Yes, They Can Get Along The stories of the Laker season at the All-Star break: Kobe Bryant's scoring spree, more than a half-dozen late-game gaffes and tenuous eighth-place footing in the Western Conference. The Lakers' non-story at the break: the relationship between Bryant and Coach Phil Jackson. A blistering topic when Jackson agreed to rejoin the Lakers has cooled and hardened, the least of the Laker worries with 30 regular-season games left. -- Los Angeles Times Jackson Just Can't Take A Compliment I know some people in town who would make a big deal out of the Lakers choking, gagging and collapsing against hapless Atlanta on Wednesday night, but my inclination here is to not even mention it. That's why I'm not sure where Phil is coming from these days. I would think a guy who begins every day chanting and getting in touch with his inner whatever would roll with things better, but I got to thinking that maybe it's my fault, standing next to Vic the Brick at every news conference and coming off sounding negative by way of comparison. -- Los Angeles Times Kobe's Sole-Searchin' With Nike Ad After nearly a three-year hiatus, Kobe Bryant is back in the endorsement game. Nike produced an in-your-face commercial featuring Bryant that started airing on national TV last week. It's the first commercial by Bryant since he was charged in 2003 with sexually assaulting a Colorado teenager. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
