Phil Jackson: Kobe ‘Screwed Up the Game’ With 1-on-1 Play

As the 2-time defending champs continue their season-long struggle to regain their dominant form, frustration has understandably begun to creep into their locker room. Most of it has to do with the aggravating lack of motivation from the team on a nightly basis.

Defensively, the Lakers can’t seem to stop anyone, and when things don’t go well on the offensive end (read: the post players are foolishly ignored), Kobe Bryant will tend to try and take over. This has not worked out well.

Last night, in a blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at home, Bean lit up for 17 third quarter points en route to a game-high 28 … and the Grizzlies’ lead increased dramatically. Afterward, Phil Jackson let the media know that this was not in the game plan.

The LA Times has the quotes:

“I just felt like we had no energy,” Bryant said. ” … So I tried to generate some of that and just get us started, but we weren’t able to carry it through.” The problem? Bryant took 12 of the team’s 22 shots in the third.

“We get behind early on in the third quarter on some stupid plays — poor passing, poor transition defense — and then Kobe has to screw up the game and start energizing the team by going one-on-one,” Jackson said. “That takes the rest of the guys out and as a consequence, that didn’t bring us back in.”

The Lakers turned the ball over 20 times, part of why Memphis had 28 fast-break points.

The few fans that remained inside the Staples Center late in the fourth quarter booed the team off the floor, and Kobe suggested that the media needs to start ripping the team more in their stories (an inevitability that didn’t need Bryant’s prodding.)

The Lakers’ issues are all correctable, and it’s still early enough in the season for them to make the necessary adjustments. One just has to wonder how long it’ll take for the team to finally start playing up to their potential.

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Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson

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http://slamonline.com Allenp

Lol @ Tarzan.
I messed up on that one. You need to google E.F. Hutton to get the allusion.
But, the catchphrase for Hutton was that when he talked, people listened.
If TMac and KG had joined forces, and TMac committed to defense, then we would have multiple chances to determine who was better between Garnett and Duncan in the Finals, and we would have seen how Kobe fared against a near equal in the Finals as well.
It would have been epic.
JTaylor21

Put it like this would have the 91-93 bulls been better with KG than they were with HoGrant (Damn right), Would the late 90s bulls be better with KG than with Rodman (not as much because I don’t think that KG could have pulled off the defensive gem Rodman had on Malone). They would have been way better offensively but they would have suffered a bit on the defensive end due to KG’s lack of girth. Also was prime KG better than 90s CB34 or 90s KMalone?
http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

Dennis neutralized Shaq in 96. THAT was huge.
http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

Back up, I remember how dominant those Bulls teams were. Come on now, I watched every game. But I was also 14 when they won their last title…
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Allen, MJ is no decoy, you know this.
Also, I understand that was Pip’s moment, but Phil also took a gamble as well. He ran the risk of going down 3-0 in the series.
Interestingly enough, that play actually made Kukoc into the player he ultimately became.
Tarzan not knowing who EF Hutton is = unused sperm! LOL
http://slamonline.com nbk

Because its a bad comparison, that is hard to translate because their physical appearance, style of play, system, and success are all very similar. But Jordan’s impact completely dwarfs Kobe’s. Thats not to say Kobe isn’t a great player, or one of the best ever, but the comparison as a serious “Kobe could be Michaels equal” is out of the question ridiculous.
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Damn, Enigmatic… I was 14 when they won their 1st one.
I’m old.
Not as old as Eboy, but old just the same.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Man in that series, Kukoc only got the double figures ONCE. And he scored 12! It was his rookie year in the league, he was not killing, and for the season he shot 34 percent from three. In comparison, Scottie had been killing hte whole series, and shot 33 percent from three.
Scottie deserved that shot.
http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

Ill check out hutton. And thats why I asked cuz I thought that duo would really challenge lakers and spurs. But what happened, happened, grant got hurt,. And kg lost in the first round many times……… Jtaylor, kg had things on defense that rodman didnt, but he was still da kid then, and didnt have his complete tool box yet.
Jackie Moon

Fast like a Nascar! Vroom vroom in ya boom boom
http://slamonline.com nbk

4, I was 4 years old when the Bulls won their first title. That’s crazy to me
Jackie Moon

Re: Kukoc taking the last shot.

