Phil Jackson re: Kobe Bryant

[Huckleberry]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2748084

"I have been a little disappointed with how Kobe has been treated as a premier player," Jackson said.

This is probably the biggest problem I have with the NBA. Who gives a shit whether or not Kobe is a premier player? Either the suspension decision was wrong for every player or right for every player. And to have one of the premier coaches in the league, at least in terms of media perception, espousing this garbage is terrible, IMO.

I can't discuss the specifics of the incident because I haven't seen it. I don't doubt that Bryant and Jackson are correct about the NBA making a bad decision.

[JPhillips]

I saw it in real time and it looked like a foul, but I don't think a suspension was warranted. Jackson's just working the refs.

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2748084



This is probably the biggest problem I have with the NBA. Who gives a shit whether or not Kobe is a premier player? Either the suspension decision was wrong for every player or right for every player. And to have one of the premier coaches in the league, at least in terms of media perception, espousing this garbage is terrible, IMO.

I can't discuss the specifics of the incident because I haven't seen it. I don't doubt that Bryant and Jackson are correct about the NBA making a bad decision.


I think this is Phil putting a bug in any and everybody's ear that the next time something similar were to happen to Kobe Bryant, he would expect a suspension as well. This is a statement designed to protect his player and gain an advantage later in the season. Especially in the playoffs when a "playoff" foul on a premier player might get you 2 or 3 games.

[Toddiec]

I also saw it real time and Kobe swung his arm out to hit Manu as he was coming down from his jumpshot to try to bait the refs into calling a contact foul. He just happened to hit Manu's face with his wrist/arm rather forcefully. Manu went down like he was shot and laid motionless on the floor for a couple of minutes so that was probably what caused the suspension. I don't agree with the suspension at all.

[miami_fan]

I just saw the incident on ESPN.com. I am sure I did not see the best angle and I am going to try to see others later on. I can see where Phil is coming from. The league suspended Ron Artest during the playoffs last year (ironically for an elbow against Manu) but the league said it was based on Artest's history. The impression I had then was that if anyone else had done the same thing they would not have been suspended at all. Other than the incident with Mike Miller, Kobe does not have that sort of reputation. As for this particular incident, at this point I don't agree with the suspension at all. Nothing that I saw seemed intentional.

[Neuqua]

This is Phil doing what he does best. He's a basketball coach who loves to play mind games.

[heybrad]

Apparently the league spoke with Ginobili about the incident and he told them he felt it was incidental contact. Seems kind of lame to have a suspension in this case. Raja Bell clotheslined Kobe last year and got 1 game.

[dime]

the league has always favored its stars, but it's also always come down unfairly on its, erm, unsavory characters. kobe happens to fit in both categories.

I think he did it on purpose but you can't really suspend him for it.

also, phil jackson is a hump.

[Pumpy Tudors]

This thread is now about humping Phil Jackson.

[Easy Mac]

so i take it Manu played a lot of soccer in Argentina