<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The strain of this season has taken a toll on Lakers interim coach Frank Hamblen. After the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets last Thursday, Hamblen said the Lakers were starting to erode his immune system. Rudy Tomjanovich resigned as Lakers coach because of health reasons. Now Hamblen, who likes to joke a lot, talked about how this season is weighing on him. "Well, it's better than Jenny Craig, I'll tell you that," Hamblen said, laughing. "There's no doubt it, it's hard. But it's a part of the business." Bryant, Atkins OK Hamblen had another fire to put out Monday after Chucky Atkins said Kobe Bryant was the general manager of the team. Atkins backtracked at practice and blamed it on the media taking his words out of context. Hamblen said he spoke with Bryant and Atkins briefly and was content that the two put the situation behind them. "I think they get along pretty good, actually," Hamblen said. Hamblen said the past two days have been difficult on his team, but that the Lakers are getting through their problems. "I think they are OK with each other," Hamblen said. "There was a lot of frustration that builds up when things aren't going your way. I think that we're experiencing that. Losing really contributes to a lot of things like that." Demanding Stars Hamblen said it isn't difficult to coach Bryant. "He's been just fine," Hamblen said. "I'm sure he's frustrated, because he's used to winning." Hamblen admitted that Bryant "sometimes" gets on his teammates too hard. "But a lot of the great ones have done that in the past," Hamblen said. Hamblen was around Michael Jordan in Chicago, and Jordan was known for being very demanding and very hard on his teammates. Despite all he has gone through, Bryant hasn't cracked. "He's a tough guy," Hamblen said. "Tough, tough guy. Mentally and physically. I admire those traits in him." </div> Source
