LA Daily News Also: Lamar Odom took part in some contact drills, with his left shoulder emerging unscathed. Jackson, meanwhile, suggested Odom could be the player he turns to when one of the Lakers' starting big men gets into foul trouble. "I anticipate playing him sometimes at center and going really small like a Dallas-type team at some level," Jackson added. Source This is very uncharacteristic of anything Phil Jackson has done as a head coach. He usually has a roster loaded with bigs and clogs up the middle. Sounds like the Lakers are going to do a lot of experimenting this season with the roster rotations.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">LA Daily News Also: Lamar Odom took part in some contact drills, with his left shoulder emerging unscathed. Jackson, meanwhile, suggested Odom could be the player he turns to when one of the Lakers' starting big men gets into foul trouble. "I anticipate playing him sometimes at center and going really small like a Dallas-type team at some level," Jackson added. Source This is very uncharacteristic of anything Phil Jackson has done as a head coach. He usually has a roster loaded with bigs and clogs up the middle. Sounds like the Lakers are going to do a lot of experimenting this season with the roster rotations.</div> Agreed. Extremely weird. However, Phil hasn't been in this type of situation before so I don't know if I can call it out of character. Perhaps, a side of him we have never seen before? Anyway, he seems extremly confident in Odoms abilities. Either way, I have faith in the Zen.
I don't really think this is much different from Phil's start with the Bulls in the 90's. The lakers may not be as good, well not even close, but the basic tools are there. A scorer and complimentary foward in Bryant and Odom, a potentially solid rebounder and athletic foward/center in Kwame Brown, and a great playmaker in Luke Walton. Could be a flashback? (not literally, as I dont expect the lakers to win the championship this year or anything. But they could be better than expected.)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheMegaGreg:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't really think this is much different from Phil's start with the Bulls in the 90's. The lakers may not be as good, well not even close, but the basic tools are there. A scorer and complimentary foward in Bryant and Odom, a potentially solid rebounder and athletic foward/center in Kwame Brown, and a great playmaker in Luke Walton. Could be a flashback? (not literally, as I dont expect the lakers to win the championship this year or anything. But they could be better than expected.)</div> The bit in Bold explains why we aren't as similar to the Bulls as people think. Just because we have Kobe and Phil, people make comparisons. If we had Iverson and some other random coach, nobody would make the comparisons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">We aren't as similar to the Bulls as people think. Just because we have Kobe and Phil, people make comparisons. If we had Iverson and some other random manager, nobody would make the comparisons.</div> I really disagree with that. It is the SYSTEM of the Triangle offense that made the bulls unique. The fluidity of the ball movement, the smart plays, as well as the winning. Phil Jackson brings that system to the team, along with his amazing ability to bring the best out of players. The fact that Kobe Bryant is there simply fills the "role" that Jordan played on the Bulls Teams. A scorer who can keep the offense alive if the triangle fails. Bryant is in no way close to Jordan, but on this team he can play that role. Personally, I think someone like Lebron James would be a better fit, but thats not in the cards. Lamar Odom is very much like Scottie Pippen. If you dont believe me, look at the numbers. http://www.basketball-reference.com/labs/c...&submit=Compare They are so close, it is almost scary. Also, look at a 22 year old kwame Brown and a 22 year old horace Grant. http://www.basketball-reference.com/labs/c...&submit=Compare The Phil/Kobe angle means something, but not as much as these numbers do.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The bit in Bold explains why we aren't as similar to the Bulls as people think. Just because we have Kobe and Phil, people make comparisons. If we had Iverson and some other random coach, nobody would make the comparisons.</div> Well duh. Some random coach ISN'T Phil Jackson, and Iverson is no Kobe or Jordan. I'm not sayin who's better Kobe or Iverson, but Kobe fills the shoes of Jordan much better than Iverson does, slashing, dishing, clutch, WORK-ETHIC, I mean I could go on, but this Laker team has three VERY solid peices that can easily be compared to former great teams- Kobe ( 23) Lamar (33) and Phil Jackson as well....himself.
