'07 Report Card- Phil Jackson
I figured I'd start this report card by making clear my belief on the relationship between coaching, talent, winning, and losing in the NBA. It'll help explain my grade (and let you know where specifically to direct your criticisms). Basically, it comes down to this: In the NBA, talent trumps everything. A coach can make a difference, no question (especially on the downside- see Brown, Larry '05-'06 Edition), but if the basic building blocks aren't there, it's not going to matter. And, at least over the second half of this season, it's fair to say that by NBA championship standards, the Lakers had no blocks. No Legos, no Duplos, no Lincoln Logs. Aside from Kobe and a dinged up L.O., at least. And as we all saw, that won't get it done. A great coach can take what's there and squeeze a little something extra out of it or get a quality team to that next level, but they cannot bleed a rock.
Over the first forty, it looked like Jackson was doing just that- getting that something extra out of a team whose roster indicated it shouldn't have been winning as much as it was. Then the injuries came, forcing stretches where Jackson was left to field what was essentially Kobe and a bunch of dudes from the local rec. That the Lakers didn't win much over the second half didn't surprise me. Even when L.O., Kwame, and Walton returned, they weren't same as they were pre-injury, limiting each of their games in different ways (and especially in the case of Luke and Kwame, we're talking about guys with holes in their games even when everything's hunky dory).
From a player personnel standpoint, I would have liked to see Shammond get more run at the point, which could have helped stabilize the position. Not that he would have solved every problem, but considering the other options- Smush, Farmar, Sasha- it couldn't have hurt. Did I agree with every substitution? Of course not. Every play call or timeout? No. But when the team is losing, all of those become accentuated- as in "If PJ would have done ______ instead of ______ the Lakers would have won." I don't buy that. The team's problems over the final forty ran far deeper than the coach.
Not that Jackson couldn't have been better. All season long, he said it was his responsibility to make sure his players believed they could win, and played like it. Finishing plays, working with an intensity that doesn't disappear when things start to go sour. It's fair to say that didn't happen. The Lakers spent half the schedule looking like a team waiting for the worst to happen, and often folding when it did. Plays like the one against the Clippers- when the ball was thrown into the backcourt and four Clips beat the Lakers after the ball, including Tim Thomas (Tim Thomas!)- were a microcosm of what went wrong. Generally, I think guys played hard and/or wanted to win. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part I'd say it was true. But I got the impression they thought it didn't always matter, because they would lose anyway. That means the extra gear, the one that requires confidence and belief, was too often unavailable. For whatever reason, on this issue and others, Jackson was unable to get the Lakers to fully buy into what he was selling over the second half of the season. That was Phil's biggest failure as a coach this year. But in the end, it was lack of talent, not lack of will, that scuttled the ship. GRADE: B-/C+
BK
Phil Jackson is probably the best basketball coach of all time. Expectations aside, he has nine NBA world championships. BK understands that talent is the major issue on the Lakers roster. It is a wonder that the Suns have three first round draft picks in this upcoming draft (Hawks, Cavs). It is Mitch Cupcake's fault the roster has deteriorated so. It is a matter of fact that if you are not going forwards you are doomed to tread backwards.
B-Davis got traded from the hornets for speedy claxton and marc jackson
J-Kidd could have been had, but trigger wasn’t pulled. Who else thought this current roster couldn't get it done?
Not to mention other countless trades that could have involved Artest, Boozer...plus the Shaq trade could have brought us Dirk or Jermaine O’Neal.
The Lakers organization through the last three decade is arguably the best run franchise in all of sports. Decision making as of late has been very poor. Changes have to be made, and it should start in the front office.
Posted by: Nik Kannan | May 19, 2007 at 01:28 PM
BK
I agree with you that a lack of overall talent and the inability of injured players to return to form were impossible obstacles for PJ. However, in grading Phil, I would point to the often confused and sometimes chaotic defensive play of his team. Coming off of the previous season's defensive problems, Phil announced that defense would be a priority. Judging by the performance of the team, however, it seemed obvious to me that defensive preparation took a back seat to the offense. Even though this was a youthful team, and somewhat less athletic than many other teams in the Western conference, this team certainly could have performed at a higher level defensively, given the proper coaching emphasis. The lack of communication, failure to anticipate the opponent's game plan, failing to pick up your man in transition defense and so forth are all aspects of a lack of preparation and practice time in my mind. There were certainly moments of inspired defensive play that we all remember, but without a doubt, the pervasive lack of cohesive team defense was the foremost factor in the Laker's disappointing season, at least for me.
