Finals Countdown: Lakers make a statement with win in Utah (The Sporting News via Yahoo! News) Finally, a win worth writing home about. The Lakers beat the Jazz, 108-105, for only the second road win of this round, at the toughest arena in the league. Los Angeles seriously outplayed Utah for most of the game, jumping out to an early lead and going up 62-43 at the half. Heading into the fourth, Kobe and company still had a double-digit lead, but the Jazz clawed their way back with a ...

Lakers hold off Jazz 108-105, reach West finals (Miami Herald) Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Los Angeles held off a furious rally by the Utah Jazz for a 108-105 victory Friday night, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years.

Lakers hold off Jazz to advance in NBA playoffs (TurkishPress.com) The Los Angeles Lakers have emerged victorious despite a late rally by the Utah Jazz, posting a 108-105 victory to advance to the Western Conference finals of the National Basketball Association playoffs.

Lakers hold on, move on (Pioneer Press) Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, and Los Angeles held off a furious rally by the Utah Jazz for a 108-105 victory Friday night in Salt Lake City, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years.

LIVE: Can visiting Kobe, Lakers eliminate Jazz? (Fox Sports) No injuries to report. News: Bryant (back) scored 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line Wednesday night in the Lakers' victory over Utah in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

Questions/Answers (Whittier Daily News) Questions and answers on Whittier Daily News stories from readers like you. LOS ANGELES - Phil Jackson admitted he had no words of wisdom for the Lakers on Thursday, the day after their confidence and series lead were restored with an emotional victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 5 at Staples Center.

Questions/Answers (Pasadena Star-News) Questions and answers on Pasadena Star-News stories from readers like you. LOS ANGELES - Phil Jackson admitted he had no words of wisdom for the Lakers on Thursday, the day after their confidence and series lead were restored with an emotional victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 5 at Staples Center.

Lakers come through in clutch, hold off Jazz (Fox Sports) Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, his teammates kept Utah at bay down the stretch, and Los Angeles Lakers extended the stunning home success by NBA teams in the second round of the playoffs Wednesday night, beating the Jazz 111-104 to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

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Tell us your thoughts about the Kobe on again off again love for the Los Angeles Lakers? Should Kobe stay with the Lakers? Should he go to the Clippers? Who should the Lakers trade him for?
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Other comments
JSD'S Thoughts on the Lakers - 11/04/07

Dear Lakers 11/19/07
Kobe should stay a laker for life. I have been a laker fan since childhood and work as a school teacher in crystal city, texas where nearly everyone is a spurs fan. Everyone know I am in the area when they see the lakers jacket or lakers jersey. Students tell me I should cheer for the spurs and my response is I will always be a lakers fan. Kobe is the same no matter what he is a basketball player first giving 110 percent regardless of the circumstances. If he can keep playing regardless of how he feel then we as lakers fans should remain loyal and support his decision. Keep him as a laker1
Noberto

Dear Lakers
As much as I think Mitchy K is a poor GM, I do think that NOT giving up roll players with massive upside for a second superstar for 2007 is a correct decision. Many of these superstar players will be free agents after this season…..for free (if signing them for a hundred million is free).

My assessment of the current Laker roster is similar to Mitch’s. The Lakers have an extremely underrated group of now medically mended players, who will either prove themselves as the next group of Scottie Pippen type star roll players that Jordan had, or not. After the 2007 season, there will be no second guessing about “look what we gave away” in the Mihm, Odom, Bynum talent pool. We need to develop these kids to their full potential.

If Kobe decides to opt out of his contract, and the supporting cast is blossoming into their full potential, the Lakers will have lots of cap room to go shopping for a quality superstar who will fit into the current Laker TEAM system.

Alan Mark Levenson

Dear Lakers
I am a true Lakers Fan , and have been since 1969. I have been there through the good and the bad. Have seen many superstars. Jerry West , Gail Goodrich , Wilt " The Stilt ".

What about Happy Hariston and then we move on to Magic Johnson, Kareem and Big game James Worthy. I can go all day and night with very good laker players.

