Lakers in the News 7/28/15: Phil Jackson said he could ‘feel’ Kobe Bryant’s ‘hatred’ when he coached the Lakers guard

[lakersfreak]

Phil Jackson said he could ‘feel’ Kobe Bryant’s ‘hatred’ when he coached the Lakers guard
by Des Bieler - washingtonpost.com

During Phil Jackson’s 11-season stint as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, he had an up-and-down relationship with Kobe Bryant. The ups included five championships, and the downs, well, they were mostly about both men’s failing efforts to not get on each other’s nerves.

The problems between Jackson and Bryant were at their worst during the coach’s first go-around with the team, from 1999 to 2004, during which the pair, helped greatly by Shaquille O’Neal, won three straight titles. When the coach returned in 2005 (to a Shaq-less Lakers), he had written a tell-all about the squad’s 2003-04 campaign called, “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul,” in which he described Bryant in less-than-flattering terms.

On Monday, ESPN published another installment in a series of conversations Jackson had with reporter Charley Rosen during this past season, Jackson’s first running the New York Knicks. Rosen asked about comments Bryant had made about the issues he’d had with his former coach. Here is what Jackson had to say:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/07/27/phil-jackson-said-he-could-feel-kobe-bryants-hatred-when-he-coached-the-lakers-guard/

[lakersfreak]

Roy Hibbert asked his agents to find him a coach who played in the NBA
by Eric Freeman - sports.yahoo.com

Once the province of ex-players and few others, the ranks of NBA head coaches have recently opened up to include a large number of coaching lifers, young upstarts who work their way from the video room to the top, and even one guy who went through that same process overseas. While many of the league's best coaches wore NBA uniforms for at least a few seasons each, it's far from a requisite. In some cases, that experience may even be a hindrance to getting a job.
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If front offices have no qualms about hiring coaches without playing careers to their names, then it's less clear what active players think about the situation. But at least one specifically asked his agents to seek out a team with a player-turned-coach.

Roy Hibbert, who was traded this month from the Indiana Pacers to the Los Angeles Lakers in a pure salary dump, says he was attracted to his new squad in part due to the presence of head coach Byron Scott, a 14-season NBA veteran who won three titles with the franchise. From an interview with David Aldridge of NBA.com (via PBT):

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/roy-hibbert-asked-his-agents-to-find-him-a-coach-who-played-in-the-nba-012918300.html

[lakersfreak]

Lakers Have Pieces in Place to Secure Their Next Superstar
by Josh Martin - bleacherreport.com

As the late, great Aaliyah once sang, "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again."

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to have taken that repurposed adage to heart. Last summer, on the heels of watching Dwight Howard dance his way to Houston, the Lakers went hard after LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, per ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst, but fell flat on both accounts. This time around, they swung and missed on LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan and Greg Monroe, per the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan.

One of these days, a top-tier free agent is going to buy what the Lakers are selling and not just as a product of sheer persistence on the part of the NBA's marquee franchise. At this point, the Purple and Gold are counting on the precocious but unproven trio of D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson to improve—and, eventually, make—their pitch to players in search of a new home.

And with any luck, those three will eventually have the chops to pull it off.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2532332-los-angeles-lakers-have-pieces-in-place-to-secure-their-next-superstar

[lakersfreak]

Lakers Continues To Show Interest In Kevin Seraphin
by Dan Duangdao - lakersnation.com

In free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Roy Hibbert and signed Lou Williams and Brandon Bass. With a $2.8 million exception remaining, general manager Mitch Kupchak has expressed interest in adding another guard or center.

One option who is still available in free agency is Kevin Seraphin, who has played for the Washington Wizards these past five seasons. According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, the Lakers are among teams that continue to show interest in the 25-year-old center:

http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-l-a-continues-to-show-interest-in-kevin-seraphin/2015/07/27/

[SuperboyReformed]

[Gwyn]

Does that idiot know when to shutup?

It seems like Phil just can't stay out of the spotlight.
_________________
Lakers win record when Kobe goes for 40+ points

God bless Kobe Bean Bryant and Gianna Maria Onore Bryant.

[ReaListik]

[K28]