How can you argue the decision given the result?
Hursty

Love AllenPs comment at 4.51. So on point, except for the height disparity which is hard to cover with elite swingmen in today’s League and lack of superior 2 way players.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

It was blatant disrespect and the only reason Phil gets a pass for it is because Scottie is seen as surly and soft, while Phil is a genius.
Plus, it angers fans everywhere to consider a player telling a coach he refuses to play. For some reason that grinds our collective gears.
I don’t have that problem. I thought it was wrong even back then that Scottie didn’t get that shot. I can imagine how pissed he was after carrying that team all year, and showing everybody he could hoop without Mike. He was considered by many to be the best or second best player in the league that year, and for him to be told that a freaking ROOKIE was getting the last second shot instead of him, well that is just beyond bogus. I don’t care what it did for Kukoc’s middling career.
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Allen, I didn’t say that Kukoc was killing, but you’ve got to hand it to Phil to have the stones to put the game in the hands of a rookie.
And I understand Pip being pissed, and I agree that he should’ve been given an opportunity to win the game, but I’ve learned over the years that PJax has a reason for everything.
Realistically speaking, I don’t think Pip hits that shot. NY’s defense would’ve keyed in on him making it extremely difficut given the circumstances to get it off. Kukoc would’ve had a much more open look at it.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Jackie
That’s an “end justifys the means” argument and I try to stay away from that justification as much as possible. That’s a slippery slope.
On paper, it was a dumbass move, and it alienated his best player. Sure, it worked, but it still showed Pippen up and forever darkened his rep.
Kind of like riding a book about Kobe.
Phil is a bit of penis.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

I guess my comment disappeared into the ether.
Anyway, Jackie, you’re saying that the ends justify the means, and I’ve never liked that argument.
Phil made a decision that went against almost all collective wisdom and had the added bonus of showing up his best player. That it worked is luck, not a sign that it was the right decision.
It’s kind of similar to how he wrote a tell-all book about Kobe before coming back to coach him. That worked out too, but that doesn’t make the book a smart move.
JTaylor21

AllenP, come on so. So now players deserve shots? You’re better than that. Pip was never a great 3pt shooter, so PJax decided to use him as a decoy to open up a good look for a better 3pt shooter in Kukoc. The same way MJ was used as a “decoy” to setup GW shots for Kerr and Paxson. Just because you’re the best player doesn’t mean you gotta take every GW shot.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Bryan, I can see that argument.
But eff that. Teams ALWAYS keyed in on Jordan on every last second shot he hit. Didn’t stop him from getting the ball. Pippen was asked to carry Jordan’s burden that year. Dammit, if the man is going to be given the responsibility, he deserves the rewards. That’s just how I see life.
http://Www.slamonline.com Myles brown

Michael decided to make Kerr the secondary option. Phil didn’t draw that play up. HUGE difference.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Myles saved me the keystrokes.
Great players deserves shots. That’s the gift and the curse.
Think about it.
Jackie Moon

@Allenp- you have a point, ends doesn’t always justify the means, but I do think it indicates that Phil had some insight into what the best shot to take would be and who would have the best chance to make it considering the situation. No one is “deserved” a last shot, it’s a matter of strategy and circumstance. In game 4 of the 2009 Finals, with the Lakers down 3, Phil told Kobe he thought the Magic would try to foul him, and so to pass it on if a Magic player came near him when he had the ball. He passed it off to Ariza, and Ariza gave it to Fisher who hit the three. Not exactly the same thing as a last second shot, but point stands that the best player does not always get the last shot.
http://slamonline.com nbk

I think Allen has argued me onto his side of all this. Its not like some team that plays 8 games, they played a full season with scottie as “the man,” might as well act like it. If Phil drew up that play with MJ in the huddle he would have either done the same thing, or walked up to whoever was inbounding the ball and said, look you better give me the f’n ball or you’ll be wearing a different jersey next season.
http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

Why the hell everytime there’s actually a really dope discussion on here worth chopping it up about, it’s on days when I’m hella busy at work?! Damnit…
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Allen, I think Phil knew then what we all know now… Pip wasn’t a clutch player.
http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

Dear Kobe,

Thanks for generating so much web traffic.

