LA Daily News <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO - Only 12 hours after he criticized Kobe Bryant's shot selection down the stretch of an exhibition game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson was on a teleconference Wednesday talking about his superstar guard as a possible MVP candidate. "(I) think he can have that type of a season," Jackson said. "He's that type of a player. He has matured. He is trying to use his energy for the optimum benefit of the ballclub." "I see him coming (in) many times ... two to three hours ahead of practice," Jackson added, "doing the therapy and doing the extra work that it takes to reach that kind of level and know that this is something that Kobe really wants to regain." Jackson said it would be hard for Bryant to merit MVP consideration on a team that wasn't what he called "top echelon." He also said of last season, "I think being named third team All-NBA was a slap in the face for Kobe." The relationship between Bryant and Jackson, the second time around, remains as closely watched as the first day of training camp. For his part, Bryant said Wednesday he had not done much visualizing about what kind of season he personally wanted to have. "I trained this entire summer just to get in shape to be able to play both sides of the ball, offense and defense, at a high level," Bryant said. "And what that entails remains to be seen." Jackson was less complimentary Tuesday after the Lakers' 111-108 overtime victory against the Washington Wizards in Bakersfield. Bryant finished with a game-high 28 points but missed the last five shots he took, including all three in overtime. "We talked about that," Jackson said. "I just said that I thought he took a lot of tough shots he didn't have to and pushed the envelope real far." Bryant had much success posting up and shooting over the likes of Washington guard Antonio Daniels early in the game. After playing 40 minutes, however, Bryant's shot no longer was falling and he kept firing with a greater degree of difficulty. </div> Source
The "relationship" between Bryant and Jackson is boring already. Will they be able to put their egos aside??? WE DON'T CARE. L.A. sports journalism has become a joke much like the New York Post putting Joe Torre on the front and back cover for his contract extension.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phunDamentalz:</div><div class="quote_post">The "relationship" between Bryant and Jackson is boring already. Will they be able to put their egos aside??? WE DON'T CARE. L.A. sports journalism has become a joke much like the New York Post putting Joe Torre on the front and back cover for his contract extension.</div> Absolutely. They will harp on this story all season long and continue to scrutinize Kobe. They even made a big deal about Kobe kicking a water bottle. Just wait until December when the new "tell all" book comes out, making PJax look evil and of course the XMas day showdown with everyone's favorite love triangle Kobe-Pjax-Shaq.
