Too Funny Temple.

The criticism of Phil Jackson not building a team of his own is valid with respect to Red Auerbach and always will be. Franchises today are generally built by the general managers and the Lakers (with or without Jerry West) have always had a strong imprint on personnel outside of the coaches box. Not all coaches pick ever piece of their team – and I don’t think that’s Phil’s thing anyway. He’s not a micro-manager. His legacy will be about creating an opportunity for players of various talents to thrive while thinking and living the game as an organic exercise. Ain’t that the Zen of Hoops??

As for that question about Simmons – well, the answer is as easy as pie. Let me quote our esteemed former POTUS, Bill Clinton, “He’s a scumbag.”

ROTFLMBAO!!!

P.S. – Hakeem did it. Ewing didn’t do it. Dominique didn’t do it. Isiah did it.

P.P.S. – Finally – in defense of the big fella, he was instrumental (even in a significantly diminished capacity) in Miami’s rise to the top not so long ago. This will be the FIRST* season since the Second Three-Peat of the Chicago Bulls that neither O’Neal nor Duncan win hoist the ring (save for that anomalous 2004 season when the Pistons broke through).

Kobe deserves all the credit in the world for breaking through — assuming that they win, of course.

I did give Kobe credit for lighting a fire under his teammates in the last sentence. However, even being a Laker fan, I don’t give the players passes when I don’t think they aren’t deserved. MJ is the only one I’ve heard that was even comparable to Kobe in the way he treated his teammates in practice. I always thought it was wrong for the press to give him a pass b/c he was their annointed greatest ever. We’ve all heard how MJ punched Paxson in practice, and he came back at him. We’ve heard how he essentially took away any confidence that Kwame Brown might have had in him.

When, he called out Shaq for not working out, I agreed. I was happy when Kobe called out the organization. I wasn’t so much that he was trying to get Bynum traded, which if he’d have had his wish, they’d be fishing with the Mavs right now. Kobe’s a great talent, that wants everyone to be as dedicated as he is. And let’s be honest, he’s never going to get that.

My whole point before was, I don’t think that Kobe said those things to light a fire under his teammates (even if it did). I think he was rightfully frustrated. I also believe Kobe didn’t think before he spoke coming into this year sometimes. Hence, you get the comments about Bynum in front of some kids.

I don’t care about the public criticism. But the championships thing was pretty simple. it’s the same reason why Pippen is looked upon as the ultimate right-hand man. Because when he was without MJ he either got screwed out of a shot at a title or his team choked h