What the Suns Really Feel About the Lakers

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An all-access look at one of the league's top teams, ":07 Seconds or Less" devotes more than 100 pages to last year's playoff series between the Suns and Lakers, eventually won by the Suns in seven games. The book, named after the Suns' mantra to fire up a shot before seven seconds tick off the shot clock, includes several scenes in which Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers in general are panned by the Suns.

"As the Suns see it, the Lakers trek along the low road," McCallum wrote. "Bryant is arrogant. [Kwame] Brown is just a big body with nothing behind it. Smush Parker was a Sun for a couple of weeks [in 2004-05] and no one rued his departure. Lamar Odom is just too damn big and long. Luke Walton seems like a nice guy ? but he laid out [Tim] Thomas in Game 3 and triggered a miserable chain of events [for the Suns]. Sasha Vujacic is an all-universe whiner with an unpronounceable surname. Plus, Phil Jackson sits on a throne."

The Lakers are aware of the book, which was released last fall, and perused copies of it long before the Suns became their playoff opponent.

Some of the things they have likely noted:

? The Suns, while watching video of their Game 1 victory, poked fun at the Lakers' defense.

"This is when we're at our best, when we're changing ends on the fly," Coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They have no answer for it. Kwame is awful. Odom's a very average defender. Vujacic can't guard anybody. And Bryant in the open floor takes chances that aren't good."

? Suns owner Robert Sarver had issues with some millionaire courtside fans at Staples Center. He thought Norm Pattiz was getting into the face of Thomas during Game 3 and told the Westwood One Radio Network founder before Game 4, "You ever touch one of my players again, you'll have me to deal with."

Sarver was also mad that actor-director Penny Marshall was near the Suns' huddle before Game 3, talking to some of the Suns' players.

"This L.A. [expletive] has got to stop," Sarver said afterward. "This is war. I hate those guys."

? While Suns coaches watched video of Game 3, Jackson wandered into the frame with his painful side-to-side walk.

"Look!" one of the coaches blurted out. "It's the Penguin!"

? After the Lakers took a 3-1 series lead, D'Antoni wondered aloud why so many people were lauding Bryant's share-the-ball approach.

"They're talking about Kobe and how great it is that he's playing with the team," D'Antoni said. "Well, isn't that what you're supposed to do? Now he's the savior because he's playing that way? He's no god. He does what he's supposed to be doing, which is what we learned in kindergarten. Share the ball and play."

? An unidentified member of the Lakers left a scouting report of the Suns at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel after Game 5 in Phoenix. It quickly ended up in the hands of Suns coaches, much to the Lakers' dismay.

A part that wasn't in the book: Jackson called a hotel official and wondered how the document ended up in the Suns' possession. He was informed that all trash from hotel rooms is typically shredded. The hotel official said he would get back to Jackson after investigating the matter further. To this day, Jackson still hasn't heard back from the official, a team source said.</div>

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Talk about class...

 

Yep, read this on SI a while back. The scouting report thing is really strange though.

 

lol, don't really disagree with anything they say. But I don't think it was right to let that out in the public.

 

Seriously. Who's arrogant?

 

I'm more or less upset by the fact that their coaching staff called Phil Jackson a penguin because of his hip problems. Pure disrespect

 

Teams like the Suns don't win titles.

 

Mever expected the suns to act this way. But, anyway, was this article shown last year or this year?

 

The book was written during last season (05-06), and released in the fall of 2006. The book also covers Marion's fragile ego as well. The dude has a really sensitive personality.

I don't really disagree with anything they said about the players though, to tell you the truth. Kwame is awful at times, Odom is a average defender, Vujacic can't play defence, and Bryant does take gambles on D in transition.

However, making fun of Jackon's health problems were out of line.

 

Yeah, you're right, but sometimes, Kobe does make good decisions on D, although it's just sometimes. But, what really ticked me off about the article was the Phil Jackson thing.

Was Marion as sensitive as Odom?

 

I don't get why the Suns would release all of this stuff. This is just bulletin board material for the Lakers and everyone knows that Kobe plays better with a chip on his shoulder. I honestly feel like the Lakers have a chance at upsetting the Suns just because of all this stuff that will be used as motivation.

 

Yeah, you're right Swish.

 

I think this is a sad way for the Suns attempt to get into the Lakers' heads. Although it is free speech, the note about Phil and his hip problems is pretty lame and disrespectful.

 

They shall burn

 

lakers in 6

 

I am phucking pumped!!!! I wanna see blood.

 

clASSy organization.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think this is a sad way for the Suns attempt to get into the Lakers' heads. Although it is free speech, the note about Phil and his hip problems is pretty lame and disrespectful.</div>


Agree, I don?t mind them talking about how weak our defense is or how we don?t play as a team but to say something like that. That?s a low blow, what?s next they?re gonna make fun of Turiaf?s chest protector.



<font size=""6"">Lets go Lakers !!!</font>

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakers_kb24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, you're right, but sometimes, Kobe does make good decisions on D, although it's just sometimes. But, what really ticked me off about the article was the Phil Jackson thing.

Was Marion as sensitive as Odom?</div>

Marion felt that the return of Amare meant he was regulated back as being the "3rd wheel" again. Last year, with Amare out, Marion and his numbers began to gain notice and he started reciving more attention from the media. When the book was being written, Jack interviewed Marion a couple of times and each of those times, his attitude towards Amare's return seemed shaky. He felt (and probably still feels) overshadowed by Amare and because of him, never gets the recognition he deserves.

 

Never thought that Marion was like that though.

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakers_kb24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Never thought that Marion was like that though.</div>

From what I have heard, he is very much like that. He seems to crave attention and acknowledgement, but he never gets it.