I have formed the opinion that PJ is not a great defensive coach, although he has had good defensive teams. I believe he has benefited from having outstanding individual defensive players such as Pippen, Jordan, Kobe, Green, Fox, Shaw, etc. But I think Brown and Popovich, and a number of other coaches have produced better team defenses. My grade for Phil is C.
Posted by: FreakyLakerLover | May 19, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Great stuff BK...
I especially like the bit about a great coach being able to squeeze a bit extra or put take an already great squad to the next level.On the second count PJ is the guy for that...theres no argument.He is quite inexperienced in his current position but as bad as we all think the season was - the team actually overachieved just by making the playoffs...
Whether hes the right coach for such a young team remains to be seen but hes in the same boat as Kobe where what sets him apart cant really be utilized on an average team.
Deserves more credit for the first part of the season and holding it together with injuries for as long as he did.That was where he earned his money...before the season the cry was that the lakers had to do well early with the home schedule etc but that seems to be forgotten now.Had the tema not fallen apart at the end quite so entirely and he had won maybe five more games it would have been a GREAT season...there were many winnable games so thats not out of the question but whether that is argument for or against Jackson Im not quite sure.However when he had more or less his full reasonably healthy team at his disposal he showed what he could do...
Benching Smush with two games to go was a classic psycological gamble which didnt pay off but i find it difficult to judge any one decision too heavily becasue we dont have access to much of the information that might prompt his decisions and at the end of the day hes the guy they pay ten mil not me...
Rightly or wrongly he seems to be judged more harshly becasue he is 'Phil Jackson'
grade B-
Posted by: Kiwi | May 19, 2007 at 04:11 PM
BK,
Why do you hate the Lakers? Is it because you're from the East Coast? Phil doesn't deserve a B-. Sometimes I think you'd be better served writing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Truth is you're not a real fan.
Don't pretend you are.
You just don't understand.
AK is getting it. You aren't.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | May 19, 2007 at 06:28 PM
Jon K,
BK and I are from St. Louis. We have no coasts, much less Eastern ones.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 19, 2007 at 06:39 PM
Jon- What about my PJ report card says I hate the Lakers? Not that I've ever presented myself as the number one fan, but I'm just curious. BK
Posted by: kambrothers | May 19, 2007 at 06:55 PM
The grade of Phil is about right.
Although the talent or lack of it is the major problem of the team. Phil's coaching or lack of coaching made the matters worse.
The players' inability or reluctance to play good team defense definitely rest a lot on the coach's shoulders. And his use of the roster is so questionable. At first, only Smush and young guards got playing time, then only Smush, Shammond Williams and Mckie got to play in the middle of the season, and all of sudden, Farmar got to start at the last 2 games of the regular season.
Posted by: gdchild | May 20, 2007 at 12:13 AM
um, the Lakers need to call Jerry West. I hear he's leaving Memphis. West is better than Kupchak at picking a squad that will do some damage in the post season. I don't think we'll get K.G. The whole Kevin McHale laker hater thing. However, it seems as though the championship goes through Duncan & Co. and the only guy I've ever seen play him well is someone named Cato. If he's availible, he probably won't cost that much and he's gritty; not like Kwame the kitty. Just my two cents, cause I Love my Lakers. Go L.A. !
Posted by: Michael Martinez | May 20, 2007 at 06:45 AM
BK,
You gave Phil Jackson (the person many people were discussing as potential "Coach of the Year" before the injuries began to pile up) a C+.
Let's be serious here. The Lakers are playing in the incredibly competitive West with one phenomenal player and several good players. There's no way we should be competitve and we were more than competitive until avalanche of injuries began.
(We also had a very disappointing starter in Smush Parker and his backup, Farmar, being fresh off the campus.)
Remember how well the team was doing before major injuries hit nearly every player and Phil was literally forced to say to Kobe "just carry the team (until we get through these injuries."
