I got your reasoning on that LO call, and it ain't too unreasonable:-)
Totally with you in that the Lakers problem is mental. They do have glaring weakness in the PG position and the outside shooting but their line-up is good enough to beat the MAVS. The team falls apart on its own. This is a prime example of how important the intangibles are. Whatever off-court isses they have, they are pros and shouldn't have allowed them to show on the court. Easier said than done, though.
Back to Kobe, he does that arm flailing all the time. He is fouled many times but yeah, I don't like his complaining. But he is fouled and not getting the calls more so than any other player with his statue.Dirk? Meh, he is still a flopper:-). Gasol too, but too bad he doesn't even need to pretend, his flops are sadly real.
I actually prefer Kobe operate from the pinch post, just like MJ did. Aggressive drives are dangerous and not absolutely necessary. Take this series for example, the MAVS packed the paint and built a wall there and that's when you needed some outside shooting to give them second thoughts. On a few drives Kobe did, others failed to dive or simply follow. Anyways, long story there.
Kobe's days as a playmaker and a scorer should be over and he should concentrate on being the post/wing scorer. They should also move away from the triangle or at least make more dedicated set plays for him. All the picks the Lakers set for Kobe are pathetic, most end up getting him doubled 30ft from the basket. He is the most fundamentally sound player so he could maintain a high level of play if he gets the right kind of help. A good shooter or two would help as well.