The Arrogant, Entitltled World Champion Los Angeles Lakers

[hedge]

I would love to see his skills in Jerrod Jack's body...

[Bklyn]

That's what Jason Collins said.

[hedge]

Low hanging fruit (damn, that's loaded), but I like it...

[Bklyn]

No more talk of LA fleecing Memphis in the Gasol(s) deal. None. Everybody is happy. That is much more than I can say about most star trades. Minny is still trying to get over the Garnett gift McHale gave Boston.

[T Dot O Dot]

unless the gift includes having Russel Westbrook break his leg just before playing OKC in the conference semis.... it's still a fleece

[T Dot O Dot]

funny how Marc wins DPOY but doesnt crack the defensive 1st team, the NBA is a popularity contest

[hedge]

I bet he's happy to be popular at least...

[Bklyn]

Who votes DPOY versus All NBA?

Also, losing Russ was huge for OKC, but it's not like Memphis did not give them all they could this year with both rosters full.

[Dave23]

Memphis wins in 6 with a healthy Westbrook.

[aTm]

At least OKC got all that talent in return for Harden.

[T Dot O Dot]

by talent i meant basketball

not people who can perform miracles on Russel Westbrook's broken leg

[T Dot O Dot]

“Michael was more charismatic and gregarious than Kobe. He loved hanging out with his teammates and security guards, playing cards, smoking cigars, and joking around,” Jackson said in the book, which was obtained in advance by The Times.

“Kobe is different. He was reserved as a teenager, in part because he was younger than the other players and hadn’t developed strong social skills in college. When Kobe first joined the Lakers, he avoided fraternizing with his teammates. But his inclination to keep to himself shifted as he grew older. Increasingly, Kobe put more energy into getting to know the other players, especially when the team was on the road.”


“No question, Michael was a tougher, more intimidating defender. He could break through virtually any screen and shut down almost any player with his intense, laser-focused style of defense,” said Jackson, who coached Jordan to six championships and Bryant to five.

“Kobe has learned a lot from studying Michael’s tricks, and we often used him as our secret weapon on defense when we needed to turn the direction of a game. In general, Kobe tends to rely more heavily on his flexibility and craftiness, but he takes a lot of gambles on defense and sometimes pays the price.”



“Michael was more likely to break through his attackers with power and strength, while Kobe often tries to finesse his way through mass pileups,” Jackson wrote. “Michael was stronger, with bigger shoulders and a sturdier frame. He also had large hands that allowed him to control the ball better and make subtle fakes.

“Jordan was also more naturally inclined to let the game come to him and not overplay his hand, whereas Kobe tends to force the action, especially when the game isn’t going his way. When his shot is off, Kobe will pound away relentlessly until his luck turns. Michael, on the other hand, would shift his attention to defense or passing or setting screens to help the team win the game.”

“One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader,” Jackson writes. “Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he’d yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had in his bones.”

[Bklyn]

Phil Jackson. Capt. Obvious.

[T Dot O Dot]

Kobe hit Twitter saturday night, he says MJ has an advantage because he didn't have to play with Shaq, WOW

one other knock that I never realized until I saw the stat, Kobe made 7 appearances in the Finals & came away with 5 rings

That's one more crack at the chip then MJ had, who went 6 for 6

[Bklyn]

Yep.

Kobe and Shaq should have won in 2004, but there were just too many distractions that year. The meltdown in Game 4 of 2008's run did that squad in. They were there a year too early, personally. If Bynum's knees would have held up all season that year, I don't know if Boston would have won it though.

Typing that out just keeps reminding me that Phil Jackson is amazing. 65% of the time he coached a team, he played in an NBA Finals. That's insane...and the Lakers organization can't seem to appreciate him.

[aTm]

Meh. He only won the title in 55% though. Overrated.

[Bklyn]

According to Jim Buss.

[tin mad dog]

Tankapalooza in laketown!

[Bklyn]

If Kobe will sit has ass down this year, we'll be primed for it.

[Owlman]

Trade Gasol and Nash this year. Nash to Detroit (see if you can get a first) and Gasol to Dallas or somebody like that.