Tell me how another coach would have done a better job considering the injuries we had to THIS lineup? Do you honestly think another coach could have done a significantly better job, all things considered? Is there another coach who could have received an "A" with the makeup and injuries of this team in this conference?
Give me a break.
Phil Jackson is arguably the greatest coach in the history of professional basketball. He is UNDOUBTEDLY one of the top five greatest coaches and he deserved to be the Hall of Fame five years ago, instead of this year.
He has never coached a C+ season in his life. He's not capable of it.
The fact that you have graded a coach whose ability and understanding of the game so incredibly eclipses your own infers a negative bias. You clearly are not evaluating the situation objectively. Instead, you see a glass half-empty.
A True Laker fan gives credit where credit is due. We're tough, but loyal and we know Greatness when we see it.
So, you obviously aren't a committed Laker fan. As such, you are always going to have some disconnect from your audience, since you are writing (and thus communicating with) rabid Lakers fans.
Maybe you should spend more time writing a blog for the rememberance of the Spirits of St. Louis or the St. Louis Hawks. Or more about the thrills of bass fishing.
Maybe those things would be dearer to your heart and you'd be less likely to use controversal gimmicks as an attempt to generate dialogue for the sake dialogue alone.
A C+ for Phil Jackson, give me a fricken break. The guy is a genius and an obsessive nut. He is more committed to winning than any healthy human being every should be. Everyone knows he did his best. And we also know his best can improve. That's what makes him a Great.
What were you thinking that P.J. Carlesimo could have done a better job this year? An A-, perhaps.
Give me a break.
Next thing I know you're going to be writing a thread about how Mark Cuban is an owner with class.
I think you need to ask yourself why you are not a bigger fan. If you're a resident of Los Angeles and you love basketball, it is instinctual to be a Laker fan. This is part of L.A. and the Lakers are the NBA's greatest historical franchise. (Boston's lost it.)
If you have resentments against the Lakers, it is because of arrogance. You're another person who's a transplant who resents something about being here and not being in the God-forsaken swamp you call "home". I can't relate.
Love it or leave it.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | May 20, 2007 at 07:58 AM
When I think of this season, three things stand out to me:
1) The great start, which was aided by a home-heavy schedule,
2) the injuries that put an end to whatever momentum and hopes we had, and
3) the disturbingly large number of losses to the worst teams in the league.
Phil deserves credit for #1. Even though the schedule was friendly, the team was performing at a pretty high level. The game we lost in Utah was one of the better games I'd seen in a while.
Phil had no control over #2.
Phil has to accept responsibility for #3. What was that game in Memphis where we lost to the league's worst team, who were without three of their main players???
I don't know what happens, but losing to really bad teams has been a hallmark of Lakers teams since the day Phil got here. The Shaq-Kobe Laker teams would drive me crazy losing to teams like Atlanta. And they did it ALL THE TIME!!
Is it the zen-esque, "no worries" attitude that causes them to play down to their competition so often?
Nevertheless, I give Phil a B for this year. The team was playing very well and going toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league until the injury bug struck. If they hadn't lost all those ridiculous games to bad teams, I'd give Phil an A.
Posted by: Jason F | May 20, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Jon K,
Chill out. Giving a negative assessment of something related to the Lakers does not mean you're not a Lakers fan!!
Phil definitely could have done some different things this year, and there were some disciplinary issues that were unusual for his teams, which he didn't seem to handle in the best way. You can make a logical argument that this year was not a great coaching job by him.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | May 20, 2007 at 11:04 AM
Jon-
Those of us who are perhaps a little less tightly wound than you can look at something and evaluate it based on what we see without freaking out. I said at the beginning that I think by far the largest problem with the Lakers this season was a lack of talent. No question. But in regards to Phil, I don't think (and I think he would agree, based on his exit interview) that he was unable to reach and steer this team as successfully as he'd done in years past. Of course there were mitigaing circumstances, but this was a bunch that mentally never really got it together over the last 40 or so games. Relative to the standard Phil Jackson has set for himself, it wasn't his best effort. Not terrible (remember, C is average), but not his best.
If you disagree, that's fine. But your harping on my lack of dedication to the Lakers is silly (and also beyond the point). My job isn't head cheerleader. And your comment about trying to generate controversy is really silly, considering most people seem to think I've been relatively fair, or at the very least, that I presented a reasonable arguement.
