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Kobe,
Shaq in for the Lesson of
Their Lives
Sat, Jul 10, 1999
LONG BEACH, Calif. (SCN Friday, July 09,
1999) - The Los Angeles Lakers have made
great strides in their quest to reclaim their
place amongst the NBA's elite, hiring basketball guru Phil
Jackson recently, but if superstars Shaquille O'Neal and
Kobe Bryant think their going to be taking a trip to the
jewelry store anytime in the near future, they had better be
prepared to crack the books.
While O'Neal, Bryant and most of the team are enjoying
their summer vacations of making commercials, recording
albums or just plain hanging out, the Lakers' 1999 draft
choices and four players from last year's squad are getting
a crash course in the all-knowing triangle offense at the
team's Summer League practice.
After just three sessions, the early progress reports aren't
too positive, however, as most of the players, which
include returnees Travis Knight, Tyronn Lue, Sam
Jacobson and Rueben Patterson, are having a difficult time
with the system that is not like anything they've ever seen.
"It's not so much an offense as it's just a philosophy about
basketball," said fourth-year pro Travis Knight. "It's a
philosophy about how the game is supposed to be played.
I like it."
Knight definitely hasn't grasped it yet, knowing that it won't
be as easy as 1-2-3.
"It's going to take a while to adjust to," he said. "I'm having
a hard time."
Jackson has said all along that he needs to bring in some
of his former Bulls to help with the offense, especially
All-Star forward Scottie Pippen, who has been rumored to
be a part of a possible deal with the Houston Rockets.
"I think Scottie would be interested in coming here,"
Jackson said. "Houston has expressed no interest and
right now we don't have a situation that could work."
Knight is under the impression that Pippen, who worked in
the triangle for many years in Chicago, would be great for
the learning process.
"It would help a lot," Knight said. "There's a lot of times
when the coach can't see and tell everybody what to do. If
you don't know what's going on, somebody can say, 'Hey
get over there."
O'Neal and Bryant aren't required to be in camp until
October, leaving some to wonder whether or not the still
developing stars will struggle with the triangle.
"They're going to have to open their minds," Knight said.
"It's difficult to learn the whole concept. There's no stops,
it's all kind of moving, moving, moving."
The system will definitely thwart some of the duo's
questionable play, which has seen the young guns try to
take over games with one-on-one basketball.
"We're trying to get across to the players how much
awareness it takes all the time to be part of this team,"
Jackson said. "You've got to constantly be aware of what
you're doing, you don't just go through the motions." |
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