OT--Phil Jackson: VC not playing hard

[LLJ]

The view from the other side of the map is pretty clear for Phil Jackson: On the subject of the Nets, he has carved out a clear position, one that sympathizes with one star and bashes another.

The Lakers coach was asked to assess the Nets' wretched plight last night, and Jason Kidd -- whom L.A. will continue to ponder stealing before the deadline -- came out like a rose.

Vince Carter, however, did not.

"Carter seems to be just playing right now," Jackson said before his team defeated the Nets, 105-90, last night at Izod Center. "Not playing with that fire that Jason seems to imbue in his game

http://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2008/0 ... _fire.html

Normally I don't post gossip links, but what the hell, I'm in a mischievous mood, and VC bashing still seems fun every once in a while in here.

[random_hero891]

Oh wow, Phil Jackson's eyes work too, thats always nice to know.

[gp2015]

Vince not paying hard? Get out of here!

[dagger]

Funny, in recent days various reporters - quoting their sources on other teams - have expressed the view that Kidd is just playing hard enough to get his stats. And last night, VC did, for a change, drive the ball a few times.

I think they are both laggards, but Phil probably harbors the fantasy that the Lakers could deal Odom and parts ofr Kidd, whereas he has no need for Carter.

[The-Insider]

Has Carter gone mad?

[quote]Carter has been battling a bad right ankle since mid-November, but he said last night that it's feeling better.

"I had a talk with it," he said. "Just doing the work, proper treatments, whatever."

It showed last night, because he had more lift and explosion than he's shown in some time. The only problem was that his jumper abandoned him, as he shot 10-for-26.

"Yeah, that's my next conversation," Carter said. "It felt like a lot of my shots were right on (but) it was either in or in and out, and then a couple misses were short. So I was all over the board."[/quote]

[LLJ]

Funny, in recent days various reporters - quoting their sources on other teams - have expressed the view that Kidd is just playing hard enough to get his stats. And last night, VC did, for a change, drive the ball a few times.

I think they are both laggards, but Phil probably harbors the fantasy that the Lakers could deal Odom and parts ofr Kidd, whereas he has no need for Carter.

Whoa, that's a plausible trade scenario I never thought about. Actually pretty scary to think about.

[Bruvyman]

This may be OT, but I think this thread title should probably begin with "OT".

[C Court]

I just about threw up when, during the final two minutes, I watched Vince going out of his way to chat with Kobe after virtually every whistle.

Then, down by 12 with 30 seconds lefts, Vince was on the court and laughing so hard that he had to pull his jersey over his mouth so fans wouldn't see him having a good old laugh with Kobe.

Vince's team loses another and he could care less.

[The_Hater]

Honestly, I don't think the Lakers have any need for Kidd now. Kidd monopolizes the ball on the perimeter but they already have Kobe to do that and Gasol and Bynum will get their touches on the inside too. That's a lot of players that need to be double teamed.

So I think they're better off going with 2 PG's in Fisher and Farmer who can hit wide open shots and won't get exposed defensively by all the ultra quick PG's in the west than bring in Kidd at the expense of Odom's versitility and rebounding.

And come the trade deadling, a Odom + spare parts might be a dream trade scenerio for the Nets. I don't think the Mavs are going to fork over much for him and there aren't a lot of other suitors out there.

[booyah_child]

Vince's team loses another and he could care less.

I remember those days...good times

[Maximillion]

I just about threw up when, during the final two minutes, I watched Vince going out of his way to chat with Kobe after virtually every whistle.

Then, down by 12 with 30 seconds lefts, Vince was on the court and laughing so hard that he had to pull his jersey over his mouth so fans wouldn't see him having a good old laugh with Kobe.

Vince's team loses another and he could care less.

As a sports fan, that's the kind of stuff that bugs me the most even now seeing him in a Nets jersey.

[Guy Smiley]

Phil is the master. I bet he wants Vince but is playing mind games and certain pansies are falling for it.

[bingoboyraps]

...it bothers me how much promise there was for the guy in the beginning of his career...i watched a replay game in the summer where he went off for like 50 (phoenix perhaps?)...it was also perhaps his first nationally televised game...he was unstoppable...and the commentators were absolutely gushing over him...man he was something else...

...and then he tanked his career...

[Hank_Scorpio]

Honestly, I don't think the Lakers have any need for Kidd now. Kidd monopolizes the ball on the perimeter but they already have Kobe to do that and Gasol and Bynum will get their touches on the inside too. That's a lot of players that need to be double teamed.

So I think they're better off going with 2 PG's in Fisher and Farmer who can hit wide open shots and won't get exposed defensively by all the ultra quick PG's in the west than bring in Kidd at the expense of Odom's versitility and rebounding.

And come the trade deadling, a Odom + spare parts might be a dream trade scenerio for the Nets. I don't think the Mavs are going to fork over much for him and there aren't a lot of other suitors out there.

I never really thought Kidd to the Lakers made a lot of sense.

The triangle doesn't rely on the point guard to be overly creative - I think it would have penned him in.

Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar, on the other hand, are perfect point guards for the triangle.

And I've said this before, but I don't think the Lakers are going to trade Odom. I think they are planning to keep him at the small forward position. With no pressure to be an interior scoring option, I think Odom will flourish in terms of defense and rebounding. I expect a lot of stat lines similar to what he got in Jersey - 14pts, 15reb, 5 ast.

[burn1down]

[quote="Hank_Scorpio"][/quote]

Phil is insisting that Lamar will be Scottie to Kobe's MJ. Insisting. I highly doubt Lamar is going anywhere. Yes he is a great talent that will never lead a team, but thats why he is a great fit for LA. Kobe cant have someone trying to take over his team. He needs someone like Lamar.

Vince wouldnt work cause of his D. Lamar is a much better defender.

[Wonka_INC]

I sure did feel sorry for the Nets fan when watching Carter laughing along with Kobe :S

[thecc]

It's pretty pathetic the way people say they're over Carter, yet every time he's in the news they feel the need to troll. I know you're all upset that he outplayed Bosh in the first round of the playoffs last year (you know, the playoffs, the only time that matters), but get over it already.

To criticize someone for the way the play in the regular season is stupid unless that team doesn't make the playoffs.

[Hank_Scorpio]

-= original quote snipped =-



Phil is insisting that Lamar will be Scottie to Kobe's MJ. Insisting. I highly doubt Lamar is going anywhere. Yes he is a great talent that will never lead a team, but thats why he is a great fit for LA. Kobe cant have someone trying to take over his team. He needs someone like Lamar.

Vince wouldnt work cause of his D. Lamar is a much better defender.

You got it. Lamar is not a leader and he is not a guy you can count on to produce points on a nightly basis.

What the Lakers are hoping is that now that he doesn't have to think about scoring, he will focus on the things he actually does best - defend, rebound, and block shots. He will still get some points on offense, but now the pressure is off. Once Bynum comes back, Lamar is the #4 option in the starting lineup.

Basically, I see him playing a role similar to Andrei Kirilenko - cept that the team he is playing that role on is much much better.

But honestly - what starting 5 do you think can compete with Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Bryant, and Fisher?

I'd say maybe the Celtics - and of course, the Spurs starting 5, as I've said earlier, can beat any team in a 7 game series - but on pure talent and ability - Lakers are the best starting 5.

[Shaazzam]

And he's a slick passer Hank.

[metaldaze]

Lakers should pick up Ron Artest he can rebound,score plays defence plus he's cheap(around 8 mil) they don't need kid or carter.