RealGM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/080605

Since it's such a great book and all, in lieu of handing out pre-Finals awards as a preview, I thought we'd hand out actual passages written by Jackson in "The Last Season" (in bold) to the crucial players, themes, story lines and characters in the 2008 Finals. Without further ado ...

He goes back and brings up all of the nasty things Jackson wrote about Bryant. Maybe we can reopen the rift between the two....

My favorite one:

"Kobe finished with eight points, his lowest total ever in a game in which he played at least 40 minutes. The theory being tossed around is that Kobe, stung by criticism for his shot selection in recent games, decided to show the Lakers how stagnant the offense can become when he doesn't asset himself. 'I don't know how we can forgive him,' one anonymous teammate was quoted as saying in today's Times."

Hated it.

What a stupid column. Can we get a straight preview? The thing was unreadable. I am done with couch potato columnists.

^^Yup, that column sucked, especially because *NOW* he's all pro-Celtics and picks them to win in 6. THE DAY THE FINALS MATCHUP WAS SET he wrote an article saying there is no way the C's can win this (this was his dumb article about attending game 5 for both the ECF and WCF), but since he got ripped a new one from everyone in New England, *NOW* he's all pro-Celtics and picking them to win it all.

The guy is not only a frontrunner for the teams, also for the fans! And we're supposed to buy his BS because....? He has enjoyed the ride this season *LESS* than any real fan yet *NOW* we're supposed to buy this pile of crap in his "preview" article?

**** BS (I still think it's fitting those are his initials...they're also the value of his thoughts/opinions!)

I actually liked this one. You guys are to the point where you can find a way to knock him down no matter what he writes.

I think he makes a great point at the end. All year, the guys had to prove themselves. "They can't mesh together." "They can't beat a real team." "Wait til they go through Texas." "Wait til one of the big 3 goes down"

They were getting none of that in the first two rounds. Everyone still expected them to win. Things changed in the Detroit series. People were all picking Detroit and they looked unbelievable in that series. Hopefully all of these guys picking the Lakers motivates the boys.

Another Laker nutsucking article by Simmons.

Count how many negative comments he made about the Lakers and how many he made about the Celtics. This is getting **** ridiculous.

The man is seriously cyber blowing the Lakers and promotes himself to be the ultimate Celtic fan.

90% of the article was Phil Jackson quotes about how bad Kobe Bryant is (was?) as a human being.

Laker nutsucking? He picks the Celtics in 7!

You guys need girlfriends, seriously there is more to life then crucifying a popular sportswriters.

Banks2Pierce wrote:90% of the article was Phil Jackson quotes about how bad Kobe Bryant is (was?) as a human being.

Are you kidding me? The quotes were only meant to be used as context to see how much Kobe has matured and become a better player. Read what Simmons actually wrote about Kobe, the Lakers and Phil.

Bill Simmons wrote:To Kobe again. ... It's hard to believe how much changed in four years. He has been a model teammate and leader for most of the 2008 season, someone who finally learned how to delegate the first three quarters of games, get his teammates involved, then take things over when it matters. The days of the "callous gunslinger" are over.

And to paraphrase the rest:


* Kobe is a God who makes him stay up at night and he hasn't eaten in four days because of him.

* KG is a good player, but, (and you know he had to throw this in) he chokes at the end of the game. (He compared Kobe to MJ and KG, to --gasp!-- Karl Malone).

* Phil Jackson is not only the greatest coach to ever pick up a clipboard, he is the coolest man in the world.

* Doc is the worst coach in the NBA who doesn't know how to substitute players and this is biggest coaching mismatch in the history of the NBA.

* Clowns Tony Allen but praises Sasha Vujacic.

And it goes on and on.

See, I could understand this type of article coming from a Laker fan, but this Simmons clown claims to be the biggest Celtic fan in the world!! Thats some BS.

ek da shrek wrote:Laker nutsucking? He picks the Celtics in 7!

You guys need girlfriends, seriously there is more to life then crucifying a popular sportswriters.

Or maybe you need to put away your Bill Simmons blowup doll and see him for who he is.

I thought it was a good article. I think he's just trying to open up old wounds and put the pressure on kobe.

Banks2Pierce wrote:90% of the article was Phil Jackson quotes about how bad Kobe Bryant is (was?) as a human being.

For someone who never read this book, I actually enjoyed the quotes. Most of the stuff I had never heard. I didn't realize Phil trashed Kobe that bad. Dayum

DorfonCeltics wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



For someone who never read this book, I actually enjoyed the quotes. Most of the stuff I had never heard. I didn't realize Phil trashed Kobe that bad. Dayum

right-o man. it was a fun read for the Phil quotes alone

Someone printed this article and left it in the stall here at work. Guess Simmons is the perfect thing to read on the can!

^^And the article is a multi-tasker, since when you're done you can always...you know...

^^How can anyone take BS seriously. AS RECENTLY AS THE END OF THE ECF AND WCF, he said the Lakers are unbeatable. The teams have played no games since then to change anyone's opinions, yet *NOW* he picks the C's in 7 when before he was taking the Fakers in 5 or 6? Please.