Phil Jackson: "A Little Shaq in Kwame" (hilarious)

Phil Jackson: "A Little Shaq in Kwame" (hilarious)

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Although Phil Jackson would rather wait until after Friday's game at Orlando to start talking about Shaquille O'Neal and Christmas, the Lakers coach couldn't resist one comparison Tuesday when it came to Kwame Brown's free-throw shooting.

"We're living with the fact that he's taken Shaq's position on our team," Jackson said, "the one that makes your butt itch when he gets to the foul line because you know you're going to squirm."

Brown entered Tuesday's game shooting an O'Neal-like 47.2 percent from the foul line, a number that could make him a liability on the floor late in games. Brown never has been worse than a 57.4 percent free-throw shooter in his four-year career.

He missed three of five free throws in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' loss to Houston on Sunday, a game that ultimately was decided by two points.

Brown did sink the second of two free throws in the final minute of Friday's victory against Washington. As long as Brown keeps making 1 of 2 from the line, Jackson said he can live with it.

"He hasn't consistently missed two in a row," Jackson said. "That means that at least you're productive when you go to the line. Those are the ones that really set you back is when someone goes 0 for 2 at the line, especially if they're critical."

Child's play: Teenage center Andrew Bynum had played only three minutes in the five previous games before Tuesday. But the Lakers coaches have been pleased with how Bynum is progressing, even if he isn't getting on the floor most nights.

"His jump shot's gotten a lot better, his hook's gotten a lot better," assistant Kurt Rambis said. "Whenever he comes down and posts up (assistant) Brian Shaw, it used to be like he wouldn't score very much, and now he scores all the time."

If nothing else, Bynum does not lack for confidence. Rambis relayed that Bynum jokingly said he should have been on the court at the end of the Lakers' last-second loss to the Rockets.

"He made the comment that he should have been out there with (Tracy) McGrady because he would have blocked that shot," Rambis said.

Neither Brown nor forward Lamar Odom stepped up to block McGrady's winning drive to the basket, with Jackson saying afterward, "Our big guys failed us in that situation."
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