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Phil Jackson: Kobe ain't as good as Jordan

Via Slam Magazine (and LA Times):

“Kobe has patterned himself after Michael, and there are a lot of identical things there, but it’s one thing to hope to be like him, it’s another thing to be like him.” So when Jackson’s next book comes out, and it will, will Jackson reveal who he thinks was best — Jordan or Bryant?

“We have to take Michael Jordan out of the equation. Stop comparing anyone to Michael Jordan. It’s just not fair. He was remarkable. Kobe’s in his own sphere. He doesn’t shoot the same percentage [.455] as Michael [.497]. He has the same characteristics as Michael, but he’s not the same player. It takes nothing away from him — he’s a great player in his own right.”

Jackson then tells a story about Jordan playing 27 holes of golf before a playoff game against Miami — in which he scored 56 points. “He had this unbelievable amount of energy that I’ve never seen anybody have,” says Jackson, who wasn’t thrilled with Kobe’s late-night extra practice in Miami. “We’d play three games in four nights on the road and he’d be better the third night than the first. Remarkable.”

Phil despises Kobe Bryant.. flat-out despises everything about him. This hatred for Kobe is the only thing I like about Phil.

Once Jackson retires from the Lakers and has time to write another book - we are going to hear all sorts of unflattering stories about Kobe. Count on it.

Phil Jackson is wrong about Ray's record

"I got kind of a kick out of it because we don't really celebrate 2-point baskets but somehow or another the 3-point basket has now become a really big thing," he said today at Emerson College. "I guess because maybe there's so many 2-point field goals. But Reggie's going to be here. Ray's going to be here. It's like one stepping over the other at that time. So it's pretty cool."

Globe

This is more of Phil just being his usual dickish self by saying things that will tweak people.  That said, though, he's wrong. 

We DO celebrate 2-point baskets all the time.  Scoring is the BIGGEST celebration in the NBA.  The first thing just about everyone looks for in the box score is how many points a person has scored.  And aside from a few rare occasions, the biggest scorers of the night have more 2-pointers than 3-pointers.  And the more creative those 2-pointers get, the more we celebrate them. 

Paul Pierce's step-back jumper from the right elbow?  That's a 2-pointer.  Tim Duncan's 12 foot bank shot?  That's a 2-pointer.  Kevin McHale's moves in the post?  Those were all 2-pointers. 

What we're celebrating here with Ray is the same thing we celebrate all the time in countless different ways... from our favorite singers, to great authors, to 5-star chefs:  The ability to do something that is very difficult, something that few people can really do, and do it better than almost anyone in the world.... and maybe anyone in history.  

It's why we celebrate the most exciting 2-pointer:  The dunk.  Because a great majority of people can't do it... and of those who can, only a few can do it really well.  We celebrate Ray, and hopefully a new record tonight, because he will do what only one other person in the world has ever done.  

So it's not because we don't celebrate the 2-pointer... or because there are so many of them.  It's because no one has been able to propel a 29.5 inch round, 9 1/2 inch wide, 22 ounce ball through an 18-inch ring suspended 10 feet off the ground from that far away as he has for as often as he has.

But of course, Phil is Phil and he loves tweaking people.  So here's hoping the record breaker is hit right in front of his face.  Maybe then he can see what the fuss is about.

Phil Jackson is still kind of a dick

Phil Jackson loves taking shots at people... because being a "Zen Master" also includes taking little potshots at people (even members of his own staff).  Those people are usually upcoming opponents... and.... 

.. hey.... lookey here.  The Celtics are an upcoming opponent.  

Jackson said Gasol understands what the Lakers expect from him.

"He is who he is," Jackson said. "We're not going to make him into Garnett. He's not going to go around punching guys [below the belt]."

Jackson was referring to Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who recently hit Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye below the belt during a game.

It's about Gasol using his considerable skills, which have helped make him second on the team in scoring (18.7) and assists (3.6), and first in rebounding (10.5) and shot blocking (1.86).

"He's an intelligent person," Jackson said. "He understands what this game is about."

Oh Phil... you're such a card.

Tack that sucker up in KG's locker on Thursday.  Let's see how THAT goes. 

(via SpursNation)

Phil Jackson is kind of a dick

Phil Jackson might be the Zen Master... but he's also a bit of a dick.  

