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Excellent read. After you read the book, you will think Phil will never coach Kobe again.It turned out Phil came back to LA, I am just wondering did I miss something or Phil missed something in the book.
The book is in great shape and got to my house sooner than expected. Positive stuff all around.
This book is fairly well-scribed but definitely lacks the insight/depth that I would have preferred from a coach like Jackson. Not a role model for anyone. The most absurd and hypocritical part of it all is that Phil the Moneygrubbing Hippie who only wins when he has starpower, returned to the Lakers a year later---making this book basically null and void. Typical of a person of his pathetic ilk. And he's a mediocre coach. Phil Jackson is the Joe Torre of hoops.
He unabashedly relays his thoughts on how Shaq could be a better overall basketball if he focused on playing defense, his admiration of Karl Malone and Gary Payton for taking on diminished roles yet working hard, and then there's kobe. Phil's criticism of Kobe is tempered by him deeply analyzing the context in which the various incidents play out, and his (phil) role in agitating or diffusing the situaition. A fairly easy read, the depth of Phi's candor is perhaps what is most striking. I have always perceived Phil Jackson to be a an introspective and intellectually curious individual. Phil's thoughts seem jarringly raw until one realizes that they were entries made into his personal journal. On one hand there is the criticism of Kobe ( the aspect o of the book which the media dwelt on)his headstrong, occassional combustible personality, his refulsal to adhere to the triangle, seeming indifference, even ingratitude to the Laker's organization for their support during his rape trial, and feuds with Shaq.
Phil's thoughts of Kobe are conflicted.
When this book was publicised back in 2005 in it the media (shocker) gave the impression that Kobe was villified throughout the book.
This is mostly conveyed by how much he compares Kobe to Michael Jordan.
This book has further bolstered that opinion.
Overall, Phil seems to have a reluctant reverence of Kobe Bryant.
Needless to say that perception is inaccurate.
Although this book is about the tumultous 2003-04 season,Kobe hover's heavily over much of Phil's rumination.
The interpretation of this book should be subject to understading the context in which it is written.
At that point he may be forgiven a little.
But if you just consider yourself a casual fan, it might be a tad dry. I like Phil Jackson and think he is a good coach and all and I guess this book is pretty good.
I mean, the "last season" was not really the kind of season that Phil Jackson was looking for when he decided to write this book. Although the Lakers did have some brewing turmoil going on inside the organization, with the additions of Gary Payton and Karl Malone, it was assumed that they were the ordained NBA Champions.
I was curious to see just what exactly this book would be like. Kobe feud provides some ammunition.
Well, did not turn out that way. But the growing Shaq vs.
If you are an NBA junkie and if you are a Laker junkie, it is essential. One thing is clear, Kobe is the creep that you always thought he was and I find it so enjoyable that he is stuck on a Laker team going nowhere, while Shaq has moved on and won another championship.
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