crazyeights wrote:ALL HAIL wrote:Slava wrote:
Buss should have locked him up by offering him a share of the franchise when he wanted it, God knows he's done more than enough to deserve it. Its no coincidence the Warriors turned around as soon as he went there.
+1000
Sometimes I wish Shaq and Kobe didn't need Phil Jackson as much as it seemed they did.
If another coach was at the helm during the three-peat, West would still be here.
Personally, and anyone that reads my stuff should know this, I consider Jerry West the smartest team- building basketball mind on the planet.
I know it's easy to say now, but I'd have said it then, I would have kept West over Jackson and not've even bat an eye in the process.
It almost feels like the Lakers are living out bad karma because of this quantum mistake.
Yeah but they won 4 championships after he left. 2 of which were with a hugely rebuilt team. Obviously they were in-part due to the pieces he secured, but I don't know how we could consider what happened bad karma.
Actually if there's any reason that we are where we are (and not making a value judgement) it's Kob. His insistence on having so much control has made it tough to turn the page. You could easily argue that that is a management problem, which it certainly is, but I'd also say this is simply what happens when a team let's a star go out naturally.
We are rebuilding, I don't see it as karmic.
Still, agree that West should have been a Laker for life. Dr. Buss is never spoken ill of, but he should have handled West and Phil much better.
You're stuck on that word "karma".
Simply put, letting him walk out the door was a bad move that, to me, has had far-reaching ramifications.
Would Jerry West stand by as the Lakers sell first round picks?
Letting him go, moreso even than letting Phil Jackson go and Dr. Buss' passing, has set this franchise back the furthest.
Don't forget dude, I don't know how old you are, but the genius of West lies in the years between Magic and Shaq.
I can't explain this transition in great detail right now, but if you were around then, you saw West masterfully aquire talent (even as he missed ie. George Lynch).
Trust me man, Kobe's role in this thing is overstated and the short-sidedness of the front office is understated.