He'll never pass up a chance to take a shot at someone.  A few days ago, he tossed gasoline onto the Miami Heat mess.  Now he's just flat out being douchy about Rudy Tomjanovich's nomination to the Hall of Fame:

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that it was "wonderful" that former Rockets and Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich was nominated for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Jackson offered a less-than-enthusiastic endorsement.

Asked if he thought Tomjanovich was deserving, Jackson said, "We'll see. I'm not on that committee. I like all the coaches to get a chance to go in."

Jackson agreed with the argument that the Rockets' championships were tainted because Michael Jordan was out of the league for the first of their title seasons and much of the next.

"Definitely," Jackson said. "Without a doubt. Clearly, if the Bulls were whole, we would have won. It's pretty much registered by now. When Michael played, we won the championship."

Keep in mind... Rudy is currently an assistant for Phil.  I'm sure he appreciates the show of support.  And as for the "we would have won" comments?  Nothing is guaranteed.  The smug dismissal of Rudy's accomplishments is classless.

Great guy, that Phil.  He and the Lakers... they're a perfect fit.

Via Matt Moore

Your Morning Dump... Where Phil Jackson thanks the schedule makers for his ring

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

After telling his team the Celtics were fourth-quarter chokers during a timeout in Game 5, a kinder, grayer Phil Jackson said Friday that perhaps the Finals should have been spread out a few more days. The last three games were played over five days, leading to an exhausting Game 7 for the Boston veterans, especially Rasheed Wallace, who nearly needed an oxygen tank. 

“It was a marathon,’’ said Jackson. “It was long, the flights back and forth cross-country. And playing games immediately after those long flights was physically exhausting.

“I think that, by the way, helped us win that sixth game by the large sum of points. The NBA would really step forward if they took another day between those long flights.

“I kept telling Kobe [Bryant], keep passing the ball for most of the game. But it still didn’t change. He was taking those shots. But he got it together in the fourth quarter. We had a good fourth quarter. It was nice to see.’’

Globe: Celtics looking at 2 year window / Basketball notes

Yeah, Sheed could have used an extra day... but he also could have busted his ass a little more earlier in the season to make sure he'd be ready "just in case."  And besides, the Celtics benefited from the extended playoff schedule all the way up to that point.

The last thing I want to see even more time in between games.  I love watching a first round playoff game on CSNNE and seeing the trivia start with something like "40 years ago today in Game 1 of the NBA Finals..."

I don't know why this rubbed me the wrong way.  Maybe Phil Jackson can't open his damn mouth with out me wanting to force feed his words back to him.  Smug bastard.  

On Page 2: Really?  It's been TEN YEARS???

Ray was Doc's first call at 12:01

 

Via the Globe:

"I can't go into who but I can tell you we started at 12:01 last night like everybody else did," he said. "The first call we called Ray. We sat around and we have these names on the list and we said hey guys our most important guy is Ray. We gotta get Ray back. Paul and Ray. And we already talked to Paul because we could. Ray is a vital part to our basketball team, huge.

It's been said before, but we'll say it again... Doc didn't come back to have these guys sign somewhere else.  However, the way money is being tossed around today ($80 million for Rudy Gay?  Really??), I'm starting to wonder if the Celtics are starting to get priced out of some of their targets.

Meanwhile, It looks like the first person to hit up David Lee after the 12:01 clock was Danny Ainge.  But what's he worth if Darko is worth $5 million?  More than the MLE, that's for sure.  The C's also have interest in Anthony Morrow

One more note:  Phil Jackson is returning to the Lakers.  Good.  I want to see the look on his face when the Celtics get their revenge next June.

7 hours til game time... Game 1 is really, really important

Here's how the series plays out in my head. Celtics take 1 of the first 2 games in LA, win 2 of 3 at home, and then win 1 of the final 2 in LA. Makes sense, right?

But if you are a believer in statistics and NBA history, the Celtics will NEED to take Game 1. Here's why:

When a Phil Jackson coached team wins Game 1 of a series, they are 47-0.

''Staggering,'' said Kobe Bryant

''Mind-boggling,'' said Luke Walton.

''Huh?'' said Rasheed Wallace. 'That's just media stuff,'' he said. ''That don't mean nothing to me.''

"I know when I go to the free-throw line, the odds of me missing one grow if I haven't missed one in a while,'' Boston's Ray Allen said with a grin. ''So I'll think of it like that.''

LA Times - Bill Plaschke

As much as Sheed and Ray want to dismiss Jackson's stat, NBA history shows that Game 1 winners take the series 79% of the time. Not quite 100%, but still a strong number.