But to each his own.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | May 20, 2007 at 12:41 PM
AK and BK are giving us an unbiased and nondiscriminatory view of the Lakers. Objectivity is the most basic principal of Journalism. Without it, they would be cheerleaders.
Posted by: Ventriloquist (AKA: Cyrus) | May 20, 2007 at 01:40 PM
BK,
Hold on. Are you grading Phil Jackson based upon his "standard that he set for himself?"
That's ridiculous. It's impossible to do. Sure, Phil might give himself a C+ for this season. Kobe probably gave himself a C+ for this season. They set incredibly high standards for themselves.
If you're being objective (as you claim to be) you have to judge Phil's performance relative to the abilities of any other coach in his situation. If you HONESTLY believe that relative to all other professional basketball coaches in this situation with this lineup that Phil Jackson's performance meritted a C+, I will tell you that you're wrong, but I respect your opinion. You have a right to your opinion, as long as you're being honest with yourself.
However, it is my reasonable opinion that you put any other professional basketball coach in the same situation as Phil Jackson was in this year (with issues of intense competition, lineup issues, and severe injury issues), that Phil would at least deserve the evaluation of doing a very good (B+) to an excellent (A-) job.
Tell me how many other coaches out there would in the same situation have done a better job. I would argue that two, maybe three, other coaches could be argued. Maybe.
That would put Phil's efforts in (at least, especially if you consider "potential coaches", not just presently employed coaches) the top 10% of coaches in this situation. Thus, his efforts deserve to be graded far higher than that you have given him.
So, you are telling me you're objective, but clearly there is a bias to your grading. Something's going on.
Don't give me any of the objective journalist, crap. Instead your objectiveness resembles the "objectivity" of Fox News or any of a thousand AM radio sports shows piloted by shouting jocks. Why is this? You're smarter than that.
(Okay, maybe you're not that bad, though I do think you are tempted towards sensationalism at certain times. And you are clearly wrong about your grading of Phil Jackson for this season. If you evaluate your actions based upon true objective criteria, I think you will agree with me.)
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | May 20, 2007 at 04:26 PM
AK and/or BK,
Do you guys have Mitch Kuptchack's email?
Posted by: laker hopeful | May 20, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Jon K-
Did BK find a soft spot?
From what I can see with my naked eye, somebody gave an accurate assessment on some things Phil could have done better or differently and you go bizzerk.
There are obviously things that Phil Jackson could have done differently this season, small and large. They shouldn't have been fighting their tails off with 2 games left in the season just for a playoff spot, much less getting knocked out in the first round.
Lack of talent plays a big part, but Phil could have done a better job. Period.
-Go lakers!
Posted by: derek | May 20, 2007 at 05:23 PM
I am a huge Lakers fan, for sure. but I would rather listen to a non-Lakers fan (or Laker-hater) that knows what he is talking about than a Lakers fan who has no intellectual capacity at all. so I say "keep it up". and all I'm gonna say about PJ right now is that he is looking older and older every time I've seen him on TV. so health to him!
-peace-
Posted by: Frankie | May 20, 2007 at 06:50 PM
Derek,
It was about INJURIES before anything else. The starting five never had the time to spend together so that they could learn Phil's intuitive system. This is essential.
You should not blame Phil's performance for injuries.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | May 20, 2007 at 07:45 PM
AK,
C+-ish is about right. He had a chance to solidify an "A", but missed a few homework assignments along the way.
He should have benced Smush sooner. Should have played Shammond more. Should have started benching people when the didn't play defense.
But, the rest of the stuff was out of his control. That spells "C+" to me.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | May 20, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Phil Jackson is a great coach. Period. I would even go as further as saying one of the best ever when it comes to getting the most out of talented players. But that's been the issue this past season...
..talented players...
Or the lack thereof.
PJ's teams always had not only superstar talent but more importantly, complimentary talents around the superstars that he got the most out of.
It was through PJ's coaching that guys like Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley, Jim Paxon, Steve Kerr, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher jumped from being decent players to very very good (and often clutch) players and NBA champions.
