The Lakers are only about one-third of the way through the season, but their fans have seen enough.

According to a recent series of polls, Lakers fans have become so disgusted with the team's offensive chemistry (52.5%), point guard woes (44.63%) and Metta World Peace's inconsistency (47.84%) that 33.3% of them predict the Lakers will bow out in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

So much for the Lakers' rectifying their four-game sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals. It's safe to say that a win by the 12-9 Lakers on Tuesday over the 3-18 Charlotte Bobcats would do little to spur more enthusiasm. If the Lakers fall to the NBA's worst team, on the other hand, well, they'll enter their six-game trip beginning Friday at Denver with more concerns than whether they can win on the road.

"Let's hope the @Lakers can make something happen before the trade deadline," tweeted Magic Johnson, speaking on behalf of many fans.

Because of the Lakers' pressing point guard problems, 56.53% of fans believe the purple & gold needs to acquire New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams in a trade. But 33.77% of fans also say adding Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard would be a nice alternative. If the Lakers land neither, a 23.85% plurality believe they will enter the playoffs seeded sixth in the West.

Even when the Lakers go undefeated, Lakers fans find something to complain.

Not everybody averages double-digit scoring averages. They need somehow to convince the Magic to accept a straight-up Luke Walton for Dwight Howard deal. They need to find a remote control so they can just fast-forward to the playoffs.

So just imagine how Lakers fans must feel about this current Lakers team. Their 12-9 record puts them in the eighth seeding for the playoffs should the season end today. They have gone 2-7 on the road. Despite a 1-1 season-split, the Clippers (11-6) remain the more exciting L.A. team. Outside of the Lakers' Big Three in Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, the Lakers lack depth. 

Surely, the Lakers have plenty to say. So to get that conversation started, vote in a series of polls below the jump. I'll then follow up Tuesday with an analysis post on the results. 

I'll have further analysis on this later on, but I thought throwing up a poll question would provide a sense of where fan sentiment lies.

With Kobe Bryant turning 33 on Tuesday, it was only natural for many, including myself, to wonder what else is in store for the rest of his NBA career. But his legacy right now stands impressive enough on its own: five NBA titles, two Finals MVP awards, one regular-season MVP, one Olympic gold medal, four All-Star MVPs, sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list and the Lakers' greatest all-time scorer ever. All taking place in 1,311 total games and 48,310 total minutes through 15 seasons.

What impresses you the most out of Bryant's accomplishments and what he's brought to the game? Answer in the poll below and I'll be sure to include your answers is my follow-up analysis.

RELATED:

How will Kobe Bryant's game change?

Kobe Bryant rated NBA's sixth-best player by CBS Sports

Kobe Bryant rated NBA's fifth-best player by Sports Illustrated

-- Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Kobe Bryant stands on the scorer's table at Staples Center after the Lakers defeated the Celtics to win the 2010 NBA title. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

As The Times reported Tuesday night, the Lakers have put a deal in place to make Mike Brown their new head coach.

What do you think? Is Brown a good fit, considering that he took the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals and has experience in dealing with a superstar player?

Or would you have preferred one of the many other names tossed about by the media and among Lakers fans to replace Phil Jackson?

Please vote in the poll and leave a comment letting us know your reasons.

RELATED:

Coaching candidate profile: Mike Brown

Jerry Buss: Lakers won't continue exclusively with triangle offense

-- Chuck Schilken

The Lakers' second-round elimination in the 2011 NBA playoffs may have ruined everyone's championship parade plans, soured their enthusiasm when watching the rest of the postseason and significantly altered everyone's work schedule. But one thing's for certain: By no means is The Times' Lakers Blog taking a break.

This is just the beginning in which we dive into exit interviews, sift through everything that happened during the team's failure to three-peat, and wonder what's ahead. Everyone has shared their two cents, but this is a perfect way to capture everyone's sentiments. Use your democratic right to vote in the various poll questions below the jump and I'll follow up Tuesday with an analysis piece on what Laker fans currently might be thinking about the franchise.

You've sounded off on the Lakers' poor play in their first-round playoff series against New Orleans, now tied at two games apiece.

Some have expressed optimism the Lakers will turn things around and eventually three-peat. Others believe this marks the team's pride before the fall. Still others are simply agitated because the Lakers are unnecessarily playing with their emotions.

And then there are those who don't want to think about it, partly because of the uncertainty surrounding Kobe Bryant's left ankle injury.

I know the eclectic bunch we have here at the Lakers blog, but sometimes I think fan sentiment gets categorized as simply either reactionary or in denial. When I've sifted through poll results on various Lakers topics I've discovered, however, that underneath the passion and trash there's a healthy, nuanced split on the state of the organization.

That's why this is an appropriate time to open up that forum  so I can precisely compartmentalize what concerns you and what's strictly overblown. I'll then follow up with an analysis piece prior to Game 5 on Tuesday summing up the current state of the common Lakers fan.

So, vote in the polls after the jump and let your voice be heard. I'll probably also feature some of the comments from this post in my story to further illustrate and explain your thoughts on the Lakers' series thus far. 

The Lakers didn't seem to come to play today, taking the court with little sense of urgency in a Game 1 loss to New Orleans, a team many expected them to sweep.

So has the Game 1 loss shaken your confidence in the Lakers' ability to win it all again this season?

Vote now and let us know.

--Houston Mitchell

Kobe Bryant is in some hot water today for a comment made during Tuesday's victory over the San Antonio Spurs. You can read all about that here and here.

What should the NBA do about it? Fine him? Suspend him? Do nothing? Let us know what you think by voting in our poll.