ESPN has JA Adande working a chat room with many NBA fans on their website. Most of you know these chats take place on a daily basis with all the various NBA analysts employed by ESPN.

Today’s chat featured Adande, a former Lakers analyst with the Los Angeles Times.

The following are the questions and answers that were regarding the Lakers.

Michael Oakland, ca: True or False: Trevor Ariza is the Lakers most important player off the bench?

J.A. Adande: (3:24 PM ET ) True…over Lamar on a buzzer-beater.Odom is such a tough matchup for other teams’ second units, but Ariza has been more consistent and he adds a bit of that gritty angle that the Lakers need.

Jonathan (NC): I am a lifelong Laker fan. Love the forum blue and gold. Hate the Celtics (when they are good, otherwise it is no fun). But watching us the last few weeks is sad. We can’t stop ANYBODY. No fire on D. And why does Bynum get tired after two trips up the court? How did he not bank a 20-20 against the Knicks. Needless to say, I think we are in trouble against the Cavs or the Celtics.

J.A. Adande: (3:31 PM ET ) I think that was a flaw on the Lakers’ part, too, by not forcing the ball inside to him. With Gasol out that would have been a chance for him show how far he’s come. But you’re right, with his conditioning and sometimes lack of fluidity, all it does is make me realize how great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was.

Aaron (Beverly Hills): Why are writers afraid to talk about the Lakers only real weekness? The fact that Derek Fisher is probably the 40th best PG in the NBA. Is it because Derek is such a nice guy?

J.A. Adande: (4:07 PM ET ) I wouldn’t call it their only weakness, but the inability to keep point guards out of the paint is a big reason why their defense is subpar. And yes, D Fish has probably earned enough points with the media to keep the hard questions off his back. I thought it was telling that for a while in the second quarter against the Knicks neither Fisher nor Jordan Farmar was on the court.

Paulius(Lithuania): Top five crowds in the NBA? Will the Lakers 3-peat crowd comeback this year?

J.A. Adande: (4:11 PM ET ) You know what’s sad? The Kings used to be a lock for this and now they don’t qualify anymore because there’s nobody in the arena. But I’ll say Knicks, Warriors, Celtics in my top 3. More as they pop in my head.

Charles (Miami): Please rank (as of today, not all-time): Wade, Lebron, Kobe, CP3

J.A. Adande: (4:19 PM ET ) Kobe, LeBron, Wade, CP3. Although LeBron would get my MVP vote right now. Different thing.

PJ Charlotte, OH: Can we skip the regular season and just go to a round robin of Cavs V Celts V Lakers for 11 games and top 2 of that get to play a 7 game series for the champ?

J.A. Adande: (4:24 PM ET ) No, because I want to see Celtics-Hawks. And I want to see what Portland can do in the playoffs. I wouldn’t mind Phoenix vs. Lakers, one last square-off between Kobe and Shaq. All kinds of good storylines in the playoffs.

Kevin (Charlotte): So should the lakers fire a 9 time champion just so they can hire a black coach?

J.A. Adande: (4:29 PM ET ) Who ever suggested that? This is where paranoia and misinformation kicks in. Here’s what diversity is about: all else being equal, why not try something different that will be a sign of equality. If I had a good team there isn’t a coach I’d hire ahead of Phil Jackson. I’d take Jeff Van Gundy over a lot of guys. Joe Dumars went from Rick Carlisle to Larry Brown to Flip Suanders…and Dumars is black, so it would be hard to call that racism. But would you really be worse off hiring a Larry Drew over a Vinny del Negro? That’s all I’m saying.

Mike (Seattle): J.A., when you worked at the LA Times, and covered the Lakers, who was your favorite celebrity to talk to at the game? Jack Nicholson , perhaps?

J.A. Adande: (5:00 PM ET ) I’ll get out of here and let you guys start your weekend on a light note. I’ve enjoyed the chance to meet and chat with people from Glen Frey to George Lopez (who is funny without even trying), but my favorite celeb to talk to at the Laker games has been Denzel Washington. He used to come over to the press table and engage the writers in conversation. He asked good questions, and he knows what he’s talking about. Plus, he’s a first team member of the Men Who Men Think Are Cool Squad.