What would it take for Jeanie Buss to say “enough is enough”? Could it be any clearer to her that Rob Pelinka and Darvin Ham don’t deserve the salaries they’re receiving?
Let’s start with the ham. He’s not a head coach. period. There’s a man who stands with his hands in his pockets throughout the game, watching the world go by. He can’t replace properly, leaves players in games who have scored as many points as me, and has one of the worst offenses in the NBA. He brings nothing to the team. That leads to general manager Pelinka, who hired Hamm. He also collapsed championship teams, signed below-average free agents, drafted blind, and paid high salaries to injury-prone players.
Do whatever you want. Something has to be done because this team isn’t going anywhere. If not, the Crypto.com Arena turns into a real basement because no one is actually allowed inside.
Geno Apicella
placenta
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You don’t have to watch a Lakers game this season. The script is always the same. As the ball jumps, LeBron casually brings it up and misses the first shot. The opponent rushes up to the court and immediately makes a 3-point shot. When you look at the scoreboard later, the Lakers are trailing him by double digits. The Lakers played hard in the fourth quarter and came close, but lost again. Rinse and repeat.
Russell Hosaka
torrance
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Mr. Pelinka, how does your draft pick Jalen Hood-Schifino compare to Jaime Jaquez, who you passed on? You must have been watching highlights from Hood-Schifino’s high school days instead of watching a fundamentally sound Jamie play over four years at UCLA. I guess you like flashy things.
And now you need what you gave up for nothing: Malik Monk, Alex Caruso, Dennis Schroder.
However, they need to build a core four of Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Max Christie. Please don’t send away talented young players again.
Another guy you missed, Tyrone Lue. No wonder the Lakers lost. And don’t choose Lonzo Ball over Jayson Tatum.
You can find a new field of work.
stephen lee
oxnard
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Not only are the Lakers currently batting under .500, but they have been batting under .500 for the past decade as well. During that time, they were an incompetent team with an incompetent owner and an incompetent coach. An owner who would force Magic Johnson out of management doesn’t deserve to own a franchise in this city. period.
The NBA should convince the “owners” to sell their franchises and get out of town. That’s an obvious fix.
Kevin Minihan
Los Angeles
Team to support
As a Los Angeles NBA fan for over 50 years, I am very proud to call myself a Clippers fan. Thanks to hard play and strategic trades, the Clippers find themselves moving up the standings. It’s great to have an NBA team to root for.
patrick kelly
Los Angeles
Help with in-house photography
Dear Coach Cronin, I have a suggestion for the UCLA basketball team, which is a poor shooter. Londyn Jones of the undefeated Lady Bruins is shooting nearly 90 percent from the free throw line and 35 percent from 3-point range for the season. How about Miss Jones conducting a shooting clinic for the poor shooting Bruins? they really need help.
dave simon
north hollywood
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I have a very simple question. How can an elite college program like UCLA Basketball have a team of such terrible shooters? They even miss layups quite often.
Alan Abazian
Alta Loma
kicker double take
So let’s see if I understand this correctly: The Rams waived their hapless kicker to bring in a new kicker. Then bring in a known kicker to the practice squad in case the new kicker keeps missing extra points. They then waive a known kicker who was signed to the practice squad. Then they waive the new kicker and bring back the original unlucky kicker who was waived in the first place in order to sign the new kicker who was just waived in the first place. And he had a chance to beat the Rams last Sunday after being waived as a big-name kicker on the practice squad. Of course he misses the kick. Still, the Rams’ playoff hopes are still alive. or not.
paul finesinger
Agoura Hills
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I’ve been banging the table for weeks to get a reliable kicker for the Rams. If it weren’t for the Giants’ dropped passes and bad kicker, the Rams’ playoff hopes would have ended last Sunday. Is it legal for an NFL team to bring in a college senior whose season has ended? I’m sure there are some who would like to make some money by playing in the playoffs with the Rams.
mike shaller
temple city
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Maybe for another $500 million, Shohei Ohtani can find time to kick field goals and PATs for the Rams.
Larry Schatz
Moorpark
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After last week’s game, the Rams need to stop relying on luck and try to get better heading into the playoffs.
Russell Morgan
carson
Charging completed
In a column encouraging Jim Harbaugh to join the NFL’s Chargers, Bill Plaschke defended himself by saying, “If you’re not stealing signs, you’re not trying.” Really? Perhaps he has had a change of heart and is now a Houston Astros supporter.
Rhys Thomas
valley glen
Please do not go
Many popular trends are ultimately seen as misguided. The new trend in the NFL is to go for it on fourth down early in the game when you’re in field goal range. If Detroit lost by one point to Dallas, it would have won if one of its few fourth-down attempts had been a field goal. Analysis, Summamalytics. This trend should go in the same bin as mullets, microwave dinners, and puffy lips. Earn 3 points.
bob gary
diamond bar
they got it right
The fortune tellers on the College Football Playoff selection program were right when they picked Alabama over Florida State at No. 4. He has a 13-0 record and what an embarrassment it would be if FSU made it to the final four. Well done Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs.
Hale McPhee
Rancho Palos Verdes
Memories of Zenyatta
Thank you for the beautiful tribute to the queen of racing, Zenyatta. Bill Dwyer has always captured her excitement, personality and importance to the sport. In 2010 I had the opportunity to meet the Queen twice, and the first time she visited earlier in the year, there were probably eight of us, including Anne and some of her family, and it was an intimate affair. Zenyatta is such a great “person” and it was amazing to watch her. Mr. Sheriff was very affectionate towards her, and his calming influence was evident. She loves attention and the camera and she let me pet her and pose with her. Her second visit later this year was packed with fans, but the Queen remained dignified and calm. She is one of a kind and I am grateful for the care she received and the generosity of everyone involved with her. Thank you, Bill!
sheri gash
Los Angeles
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2 Comments
Fantastic! This is a truly amazing piece; I have gained a lot of clarity from it.
I appreciate the work you did on this and thank you for all the wonderful stuff.