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The Official Los Angeles Lakers thread
MUHFUKKA:
:D
7even:
Really good article mainly on Phil Jackson, but also on the Lakers, Jordan & other NBA and life related stuff by Bill Simmons:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110513&sportCat=nba
excerpt on Kobe's fading:
--- Quote ---I predicted that Garnett would keep playing well past his prime, maybe into his early 40s, simply because he wouldn't know what else to do. I thought Kobe might be like that, too.
"He's definitely like that," Jackson said.
And then he started talking about Kobe. Other than Jackson's health, the biggest reason he nearly retired last June was because he didn't want to be coaching Kobe Bryant when he stopped being Kobe Bryant. If you remember, Kobe struggled in Round 1 of the 2010 playoffs, rallied in the next two rounds, then gave the Lakers just enough to survive a seven-game war against Boston. Looking ahead while factoring in everything he had just witnessed, measuring the lessons of history, counting Kobe's NBA miles ... the coach couldn't tell for sure. Either Kobe had one elite season left in him, or he didn't. Jackson's instincts were telling him no. His heart was telling him yes. Once his players started pressuring him to return, then the fans, then his girlfriend, he caved and came back. One more year.
There was a follow-up question that I probably should have asked. Why wouldn't you want to coach Kobe as he's transitioning out of his prime?
In my defense, I knew the answer: Would YOU want to coach Kobe after his prime, when he still thinks he's great ... but he isn't? Or Jordan? Or anyone else with a healthy ego who's accustomed to being the best, or one of the best, but those days are over and they're the last to realize it? Jackson had spent the past two decades carefully avoiding that specific scenario. In late March, it looked like he made the right gamble: The Lakers had just rolled off 15 of 16 victories and reestablished themselves as The Team To Beat. Kobe did have one great year left in him. Or so we thought.
As we dug into our food, neither of us could have imagined that the Lakers would win four playoff games ... total.
--- End quote ---
Sccit:
^Kobe's coming back stronger next year...with a renewed hunger. you can bet on it.
Mo Z. Dizzle:
Dunleavy On Lakers' 'Short List' To Succeed Jackson
Former Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was contacted by the Lakers this week and is said to be on the team's current "short list" to succeed Phil Jackson, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
That list also includes former Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who ESPN.com's Marc Stein and ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin reported Thursday also would be a candidate for the position.
Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw has the public endorsement of Kobe Bryant and is regarded as by far the strongest in-house candidate. But a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that Bryant would support the hiring of Adelman if the team decided to go in that direction.
Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/213688/Dunleavy_On_Lakers_Short_List_To_Succeed_Jackson#ixzz1MMHeg2rS
Sccit:
God, PLEASE, no
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