When the heck did everyone get so chummy?

[fordronken]

Granted, I'm happy, because I don't want the Suns getting chippy with a vastly inferior team. You should only get angry against your real rivals for the title. But still...since when does everybodly like each other so damned much?


http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0423kobeqanda-CR.html

On Leandro Barbosa's speed: "That one time he just ran by Smush Parker, and Smush had like a five-foot cushion on him. I'm standing in the corner with Raja Bell. I look up and he's at half court and Smush is back-pedaling by the three-point line. I turn back around and this kid's at the basket. I was like, 'What the hell?" ... You need like a 10-foot cushion with this guy. You just have to be smart about the angles you take. The kid is fast as (expletive.) That's the best way I can say it."

On going against Shawn Marion: "He can guard all kinds of people from me to Yao Ming. He's extremely versatile, extremely talented and quick. And obviously extremely long, so the strategy changes drastically when he's guarding me as opposed to Raja Bell. They have different stengths."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0424bryant0424.html

"You just don't want to give Kobe a chance to win the game going down the stretch," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Anytime he doesn't do that, you think, 'Wow, that's good.'

"I'd say this is his prime but his prime could last four or five years. He's in his sweet spot."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0424suns0424.html

"You've got that gorilla in the middle," Bryant said. "Stoudemire. He makes it tough on our guys out there because he's a great shot-blocker. You have to pound the ball inside, but it's not easy to do it so we have to be a little bit smarter about it."

The newly named Sixth Man Award winner scored 26, including 15 straight Suns points in the game's key run.

"I'm not going to say he's Kobe Bryant yet," Jackson said. "He's defendable."

http://eastvalleytribune.com/story/88377

The key to the quick thaw in the Kobe Bryant-Raja Bell feud? Turns out it was Phil Jackson. The Zen Master often distributes books designed to open the minds of his players, and Bryant said one Jackson literary suggestion led him take a different look at foils such as Bell and San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen.

Neither Jackson nor Bryant could remember the name of the book, but the theme stuck.

“It talked about warriors respecting other warriors,” said Bryant, who needed 33 shots to score 39 points in Sunday’s 95-87 loss in Game 1. “If you have respect for your opponent, you have to play hard every time. It gave me a new perspective on things. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Raja and what he does. I enjoy matching up with him because I know he’s going to play hard every time.”

 

[abomb]

Game recognize game. It's people (the players) viewing things for what they are and not with their bias and fan glasses on.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Game recognize game. It's people (the players) viewing things for what they are and not with their bias and fan glasses on.

 

[TucsonDevil]

But still...since when does everybodly like each other so damned much?

Good Point... for the record, I don't like you. OK, is that better?

 

[Bufalay]

kobe fears phx

 

[Chaplin]

20 to 1, a part of it is a mandate from the NBA to try to get away from it's "thug" reputation.

 

[Alan]

I just wonder what the reaction would be if Don Imus called Amare "that gorilla."

 

[jbeecham]

I just wonder what the reaction would be if Don Imus called Amare "that gorilla."

No kidding.......it would be national news

 

[msdundee]

Game recognize game. It's people (the players) viewing things for what they are and not with their bias and fan glasses on.

There's that -- possibly due to some lessons learned last year when the verbal put-downs in interviews wound up being joke material -- and it's probably partly a result of the course of this season.

As far as I can recall, nobody's ever questioned Kobe's unbelievable talent or his ability to take over a game. It would be foolish to deny it or refuse to acknowledge it. Raja's admitted the best he can do is slow him down or make him work for his shots. I do have a hard time believing that Phil's book (so influential neither can remember the title) could so profoundly affect Kobe's general attitude toward opponents. I admit to skepticism, but in the comment on LB why does the "I was standing in the corner with Raja" sound a bit contrived?

The Mr. Congeniality contest will blow up if the going gets rough in this series.

 

[msdundee]

I just wonder what the reaction would be if Don Imus called Amare "that gorilla."

Somebody should tell Penny Marshall to get on PJ's case. She told Sarver she doesn't like that our mascot's a gorilla and we should get rid of him (from "the book").

 

[DeAnna]

It's called "damage-control"

 

[elindholm]

A year ago, the feistiness in the series helped Phoenix come back from 3-1 -- the Suns benefitted from the increased intensity while the Lakers, as a team, folded. Jackson has told his troops to turn on the charm, hoping that a friendly foe will have a better chance.

 

[msdundee]

A year ago, the feistiness in the series helped Phoenix come back from 3-1 -- the Suns benefitted from the increased intensity while the Lakers, as a team, folded. Jackson has told his troops to turn on the charm, hoping that a friendly foe will have a better chance.

I believe that. But you can bet that the intensity will increase again as the series continues, and acting is just that -- acting. Give the Suns credit for being just as smart as we are.

 

[Renz]

Can't we all just get along?

You must be registered for see images attach