It's PJ's ability to get the most out of the supporting cast surrounding his superstar players (like MJ, Kobe, Shaq) that sets him apart. And that really is his biggest philosophy...he uses this quote in his book "Sacred Hoops" that says, "One finger cannot lift a pebble"...which essentially refers to the importance of five players playing in unison to achieve a common goal.
But sadly, this current Lakers team do not have a supporting cast that can be even remotely compared to the likes of Paxon, Cartwright, Kerr, Fox or Fisher. Instead of these hard nosed, tough as nails, do-it-at-all-cost players the Lakers have the likes of Smush, Sasha, Cook, Shammond Williams and Kwame Brown. No matter how much he tried, PJ just did not have the kind of individuals in this team to go any further. I for one, believe that this current team actually over achieved by making it to the playoffs in the touch Western Conference.
Giving a grade based on this season really does not do justice to someone like Phil Jackson because he's someone who always looks at painting the big picture (like winning a championship) but here he is stuck with an empty canvas and almost no colors to paint with (just bare with the metaphors guys, I'm just frustrated).
But instead of giving a grade, I'd much rather go with an INCOMPLETE coz deep down I'm still hoping that things will turn around for both PJ and the Lakers.
Keep up the great posts guys. This is the best blog in town.
~ Showtime07
Posted by: Showtime07 | May 20, 2007 at 11:13 PM
John Kavulic...
Phil did well but it is clear towards the end of the season he lost the team at least a little bit.That much is obvious.You can blame injuries for putting him in that situation (and if you read my post above you will see I do to a large extent)
But the bottom line is winning and if you dont do that then as a coach you are going to get a large proportion of the blame.its just the way it is.Theres no scientific measure to analyse exactly where the blame lies but results count.They make eveyone look good and everyone look bad.
Secondly injuries or no injuries the lakers blew 'easy' games even when playing well early on,and basically collapsed down the stretch...when a team (which was fighting through injuries for a long time before the record really started to reflect it) falls apart like that as a coach youve failed.Simple as that....Had the team been healthy and the team had followed a curve like that it would be difficult to justify Jackson keeping his job.People are taking injuries into account when judging the teams performance,believe me.
You can rake over substitution patterns,minutes and strategy until you are blue in the face but you wont get anywhere... basically if it works the coach has succeeded and if it doesnt everyone questions his ability.I personally try to steer clear of this becasue I know that I dont posess all the information he does as to why a certain action might pay off later or have a higher percentage chance of working,or will keep my boss happy or a certain player confident or motivated.
But anyway you look at it when a team finishes on a downwards spiral like that the coach assumes a large amount of the blame.So for me its a b - Although I actually think Phil has done a very good job for two seasons now
the team had to improve again and instead they went backwards.
Posted by: Kiwi | May 21, 2007 at 03:32 AM
Jon K,
The injuries will always cast a shadow on this season, as in we'll never know how good we could have been had it not been for guys falling left right and center. Given the way they tanked in the second half of the season, the team as a whole deserves no more than a D. Now certain people such as Kobe displayed a brilliance on the court that merits them an A inspite of the train wreck of a season we had. But can you really argue that Phil falls into this same category, i mean it really is hard to objectively say that oh "this is where he displayed his brilliance" ... really for a coach there are no individual stats, your teams play speaks for you. So just as we attribute his 9 rings to his brilliance ... he should shoulder a decent portion of the blame for the stinker of a season we had. In my opinion a C+ was generous.
Mind you my whole banter above didn't even mention how outdated the triangle offense is. And how this offense and zen mind games are not appropiate for a young squad, but hey that's another debate. As stated above, the teams standing in the conference make's BKs grade generous. Same way as Toronto's standing got their man coach of the year honors.
I keep dreaming of the day when we all will agree that kobe is the greatest ever. I keep dreaming of the day when 24 will lead us to another championship. I keep dreaming of the day when 24 will don #8 for his last season and his quest for his eight championship ring. Amen.
Go Lakers.
Posted by: Taliq | May 21, 2007 at 07:49 AM
So, if I think Phil didn't do a particularly great job THIS SEASON, I'm not being objective?
MR
Posted by: Matt R. | May 21, 2007 at 10:22 AM
An off the wall comment on Phils' season.
Phil was recovering from surgery, and as he said it was difficult to do his job. I think it was more than just the physical side of the recovery but the emotional as well that limited him.
