Shaq's "father" rips Bryant

[Chaplin]

More of the same?

The Los Angeles Lakers' problem: Kobe Bryant.


At least that's how Philip Harrison, Shaquille O'Neal's stepfather, sees it.


The blunt-spoken man, whom Shaq considers his father, told columnist David Flores of the San Antonio Express-News that the team should have worked the ball more to his stepson in the Lakers' 88-78 loss to the Spurs in Game 1.


But Harrison thinks the real offensive problem is Bryant. "Kobe Bryant could be one of the best players that ever played the game if he learned how to play team basketball," Harrison told the paper. "The game is played inside out, not outside in. You play team basketball, no problem.


"You have to establish the inside game first. Shaquille is the most dominant player to ever play the game. You have to pass him the ball. Let's stop the drama and just play ball."


Bryant scored 31 points on 10-of-26 shooting in Game 1. O'Neal scored 19 on 8-of-14 shooting.


O'Neal and Bryant publicly feuded in October. Shaq called the Lakers "my team," adding that Bryant needed to be more of a team player.


Bryant then ripped into O'Neal during a telephone interview with ESPN, calling him "childlike," "unprofessional," "selfish," "fat" and "jealous."


They settled into an uneasy truce before the start of the regular season, but are not close, according to Harrison.


"They just work together and that's all," he told the paper.

 

[elindholm]

More of the same?

Yep. O'Neal could be one of the greatest ever to play the game also, if he'd get his fat ass in shape and hustle once in a while. But Bryant's army of PR men are fighting a bigger battle than the ones with the Lakers.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Statistically, Shaq gets more passes from #8 than any other player on the Lakers.

 

[SweetD]

Statistically, Shaq gets more passes from #8 than any other player on the Lakers.

That is becouse when you jump in the air and have no were to go you pass it to the biggest one out there.

 

[playstation]

that is also because you are more likely to receive the ball from the guy who handles the ball the most than from anyone else.

 

[Joe Mama]

that is also because you are more likely to receive the ball from the guy who handles the ball the most than from anyone else.

Exactly. When I heard the commentators say that the other night like it proved something I started laughing. It shouldn't surprise anyone that Shaquille O'Neal gets more assists from KB than anyone else. Kobe Bryant is the primary ball handler in three quarters of their possessions.

Joe Mama