Critical Matters
It's no secret that this year's Official Lakers Story is the reuniting of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. People want to know how it'll work. Do you take the over in the "Number of Weeks Before Phil Punches Kobe" bet, or hold out for the under?
Early reports are that everything seems to be going just fine. Even the impact of Jackson's book was lessened by the recent additions praising Kobe. But will it stay that way?
I think so. For one, both are too competitive and too PR savvy to let their past troubles scuttle this chance to do succeed. Kobe especially can't afford the perception that he once again ran Jackson out of town, or at least out of his mind.
But there's a 340 (more or less, often more) lb. reason Jackson and Bryant will be okay. Removing Shaq from what became a toxic triangle restores some order to the Lakers locker room. Jackson can deal with Kobe straight on, rather than having to tapdance around two players tapdancing with him and slamming each other. I'm not blaming Shaq for the breakup of the championship nucleus, nor am I absolving him. It's just the simple truth that when three big egos are thrown together, one will inevitably feel marginalized. This year, it's mano y mano.
The departure of that extra large mano to Miami makes a huge difference (granted, they're way worse on the court because of it, but we're just talking in Kobe/Phil Lovefest terms, here) in how well the star couple can function. In the end, Bryant and Jackson might even turn their relationship into a non-story, or at least a less interesting one.
It's the cold, boring truth.
BK
It all depends on the Lakers record. If the Lakers linger around .500 or drop under, watch for the Phil-Kobe feud to reignite; if the lakers win 60+ and take the division, Phil-Kobe lovefest.
Posted by: fullctpress | October 20, 2005 at 01:54 AM
Kobe has had to mature under the spotlight. Everyone has a defining point in their life that brings them to a level of true understanding of self. This whole thing has more to do with maturation, which is a great thing, and less to do with can Kobe and Phil get along. It just sounds good for the media to keep saying it. I ask people, even the ones that hate Kobe, who do you want to take a shot at the end of the game. They bite their tongue because Kobe is all over it. The truth be told. There is no one more clutch in the league right now. Kobe is the real assasin in the league. But again, we fall back to maturation, can he bring his teamates to play at a higher level. What 2 gaurd has more brass than Kobe in the league right now? Everybody wants someone else to surplant Kobe. People want D-Wade to be the man so bad, oh T-Mac is nasty. Reality 101. Kobe will get a another ring before either of them. Ponder this. Wade is spectacular, Shaq doesn't need to be on the floor last 3 minutes. Who do you like Kobe or Wade. T-mac match up against Kobe at the end of regulation, who do you give the edge to. Game over. Kobe is a killer, ice in the blood on the court. You know that answer, it's Kobe. If A.I. was taller he would be the man. He is a killer just like Kobe.
Posted by: Chance D. Harris | October 20, 2005 at 04:22 AM
They both want to win too much to be petty with each other.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | October 20, 2005 at 06:29 AM
BK:
I agree that Kobe and Phil will become a non-issue. The larger point, to my mind, is that the Lakers looked very old, slow, and tired--even during their last championship. And frankly, last season must have been miserable for the squad, but particularly for Kobe--I'm sure the thirst for winning will whet his appetite for eating crow and moving on.
Also, when an organization rebuilds, a season like last season is to be expected. I'm excited by the prospect of having such a young athletic team, regardless of how well they do this year. I've always said the great thing about being a life-long Laker fan is that our dry spells are very short.
We're young, have the most athletically gifted player in basketball, arguably the most successful coach in history, and more athleticism than we've had in a long time. Kobe and Phil will indeed get along. I for one am more interested in seeing Lamar Odom after spending the summer with Scotty!
Posted by: jfran | October 20, 2005 at 07:39 AM
Phil and Kobe will be just fine this year. This whole situation has been blown out of proportion. Whats of more important business is how the Lakers as a team will do this year. If Phil and Kobe can get the team to over achiev, and to play consistent and determined defence, they will suprise some people in the west and may get into the 50 win category. Team success will make all of the negative Phil Kobe questions go away.
Posted by: Rence | October 20, 2005 at 09:03 AM
It looks like the ESPN rumor machine will beat the Kobe/Phil dead horse. Everything that went on between them was with Shaq in the picture. No Shaq, no story. Just ESPN making a mountain...
I think the more interesting question does still have to do with Phil and Kobe. But, it asks this: Can Phil do what he did with MJ, with Kobe. Before, Shaq was Phil's MJ. But, now there's actually a player more like MJ that has all Phil's attention. This is a better comparison. An MJ-like player with similar pieces around him. Can Phil recreate a legend now that he has similar circumstances?
Posted by: 1979 | October 20, 2005 at 12:13 PM
fullctpress,
I think, this is an ESPN 'stir-the-pot' story. And they're missing the point of contention between Phil and Kobe...ShaQ!
I don't think you will see a fued of any kind. Win or lose. I think the fued had to do with Phil and Shaq and Kobe. Like the fire triangle (to start a fire there has to be heat, oxygen and ignitor),it takes all three elements to start the fire. Now that there's no third element, there's no fire.
Posted by: 1979 | October 20, 2005 at 12:24 PM