four years.

JOSEPH WRIGHT

Los Angeles

*

Nick, perhaps you are under some misunderstanding. The team captain does not supersede the coach. It’s the other way around. Even Michael Jordan has to listen to the coach, and Nick, you’re no Michael Jordan.

DAVID ARYE

Los Angeles

*

There are lessons to be learned from this season.

1. Don’t be surprised if a team riddled with injuries all year is slightly out of sync come playoff time.

2. Elden needs a team of his own. The failed experiment of Sampson and Olajuwon in Houston is precedent enough.

3. Chronic complaining at refs does not help one’s chances of getting foul calls in the final seconds.

4. Nick and the Lakers are a great team when they shut their mouths and show their heart.

5. Never underestimate the psychological edge of two guys, Malone and Stockton, who realize it’s now or never.

RON OVADIA

Newport Beach

*

If I were Nick Van Exel, I wouldn’t have my bags packed just yet. Go ahead, swallow your pride, give it another shot next year. I promise if you do that, your coach will be the one with all the explaining to do at the end of the season, not you. If Del Harris goes another year with his dump-it-into-Shaq, kick-it-out-to-Eddie playbook, he’s going to be the one looking for a new job. Problem solved!

CHRISTOPHER DE WIDT

Calabasas

*

As a longtime fan and season-ticket holder, I have three comments on the 1996-97 Laker season:

1. Goodbye Del Harris. No matter what superstar you had on the team (Magic or Shaq) you couldn’t develop the necessary chemistry or a consistent rotation to win either the big games and or the bigger series.

2. Goodbye Nick and Elden. You’re decent players who never took your skills to the next level. Elden, you’ll never play to your potential with Shaq in the lineup and Nick, your attitude is poison to the team.

3. Hello Shaq, Eddie, Robert and Kobe. You are the future! A new coach, the right player(s) from the Nick / Elden trade and . . . why, I think I see another banner hanging in the Forum.

WILL MANNON

Tarzana

*

Get rid of Del Harris? Why do we keep hearing this? Here’s a coach who had to blend a bunch of new players into a cohesive team, played half the year without his starting center, almost the entire year without his starting small forward, developed several rookies into future stars and still came within a game of winning the division title. I suppose if he had gone 81-1, he’d have been criticized for losing that game.

SUZANNE GAYLEY

Los Angeles

*

Can we trade news reporters like NBA teams trade players? If so I’m willing to trade Bill Plaschke for a couple second-round reporter draft picks. To write that article regarding Van Exel before the biggest game of the season is just plain idiotic. Maybe a Jazz reporter infiltrated the L.A. Times and wrote that article to distract the Lakers from the game at hand.

Before West decides to trade Van Exel he should ask himself a couple of questions:

1. Is Van Exel responsible for the decision to play Knight so much?

2. Is Van Exel responsible for the decision to get Kobe’s feet wet in the playoffs rather than in the regular season?

3. Is it Van Exel’s decision to put Kobe at point guard despite all his ball-handling problems and ill-advised passes, especially when we have a talented and gutsy Fisher on the bench?

4. Is it Van Exel’s responsibility to make sure the team comes out of a timeout with a game plan? No, no, no, and no. It is Del Harris’ job.

Maybe West needs to consider getting a new coach, rather than a new point guard. West could offer Plaschke and Harris for someone like Chuck Daly.

LUIS ALVAREZ

Glendale

*

Patience is a virtue and it’s way too early to give up on this team. They were beaten by a Hall of Fame duo who have been together for over a decade. And remember, it took years for Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon to reach the level they’re at now. So give this team some time and give Van Exel, Harris, and the rest of the Lakers another chance.

TOM CHENG

Chino

*

A few weeks ago, wishy-washy Del Harris said on his radio show that Kobe Bryant was too mistake-prone to play a key role in the playoffs. So who was coaching when Kobe was throwing up four airballs at crucial moments? I think it’s goodbye time for Coach. And somebody tell the next teenage heir to Michael Jordan that in the long run, making the NCAA title game winner, as opposed to shooting a pro team out of the playoffs, probably pays better.

NATE HEINEMANN

Los Angeles

*

If Nick Van Exel ever dyes his hair orange, we’d have a difficult time telling him apart from Dennis Rodman. Oh, I know--Rodman has a championship ring on his finger.

ROBERT SCHOR

Beverly Hills

*

Between Van Exel’s attitude, Shaq’s inability to knock down the two-foot jumper, and Elden’s relapse into a coma, there is plenty of blame to go around for the Lakers’ demise. But no one is more to blame for the loss of Game 5 than Del Harris. With 11 seconds to play and the game tied, taking the ball out of the hands of your hottest player, Van Exel, and instead betting the season on the promising but turnover-prone rookie Kobe Bryant is inexcusable.

PIERRE PENDERGRASS

Venice

*

I’m not a fan of Del Harris. I’ve never heard a word out of his mouth that wasn’t self-serving. He’s a world-class spin doctor. He plays to the press, to Dr. Buss and to Jerry West. He compares himself to mediocrity and says “we’re doing pretty well.”

I hope he finds a nice small college where his ego can shine.

H.B. COOPER

Los Angeles

*

The Clippers also lost to the Utah Jazz, but they saved $120 million.

AMY STARR

Los Angeles