For those curious, Jackson is 7-8 when his team loses the opening game.

Your Morning Dump... The Zen master strikes again

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

“We don’t have a smackdown mentality,’’ he said. “You might have seen that with [Kevin] Garnett on [Orlando’s Dwight] Howard in Game 6 in Boston, where he was smacking Howard’s arm and was finally called for an offensive foul. That’s not our kind of team. We don’t go out there to smack people around.

“I call it more resiliency. We’re a more resilient ball club. We try to stay strong and play hard. But we’re going to have to withstand some of that. We’re going to have to play through it. We have some guys who are capable of playing to that style in [Derek] Fisher and Ron [Artest] and obviously Kobe [Bryant]. But our big guys are going to have to stand up because that’s basically what got the Celtics through Orlando.’’

Globe - Jackson already talking smack

Phil Jackson planted a 'seed' like this one before the OKC and Phoenix series. He said Kevin Durant gets all the calls. He said Steve Nash carries the ball. 

I don't believe this 'smackdown' comment is geared towards the referees. Jackson is speaking to his own team. He knows the Celtics will try to bully the Lakers (Rumor has it, Pau Gasol asked the league office to let him wear a helmet), and he doesn't want them a) respond by playing too physical (you listening Ron?) and b) cower in the corner (you listening Pau?). 

Meanwhile, there are no hidden messages from Doc:

“We’re just going to be us,” Rivers said following Monday’s practice. “I don’t know if that’s with any particular person. We’re going to be us and if that’s physical, that’s what we’re going to be.”

WEEI - Doc says Cs are just going to be us

On Page 2, updates on the injuries.

Doc and Phil Jackson agree: The 30-day rule is a joke

One of the main points in my rant against the Antawn Jamison trade is the fact that the Cavs could pretty much get the main player traded on their end back after a buyout.  So they could essentially get Jamison... a 20 and 9 guy... for a couple of draft picks.

A lot of people are upset at the rule that allows players to return to their former teams 30 days after a buyout.  Doc Rivers and Phil Jackson expressed their displeasure last night.

"They're going to get Ilgauskas back and it's going to be one of those scenarios that we see in the NBA where you ship a player out, you get another player, then your player retires or they pay him off and then he comes back in 30 days," Jackson said. "I don't know what that does for the league. I think that's kind of a weird situation."

Rivers agreed with Jackson, even though the loophole has helped his team in the past.

"I have a problem with that," Rivers said before Thursday's Lakers-Celtics game at Staples Center. "I loved it three years ago when we did it with Gary Payton if you remember, but now I think it sucks. I think it's a terrible deal."

Rivers and the Celtics traded Payton to Atlanta in March 2005 for Antoine Walker and Payton returned to Boston after being waived by the Hawks."

I actually do have a problem with that though. We did it, and I'm joking, but I do think [it's a problem]. I don't know what you do [maybe] just not allow them to go back to the same team or whatever. ... I do think that will be changed eventually, but I do have a problem with it."

Will it be changed?  That's a good question... because I don't know how the Player's Association will give up something that allows a player to essentially double up on a salary. 

But something needs to be done.  I know it used to be worse... and that's why the 30 day rule was implemented.  But it's not enough.  Teams just can't give players away knowing they're getting them back.

Jackson, Gasol call Kobe greedy

 

The Lakers followed up their big win against the Celtics by losing to the Grizzlies... but Kobe Bryant didn't really seem to care.  He went off for 44 points to become the Lakers all-time scoring leader.

But not everyone was happy for him.  Pau Gasol and Phil Jackson both had not-so-subtle digs for Kobe and his greediness.

Gasol was asked about Bryant’s new record and offered politically correct – and believably authentic – commentary (“I’m proud of him; I congratulate him”) before adding the kicker: “Now we can focus on winning games again.”

...

Bear in mind that Phil Jackson was a little miffed at Bryant on his historic night, too. Jackson told the team at halftime, when Bryant had 23 of the Lakers’ 50 points, that Bryant was “forcing the action.” Jackson also said in the halftime locker room, alluding to the 29 points Bryant needed in the game to pass Jerry West: “Let’s get him over the hump, so we can play team ball again.”

I love how Kobe needed, for some reason, to break the record in front of Jerry West. 

Yeah, Lakers fans... you beat the C's the other day.  Savor your January victories now.  Your team has underlying problems that will bite you in the ass come playoff time.

Via Fanhouse