Re: Selfish, self-centered, and really, really dumb

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kestas wrote:

Since several people ranted today about Shaq, Phil and the Lakers, I'll say
this: I don't think things regarding the other team are as simple as they
appear to be. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I think ol' Phil is
just playing mind games again. He knows who the MVP of the team is, and it
ain't Kobe. I'm not saying he's deliberately sabotaging games, but letting
Kobe try to lead the team "his way" and fall flat on his face is not out of
the question. If they lose a few more games than they should, so what? It's
more important to let Kobe see for himself that he's not The Man, that he
needs to get with the program. It's good for the team, it's good for Shaq,
who can use the rest. That isn't dumb, that's smart. They're basically doing
with him what Portland is doing with Sabonis - saving him for the really
important games. Are they cheating the fans? Sure, but what do we care,
we're not Lakers fans. We already got one W out of this, which may come very
handy in April.

As for Phil Jackson not winning anything without Shaq or Jordan, sure. You
need the players to win. You have to be good AND lucky. What would Auerbach
have won without Russell or Cousy? The thing is, other coaches don't win
even when they have the players. I mean, look at the job George Karl has
done with the Bucks and Team USA. But both Jordan and Shaq have said they
won't play for another coach. Shaq views Jackson as his second father. They
didn't say that about Collins, or Brian Hill, or Del Harris, or Mike
Dunleavy. Such statements from the game's highest profile players have to
mean something, even if Jordan broke his promise.

--- end ---

Very quickly... I couldn't agree more with everything Kestas says here. Phil
Jackson handles his team knowing that with a healthy Shaq and Kobe, they can
beat anyone in any gym come playoff time. That's what it's about. Why rush
Shaq back in November? What does he have to prove at this point? And the
upshot for Phil is that he gets to show Kobe that Kobe can't do it alone.
Kobe is the second-best player in the league, but the gap between No. 1
(Shaq) and No. 2 (Kobe) is enormous. It's Shaq's league, as long as he wants
it. Sacramento or Dallas may beat them this year through sheer numbers and
depth, but I don't think Phil or Shaq lay awake at night worrying about
those teams.

As for Phil Jackson... Everyone says he won with the best players. Didn't
Red? He had Bill Russell. He had Bob Cousy. Any list of the best centers and
point guards in the league's history has to include those two, doesn't it?
Maybe right at the top. Other coaches had their chances with Shaq in Orlando
and L.A. before Phil came in. Same with Jordan. Doug Collins wasn't getting
anywhere. I don't like Phil Jackson's arrogance, but I don't begrudge him
what he has accomplished. He is a great coach who isn't afraid to actually
coach his superstars. He has criticized Shaq and Kobe in the past. He knows
what he wants and needs from those guys, and he's able to get it. Has he
been lucky to have those players? Yes, but they've been lucky to have him as
well.

As for Red... He was a great coach, too. Where I think Red really made his
mark, however, was as a GM. He built the Russell dynasty and managed
successful transitions to the Havlicek-Cowens years and the Bird years. His
record there is unmatched. He was a great coach and an even better
team-builder.

Mark

P.S. Boy was I wrong about the Mutombo trade for Jersey. It's not that it
was a disaster-they had to trade Van Horn because his teammates didn't
respect him at all-but it hasn't helped one bit. I think they're better with
Aaron Williams or the Collins twin in the middle. I also think they thought
Rogers would give them what Van Horn gave them last year. He hasn't. You
have to think Rodney will come around, just because his track record says he
will. But if he doesn't, and if Mutombo is as done as he seems to be, then
the Nets aren't the clear-cut favorites I thought they would be.
Unfortunately, Richard Jefferson has been everything they hoped and more.
Elsewhere in the East, it appears Isiah may have gotten out of his own way
in Indy. Thankfully, I have complete faith in his ability to screw up a good
thing. As for the Celts... If they play defense and hit threes, they'll look
great. If they play defense and don't hit threes, or hit threes but not play
defense, they'll be competitive. If they don't play defense and don't hit
threes, you have the Washington game.