Everyone and their momma knows that the "zen master" loves to play mind games. It's game 2 of the series and Lakers have lost the first one. To add to that, it's TIED at half-time even with Yao in foul trouble. He knows that if lakers lose this one, the series is pretty much done. I can pretty much see what happened in the locker room at halftime. "Guys, we need to make this game more than just about who's the better talented team." The 2nd half of the game turns into a wrestling match and Phil Jackson's hope of Artest going berzerk and getting himself in a fight and getting suspended ALMOST comes true. Instead, he gets thrown out of the game and now the series is still up for grabs. The 2nd half physicality was not "play-off" basketball. It was a deliberate attempt to get Ron all riled up. Artest didn't break but he sure did crack. It will be crucial for Rockets to expect cheap-shots but just brush them off and win like in game 1.
Kobe has already gotten away with two acts that would get most players ejected, so it seems that anything short of him getting into a fight wont cause any action by the refs or the league. Thats why the Rockets coaching staff as well as players have to make sure Artest knows that he has to keep his cool and not try and take the action into his own hands with anyone on the Lakers try and bait him into an altercation. We cant win the series without Artest being focused and playing well and the Lakers are going to do any and everything to try and cause a meltdown by Ron Ron.
Brian Cook, earn your salary. Rick Adelman, let Brian Cook earn his salary. That's all I'm going to say.
Brian cook is sleeping with the enemy. He probably gave Battier false reports and is leaking information to the other side. I say COOK Cook!!
Your entire "Zen Master" theory is that Jackson told his players they need to play with more physicality? Considering he said that in this in his post game press conference after game 1 it's not exactly a secret And his "mind games" on Artest didn't work. Artest didn't retaliate. All that happened was Kobe threw an elbow randomly and they threw Ron out for his audacity in getting his throat in Kobe's elbow's way. All that doesn't take too much strategy to throw a dirty elbow ... BAN
You want to teach them a lesson, not murder somebody. I'm pretty sure Dorsey's hands are deadly weapons.
The Zen Master has looked more like The Space Cadet for the past couple of years. Is he on meds or something? He looks seriously spaced out more often than not.