Love,
SLAM Ed.
JTaylor21

If MJ was man enough to pass up a GW shot to kerr why couldn’t have Pip been man enough to be a decoy. I don’t understand how people can take what PJax did as being disrespectful to pip? Isn’t his job as a coach to make sure that he draws up the right play regardless of whether his freaking best player’s pouting. Also MJ was the first option at all times because he was a better offensive player and shooter than Pip could have ever dreamed of. Like BCrawford said, the chances of Pip hitting that shot with the knicks D focused on him was little to none. Kukoc made the freaking shot, y’all acting like he chucked up an airball.
http://brimartin13@gmail.com Brion

What will yall do when its a Celtics / Spurs finals?
Yesse

I really agree with Phil Jackson and Kobe should pass the ball around alot more. Lakers better get their heads straight or San Antonio will be in the finals.
http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

Crawford, so im unused sperm for not knowing about a brokerage firm? A financial company that kited checks among other shady tactics, and got the slap on the wrist from the feds. A cheating financial company that got over on everyone and received no real punishment? Thats not common. And the companys been basically non existant for over twenty years. And im unused sperm for not knowing about the company? I could say that your mother uses my sperm for many things including but not limited to: a facial mask, stomach liner, and colon cleanser. But I wont say that. Instead, ill just say that your comment about me being unused sperm for not knowing about a long-obsolete company is misplaced and lame. ……….. … Lobe is a will continue to chuck because he does not want to be a second option again, esp if that means pau is the first option. Even tho that would be best for the team. Remember the mvp candidate pau from earlier? Lobe put an end to that. Now, pau cant get 10 shots a game.
http://slamonline.com nbk

MJ choosing to pass off his own shot, is wholly different then Scottie not even having a say.
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Oh and Allen, Phil drawing up that play for Kukoc didn’t darken Pip’s rep, Scottie’s refusal to go back into the game darkened his rep.
And then there was that incident where he threw the chair… But that’s a convo for another day.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Tarzan
Chill man, he wasn’t going at your neck, he was referencing my earlier comment that many of y’all are youngin’s who get certain allusions or remember certain events because you weren’t alive when they happened
JTaylor
Myles and NBK have explained this already. It’s an entirely different animal when a player makes a decision to pass the ball and when a coach draws up a shot for someone else.
Against Utah one of those years, the Bulls were down three with time for one shot. You know who shot that three? It sure the hell wasn’t Steve Kerr or Toni Kukoc. Jordan, a pretty poor three point shooter for his whole career, took that shot because that’s what Jordan does!
Bryan
Pippen deserved to called out back when he was getting migraines against Detroit, but by 94, he was clutch. He wasn’t MJ clutch, but he was clutch. Bottom line, he was more clutch than Kukoc, and according to the numbers, was nearly his equal as a three point shooter.
Sure, Phil’s decision won the game, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t disrespectful and it doesn’t mean Pippen wasn’t justified in saying “Go f*ck yourself” to Phil.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Bryan
Phil put Pippen in that position. Scottie doesn’t refuse to go in if he’s given a chance to take that shot.
Y’all have to put yourself in Pippen’s shoes. He had carried the load. He had proven himself on the toughest stage. He was the effing MAN that year, and Phil then draws up a play for Toni Kukoc the “Euro Magic” who Pippen made it his business to embarass in Barcelona, and who came into the league as a rookie making like $5 million more than Scottie.
This wasn’t a little decision by Phil’s calculating butt. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing, and that’s why he would have NEVER drawn up the same play for Jordan no matter what the defense knew.
http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

