jonnybravo
Retired Number
Joined: 21 Sep 2007
Posts: 30679
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 Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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| ocho wrote: | | RG73 wrote: | | wolfpaclaker wrote: |
And he did that because Shaq's huge ego needed it. He simply refused to play for Del Harris, and often complained to Jerry West about how much the Lakers babied Kobe. He was super jealous. Phil doing what he did was horrible for Kobe, but great for Shaq and the overall team success. He stopped doing it the moment Shaq left town. |
First of all, he didn't stop it when Shaq left town. You will recall he wrote that character assassination book after he left town. So he was still sniping at Kobe before he came back to the team.
Secondly, yes, I know we all tell ourselves that story that he did what needed to be done...but did he really? He actually blew up a dynasty that could have kept going several more years. For all his "motivating" of Shaq, Phil couldn't keep Shaq in shape. And for all his genius ego handling, he couldn't maintain control of the ship for more than a few years at a time. Who's to say that someone who isn't a total jerk like Pop couldn't have kept this team competitive the entire span of Shaq and Kobe's careers?
We can't take anything away from Phil's accomplishments, but now that we're years removed, we can be honest about the toxicity he fostered in the locker room and the organization. |
Phil was savvy enough to create and perpetuate the myth that he's a master manipulator of egos. A closer look reveals he hurt in that regard a lot more than he helped. I actually think his personality and the way he deals with people is his worst quality as a coach. |
Phil openly admitted that he regretted not taking a more active hand in reparing the Shaq/Kobe relationship as it began to fall apart irreparably. Repair buddy? Dude was busy taking a sledgehammer to their relationship. |
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