He mentioned early in the season it was very tough with the traveling. Lack of sleep was mentioned. Taking pills on a regular basis to cope with chronic pain, especially Vicodine can really get you down. Your decision making process becomes distorted. Your main concern becomes you. Phil was saying and doing some very strange things in the first half of the season.
It would not surprize me if that was a contributer.
For me, after a car accident and resulting surgeries, I became dependent on vicadin for the pain. It became very difficult to function at work and at home after taking it for several months. Now put PJ's responsibilty on his shoulders, coupled with his pain and medication, and it would explain some of his strange(even for him) decisions he was making early on.
Hey, I said it was a little off the wall.
Fatty
Posted by: Fatty | May 21, 2007 at 11:30 AM
The bottom line is Phil Jackson gets a C+.and that`s being pretty generiuos. Being a true Laker fan like I am , I`m also a realistic fan as well. Too many times we`re get cuaght up in his past accomplishments but, unfortunately this business is about present production, period! He has flew under the radar for a while now and that goes back to the 2004 season. The only reason why he gets a C+ is becuase of the success of the first half of the season. From not calling timeouts to poor or no gametime adjustments the bad substitutions, it`s a clear indication that he dseon`t no how to coach. Unless it`s awell seasoned verterans which makes him look better than what he actually is.
It shows how valuable Kobe Bryant is when he can take a group of "Gas Station Atendents" to the playoffs in the west. From buying into and supporting Jackson system while carrying a group of non ahtletic teammates, he is literally a one man show. With some aggressive off season moves to put around Kobe, Phil Jackson would look like the Hall of Famer he currently holds.
Posted by: Shelton T | May 21, 2007 at 10:44 PM
PJ is the best coach ever, at least about the new NBA generation (from 1980) where the players increase their star system and ego overcoming what is basketball: a team game. Now everybody is searching big names for the lakers next year, by the way lakers needs some talent but what they need more is players believing in team concept that provide back them star status if they win it all. PJ system is enfatizing this concept and I hope the Buss will follow it, because this is the best basketball to watch.
Steven
Posted by: steven | May 22, 2007 at 05:26 AM
Listen, we all think we are the #1 laker fan. I am no exception. Living in AZ my daughter (another #1 laker fan) and I get hassle a lot because we wear our jerseys and sheer for them. I love to defend every mistake and dumb move they make but let’s face it. PJ did not do a good job coaching this year. I was watching classic games and saw him coach the Bulls to a win against the Lakers. The intensity and dedication was there. He was up, calling time outs actually coaching. He seldom did that this year. Sure it is easy to criticize when you’re not there but in this case it is well deserved. A c+ was even too good of a grade.
Posted by: Walter Mejia | May 22, 2007 at 01:15 PM
all i want to know is two things(1) when do we fire mitch kupchak this guy has been dropping the ball time and time again enough is enough(2) we need the services of jason kid get rid of walton and parker and sign this guy!
Posted by: beto | May 23, 2007 at 02:33 PM
First of all, I am so sick of people giving Phil J so much credit. Hall of fame, man what I joke, unless you get credit for being the luckiest coach in NBA history. I mean lucky by the players that he has had on his teams(Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Shaq, Kobe). Lets get real, the worst coach can win 50 games a year and championships with those players.
I thought the grade of B-/C+ was more than generous. Please don't bail him out with the excuse of injuries. His team was eliminated for the second year in a row by the same opponent. People can talk about needing a second superstar all they want, but you don't necessarily have to have superstars to play great defense. Defense is all about effort, discipline, design, preparation, and hardwork stat should start with coaching. If you give if up around 113 points in a game you are not going to beat to many teams, regardless of who you have on offense (Kobe, KG, etc.).
So, my overall grade for Phil J is a D.
Lets bring in a defensive minded coach that can really solve the Lakers problems. My vote is for Michael Cooper. Yes, I said it, MICHAEL COOPER. He is definitely tough and defensive minded, as well as a proven winner. Also, Kobe is you are reading this, he is not the type to trash you in the paper or a book, then try to befriend you again to restart his coaching career.
B. Bryant
Posted by: B Bryant | May 26, 2007 at 11:58 PM