Actually Tarzan, the unused sperm comment alluded to the youth of a lot of the commenters here. That’s why I said it in reference to you and EF Hutton.
No need to get all defensive, stupid, and downright disrespectful about it.
But since you went there…
Had your mom not decided to turn her life around, you wouldn’t even be here. You would’ve ended up on her blouse after she wiped the corners of her mouth. Which probably would’ve been best.
http://Slamonline.com Nbk

@Brion – you mean Heat/Spurs Final? Either way, I will cry manly tears into my soup.
Jackie Moon

That last nbk comment was me, not nbk. Also, I now know nbk’s email address. Not that I would do anything with it. Thanks, Slam online web designers!
http://Slamonline.com Nbk

^ that wasn’t me
http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

Scottie Pippen made a little over $3 mil in ’94. I’d be p*ssed too if on top of that, I didn’t get the last shot.
JTaylor21

AllenP, great points but Kukoc made the damn shot. Who gives a f*ck about scottie’s feelings, dude acted like a feline there and that’s what blackened his otherwise stellar career. There’s nothing anyone can say that can excuse Pip’s behavior, you don’t do that to your teammates no matter what. Just imagine if Wade or Bron had decided not to enter those games vs NO and Utah in the closing seconds because Spo drew up the final shot for eddie freaking house. That’s what makes basketball so fun and challenging because it takes a combined team effort to win games not one pouting a** star.
http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

What makes a commenter on here young? I’m 26. I’m a youngin’ to some, but I’m an old fart to others. I think it’s all relative.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

JTaylor
Again, you’re arguing that since things turned out well, it was the right choice.
If Kukoc’s misses the shot, is it still the right choice?
The right choice is not always determined by outcome, at least not in my opinion.
Jordan make a commerical about all the times he missed game winning shots, does that mean him taking the shot was the wrong choice?
Nah, Phil made the wrong choice, got the right result, and Scottie got the blame because most people think players are the employees of coaches.
They are not.
Conoro

The sheer volume of trolls on here who CONTINUALLY and ANNUALLY put so much credence in the regular season are ridiculous. One would think that after the second or third consecutive year of being ashamedly wrong that they would stop. Yet that doesn’t seem to be the case; which seems to be more of a reflection of their collective intelligence… (Eboy, jTaylor – HaHaHa-, et al.)
http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

I see now that allen started the unused ssperm thing and you were just going with that. I thought you just took a shot at me from nowhere. I dont know your mother, but im sure shes a nice lady. ……
the nerve

i’ll take it from here. dont talk bout dat nickas family or else he’ll kill ya.
OH NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
cleveland87

@ eboy

Florida = pseudo sports fans
JTaylor21

AllenP, you’re making great points but I think you still fail to look at the big picture. I said that he let his teammates down not the coach. The players are not the coaches employees but they do have a duty to have their teammates back at all times on the floor and for their teammates to be able to trust them. Also are you really trying to compare MJ’s ability to make clutch shots to Pip’s? I would rather have MJ taking a contested half court shot for the GW than Pip take a wide open 3pt. Last but not least; did Kobe refuse to enter the game vs the spurs because PJax ran the GW shot for DFish?
http://Slamonline.com Nbk

JTaylor has been around for years? Conoro comments what once every couple weeks lol random
http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

JTaylor, you can’t compare the ’94 Pippen/Kukoc relationship to the ’04 Bryant/Fisher relationship.
Kobe and Fisher came in together as rookies, came up together and had mad love for one another and all that.
Scottie had put in years of work by Kukoc’s arrival, yet management still treated Kukoc like he was the golden boy and the future of the franchise.
Krause was absolutley enamored with Kukoc and there’s no way anyone can say that didn’t rub Scottie the wrong way.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Y’all don’t remember how much Scottie hated Kukoc and Krause, and how much he felt betrayed at times by Phil. This was a powder keg man.
But, we ain’t gonna agree, it’s been nice talking about it.

Phil Jackson: Kobe ‘Screwed Up the Game’ With 1-on-1 Play

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