"Shaq and Kobe Bond as Brothers"

Here is an article that twists my nerves. i don't really understand what they're trying to prove but whatever.

<b><i>Shaq and Kobe Bond as Brothers</b></i>

June 11, 2002


Opponents had difficulty dealing with them when they were only teammates. After all, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant did win their first NBA championship when they had little in common beyond their Lakers uniforms. But now that they have developed a partnership, perhaps even a brotherhood, they have a chance to become the most dominant tandem in basketball history.

It was detrimental for the Nets the previous night when the center and the guard passed the basketball and the scoring burden in a 106-103 victory that pushed Los Angeles to the threshold of a third consecutive title. For the rest of the league, the way O'Neal and Bryant exchanged compliments during yesterday's interview sessions at Continental Airlines Arena might prove more ominous. There's no telling how long the reign will last as long as they continue their mutual admiration society.

Although the two players joined the Lakers the same season, O'Neal was an established star and Bryant a prodigy fresh from his high school graduation. Once the latter grew into a star, they appeared to expend as much energy competing for the ball and for attention as they did subjugating rival teams.

According to reserve Brian Shaw, it was midway through the 2000-2001 season when " ... they realized life would be easier if they worked off each other." The result was an unprecedented 15-1 joyride through the postseason last year and a more grueling but equally satisfying march into the 2002 NBA Finals, which they can conclude with a sweep by winning Game 4 tomorrow night.

To say they now appreciate what each has done for the other would be an understatement. "I'm just glad to be part of that one-two punch," said O'Neal, almost certain to earn MVP honors in a championship series for the third successive time.

In the first two games of the series at the Staples Center, the Lakers didn't need the full combination. Credit Bryant with recognizing it and adapting to the situation. "It was just a classic example of our growth and maturity, of me being able to take a couple of steps back," he said. "Because they had no answer for Shaquille. They just let him dominate the game."

When the Nets changed their strategy in Game 3, doubling and tripling O'Neal in the post during the second half, Bryant was ready. Whereas the center had overpowered New Jersey to close out the first two games, Bryant took over in the fourth quarter Sunday night, accounting for a dozen of his 36 points in the final 12 minutes.

"Kobe saw Shaq was tired, saw that their defense was collapsing [on O'Neal], knew that we had to find another way to score," coach Phil Jackson said. "He knew he could attack the seams because we talked about the zone and the seams, and he found a way to finish the game off."

<b>One day later, Bryant said he didn't even take exception to the pregame comments of Nets coach (and former Lakers teammate) Byron Scott, who suggested the lowly Memphis Grizzlies would have represented the Western Conference in the Finals had they suited up O'Neal. The remark certainly appeared to denigrate the contribution of Bryant, himself a first-team All-Star, but the player disagreed.

"I think that's probably a true statement," Bryant said. "You can't take any other player, except maybe Wilt Chamberlain, who can make that big an impact on a team. You throw the ball in the post and teams have to change their whole defense. Not just one or two guys but all five guys on defense have to make an adjustment."</b> What's Kobe trying to say here?

To the lithe 6-7 guard, who won't turn 24 until August, the 7-1 O'Neal remains the hub around which the Lakers revolve. Not to be outdone, O'Neal had this to say about Bryant: "He's the best player in this league. The scary thing about that is he doesn't think he is and he wants to get better, and he will get better."

The increased respect for each other's talents has led to greater cohesion on the court, enabling the Lakers to overcome major deficits against San Antonio in the conference semifinals and a 3-2 disadvantage in the conference finals against a deeper, faster Sacramento team. "It's been very pleasing for me as a coach," Jackson said, "to see the two of them find success and complement each other and play a partner role together in [finding] a way to win."

It was Jackson who convinced Bryant that if he shaped his game to complement O'Neal's, " ... Shaquille would recognize his dominance and his abilities and give him more and more space as they went into maturity together as teammates."

Sure enough, O'Neal decided yesterday that there is only one thing lacking in Bryant's game. "I think sometimes he needs more room to operate," the big man said.

"We understand our relationship," Bryant noted. "I understand my role perfectly. My teammates know that, Shaquille knows that ... It took a long road to get here, we had our ups and downs. From here on out, it should be pretty smooth sailing."

So much so that O'Neal now considers Bryant family. "I'm glad to be his older brother," the 30-year-old center said. "So when I get old and retire, I can say, 'I taught him everything he knew.'"

That can't happen fast enough for the rest of the league.
Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.