The difference between those teams and the Lakers team of today is that those teams played as a " TEAM " . Yeah, Every player knew his role and played his role " PERIOD "

Kobe Bryant....Yes, a tremendous talent ! No doubt about it. A selfish Player ?....YES, and this cannot be disputed by anyone with half a brain or good eye sight !

And this is heartbreaking and sickening that anyone has such arrogance as Kobe.

He is asking for something that is impossible to achieve. He wants to shoot the ball 30-40 times a game and lead the league in scoring and also Expect his other team mates to stand around and watch. So if he is so darn good, what is his CRYING ABOUT ?

He knows a championship is impossible with a one man show. If Mr. Jordan could not do it, what makes him think he can ? I don't care who the Lakers sign. Kobe will still want to shoot the ball 30-40 times a game. That's just his makeup and selfish attitude.

If DR. Buss had only traded Kobe rather than Shaq, We would not be having all this turmoil in Laker Land.

I say trade Kobe and get rid of the Cancer that's eating away at this team.

NO PLAYER IS THAT VALUABLE TO ANY TEAM.
BJOHN

I have thought for a very long time that the worst mistake Jerry Buss made was keeping Kobe over Shaq. Yes, Shaq is in his twilight years. But Kobe is an arrogant asshole and widely known to be a prima donna, selfish and self-centered. He may have the skills to match or even surpass Michael Jordan, but Kobe will never be another Michael Jordan not even close. Michael was a kind, generous team player. Words that are foreign to Kobe. No matter how good Michael Jordan was, he needed an entire team to win. Kobe thinks HE is the TEAM. Without a TEAM Kobe won't be the greatest in History. And Kobe is too much a selfish prick to ever admit he NEEDS a team and needs to work with a team to win games.

DUMP Kobe. He is the worst thing to happen to the Lakers. Just look at the TEAM record. Who cares about Kobe's solo stats. Its the TEAM that MATTERS!

DUMP Kobe. The Lakers don't need him to win and he doesn't think he needs the Lakers to win.

DUMP Kobe. Do the Lakers, Los Angeles and all the Lakers' fans a favor.
DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe!DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe! DUMP Kobe!

William K. Maruyama
Long time LA Lakers Fan!

Gentlemen:
Trade him, please, please. You would be surprised at how many people can't stand him even with all of his gifts as a basketball player. His ego is unbelievable, he is self-centered, he never has been a team player, he is not a leader, cannot take direction and he only thinks of himself.
Get ride of him!
M. Kellen

Another Message
I think he should be traded. Kobe is the type of guy who wants all the glory to himself, but to win, you need a consistant and whole team effort. Trade him and get 2-3 good (not nescescarily super star) players who can fit in a team atmosphere, and replace his numbers. The guys good, but his personality and greed for fame will not win the lakers a championship. Players who know how to add to a whole team effort are fun for the players to be around, and can teach others to be better, and the lakers would have a winning attitude.

Another suggestion: They may not have to trade him, but if he can learn to adapt to not getting all the fame, and be a team player and not all for kobe player, and if he can be a leader and teach younger players, and if the lakers can bring in more young talent that kobe can help develop, then sure, that would work too. They don't necesarily have to get rid of Kobe, but definitly he needs an attitude change.

If he had younger players that he could teach to be great players like him, he would have other weapons to pass too and wrack up points, so they would be harder to stop, because then all the guarding isn't on Kobe.

Another Message
H. E . L. L. N. O...., they have no chance of winning without Kobe, well no chance of winning with him if he doesn't have help but anyway. He fills the stadium seats, is the number 1 selling jersey and has a sexy asss wife and imitates mike, so why trade him?

Another Message
When a team allows one player to run things and basically try to blackmail the head office-I think they should trade him and never look back. It's called a team for a reason. Every great player I can think of was a team player. Kobe is not.

Another Message
i say trade kobe and focus on the future...they could easily get kevin durant and luke ridnour in or stephon marbury/david lee or some future gonna be crazy bobcats...and build around bynum....building around kobe is impractical...they will get good but not to the championship level...its that simple.

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Another Star Pairing in Los Angeles (New York Times) Lisa Leslie, a three-time W.N.B.A. most valuable player with the Los Angeles Sparks, will soon share the spotlight with her rookie teammate Candace Parker.