All the odds against them, injuries, Westbrook, a 2-10 start, a first-year coach, and they still made it to the conference finals. There is much to be said for the Lakers, which is to be admired. There is also a lesson, never give up, play as a team and good things can happen. Congratulations to the Lakers on an inspiring season.
Allan Kretchman
Woodland Hills
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I’m glad I was in Colorado visiting family when the Nuggets won their last two games. The Denver paper highlights all the Nugget players and their contributions to the wins and eventual victory. Yes, LeBron is a great player, but he’s all I’ve read about in the Times in this series. I wanted to read about Austin Reaves and others who kept the Lakers close. Now everything we read about LeBron’s possible retirement. Maybe you could print something about the other Lakers players. After all, they’re the ones who kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot while LeBron nursed a sore foot!
Judy Thomsen
Glendora
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I’m glad LeBron played all but four seconds Monday night. If he had sat for a few minutes, he might have had the energy needed to finish strong.
Dave Thomas
Ventura
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Someone needs to tell Bill Plaschke that a sweep is a sweep and that there are no “consolation” trophies in basketball. Save the ‘atta boys for another column, Bill.
Robert L Shirley
Lawndale
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None of The Times’ sportswriters were brave enough to point out that LeBron ran out of gas in the second half. His future playing days will be the same, so Lakers fans, get ready for senior nights at Crypto.
GT Oka
Rosemead
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Bill Plaschke’s sentiment that the Lakers can still hold their heads high generally rings true. I felt the same way when the Lakers were swept by Moses Malone, Ph.D. J and the 76ers in 1983.
At the time, the Lakers had unfinished business. Kareem then won titles with the Lakers in ’85, ’87 and ’88 at the ages of 38, 40 and 41. As a student of basketball history, LeBron should be motivated to achieve what Kareem has achieved – another title when almost all of his contemporaries long retired.
Ken Feldman
Tarzan
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LeBron James has a scant 97 million reasons to continue playing with the Lakers.
David Marshall
Santa Monica
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What Could Have Been: In the 2016 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Brandon Ingram second and the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown third. In the 2017 draft, the Lakers selected Lonzo Ball second and the Celtics selected Jayson Tatum third. Could LeBron have been paired with these two players and dominated for years?
Bernie Kovac
Harbor City
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Of the many reasons that point to LeBron James retiring from the Lakers, I believe the example set by Jim Brown will be the deciding factor. James stated that Jim Brown, growing up in Northeast Ohio, was a god. Brown retired at the peak of his game, never enduring a decline in ability and possibly poor play in later seasons. Brown’s recent death could have reminded LeBron to preserve his legacy.
Jim Regan
Carlsbad
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The harsh reality of sports is that sometimes their team is better than your team. The Lakers generally played hard and well, but the Nuggets were clearly the better team. So kudos to the Lakers, and good luck to the Nuggets. It will be much less embarrassing to be swept by future champions.
Roger Kraemer
Brea
Wossamotta U
A few years ago on “The Bullwinkle Show,” arch-villain Boris Badenov was asked where he went to college.
Boris: “I let myself go in SC”
Narrator: “Oh, Southern California?”
Boris: “No, scoundrels and thieves”
At the time, many of us SC alums took offense. In full time, we had to admit that Boris was extremely perceptive.
Noel Park
Palos Verdes Ranch
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Scandal after scandal at USC. This time it’s Mike Bohn. When he was brought to USC as AD, USC’s president said he had real integrity. So much for integrity. It can truly be said that you cannot write a scandal without SC.
Neil Snow
Manhattan Beach
Have a nice day at the stadium
Unfortunately, we read all too often about the strife and negativity at Dodger Stadium, but my family’s recent experience has been the complete opposite.
A recent Wednesday afternoon saw a thrilling win by the Dodgers in Chamber of Commerce weather. Every Dodger employee was knowledgeable, kind, friendly and courteous. Bathrooms spotless. There is no traffic in or out of the parking lot. Sincere thanks for leaving, can’t wait to come back.
Brad Finn
Santa Clarita
How can this happen?
I have nothing but contempt for the few prominent golfers playing on the PGA Tour who are members of the LIV golf tour. They take blood money for sure. I think about the Saudis and their blasphemy laws, repression of women, torture in prisons… I will never watch LIV golf, I will root against every player who plays for LIV, and my particular antipathy goes to the predator Phil Mickelson, who is the engine behind LIV- a. And I notice that the PGA is silent during the broadcast. Shame on them too. I am an 81 year old woman who likes to watch golf on the weekends.
Jane Roberts
Redlands
Where is the Angels coverage?
What exactly did the Angels do to get such pathetic coverage in the Times? No spring training coverage, no road game coverage and, now, home game coverage that feels a lot like a pre-written “profile” story (with no new information) just slightly revised to include the final score and some actual game details .
The Angels swept the Red Sox for the first time since 2015, outscoring them 13-4 in three games, with huge offensive contributions from their superstars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, their top young prospects, Zach Netto and Mickey Moniak, and closing performances from their pitchers, including another save by Carlos Estevez. A great series that The Times deemed unworthy of even one hideous cover photo.
Kevin Ausmus
Claremont
Keep up the good work, Eric
Every so often I read a letter that praises Times sports contributors like Bill Plaschke, Bill Dwyre and Wally Skalij, with good reason. This is to the credit of Eric Sondheimer. His longtime coverage of many aspects of the high school sports scene has always been mild. He’s not afraid to chronicle the decline of high school athletics from the game-where-you-stay to the game-for-your-career. He is equally adept at focusing on minor sports as he is on poignant individual achievements. Well done, Eric.
Ralph Martinez
Arcadia
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Email: sports@latimes.com
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
