Phil Jackson feels Durant gets preferential treatment

[Rip32]

If you say that I get superstar calls or I get babied by the refs, that's just taking away from how I play. That's disrespectful to me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5091485

I find it rather odd that Phil Jackson of all people would do this, he did coach MJ and Kobe, both of which are the poster boys for "that was a foul?" exclamations. I just don't see a reason to say anything, I don't think it's going to change the way the game is officiated; maybe he's trying to get the calls even for his man (Kobe) and Durant.

[Andrew]

It comes off as arrogant and incredibly hypocritical given the calls Kobe gets, but it's a typical Jackson mindgame that he plays very, very well. The intention was to get under Durant's skin and I'd say he's achieved that.

[NovU]

As soon as I saw the title, I thought of the following...

Jackson might be setting the stage to get a few calls to go his way

I agree with what KD said in his response. He's been a nice guy on the court and didn't deserve that from Phil Jackass.

[Andrew]

Agreed, but it's a Jackson trademark and he does it very well. He's no fool...unless he truly believes what he's saying and even then he's more a hypocrite than a fool.

[Phil89]

Yeah, Durant gets everything his own way. Just like against Utah the other day where he got fouled and made free throws to win the game.

Oh wait..

Yeah now I remember. He didn't get that call, did he Mr Jackson?
To me this says that he is worried about Durant, so he has to try and get under his skin to put him off his game.
Plus, I've seen LeBron. Dwyane Wade and many others using that 'jump into the defender once he's off the ground and get free throws' technique.
If the referees didn't call them, then the players wouldn't do it.

[The X]

Phil is definitely posturing. I like Durant's response though, saying the refs are better than that

[Andrew]

Agreed. Arguably it would've been better if he hadn't responded to it at all but his response was fairly good all the same.

[Sauru]

Plus, I've seen LeBron. Dwyane Wade and many others using that 'jump into the defender once he's off the ground and get free throws' technique.
If the referees didn't call them, then the players wouldn't do it.

this is the one of the biggest problems with the NBA if you ask me. angers me every time i see it happen. the flop also pisses me off, wade won a fucking title by flopping

[Andrew]

I'm not too bothered by faking a defender into the air and drawing a foul on a jumpshot, I think that's a crafty move and one that's been used through the decades. If you fall for a fake, bad things are going to happen. The one that really gets me is when a player drives to the basket, drops his shoulder into the defender to initiate the contact and lays it in, plus the foul. If the offensive player drops their shoulder then it should be a charge or at least a non-call instead of a cheap shooting foul that is often an and-one.

[Phil89]

All I was saying was that it's a low act to use the media to try and unsettle a player, because it's not in the spirit of the game. Let your player's do the talking on the court.
Besides, the league could interpret his comments as suggesting that referees aren't 100% impartial and that they don't do their job properly.

Just saw this as I was typing that:

Los Angeles Lakers' Phil Jackson fined
NEW YORK (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined 35,000 dollars by the NBA on Thursday for criticizing game officials.

The fine was for Jackson's comments prior to the Lakers' victory over Sacramento on Tuesday, but his remarks referred to officiating calls on Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant.

It was the second time this month that Jackson was fined for blasting game officials.

He was docked the same amount for his remarks after a loss to San Antonio on April 4.

It comes off as arrogant and incredibly hypocritical given the calls Kobe gets, but it's a typical Jackson mindgame that he plays very, very well. The intention was to get under Durant's skin and I'd say he's achieved that.

I agree, but I don't really think Durant cares. He will just go out and play his game as he always does I think.

[Jeffx]

I find it rather odd that Phil Jackson of all people would do this, he did coach MJ and Kobe, both of which are the poster boys for "that was a foul?" exclamations.

Exactly. No one got more calls than that punk Michael Jordan, and Big Chief Triangle has the balls to talk about another player? Can't stand that mfer.

[Andrew]

Spoken like a true Knicks fan. I reckon the number of calls that Kobe and LeBron get are comparable.

[shadowgrin]

Jeffx is hardcore, bitches!

[Andrew]

Jackson plays dumb.

On Friday, Jackson said he didn’t see Durant’s response.

“I really don’t know what he was upset about. It really wasn’t that upsetting,” the coach said.

“He shot the most free throws in the league, he made the most free throws in the league, he shot the most shots in the league, he made the most shots in the league. I voted for him on the All-Star team, he made the All-Star team, we know he’s a great player, congratulations.”

The mindgames continue.

[Valor]

that punk Michael Jordan, and Big Chief Triangle has the balls to talk about another player? Can't stand that mfer.

The mindgames continue.

The Zen Master at work, he gets it done on AND off the court

[Modifly]

On Friday, Jackson said he didn’t see Durant’s response.

“I really don’t know what he was upset about. It really wasn’t that upsetting,” the coach said.

“He shot the most free throws in the league, he made the most free throws in the league, he shot the most shots in the league, he made the most shots in the league. I voted for him on the All-Star team, he made the All-Star team, we know he’s a great player, congratulations.”

He's definitely pulling out a mind game on Durant. I think when Durant steps on the court, he'll just "snap" and play his game, do his thing. IMO, this was more about trying to get easier calls from the referees though it was kind of unnecessary in a way.

[Andrew]

Absolutely, it's not as though the Lakers are unable to get calls, particularly Kobe who is adept at drawing them legitimately and like all superstar players, gets the benefit of the doubt on top of that. Perhaps Jackson is slightly worried that the Lakers aren't in top form and the Thunder could at least make things difficult for them, thus he's hedging his bets by playing some mind games and trying to manipulate the officials.

[benji]

particularly Kobe who is adept at drawing them legitimately and like all superstar players, gets the benefit of the doubt on top of that.

Him bitching every possession doesn't help things since he eventually gets a call just to shut him up for a bit.

[Andrew]

I was thinking more of crafty moves that draw contact when the defender bites, but there is that too.

[NovU]

I guess NBA also didn't feel Phil's comment was appropriate, giving him a fine. Jackson playing dumb sure is funny too. What did he expect from Durant after such a comment. Pat on the back for being right?

Anyways, I don't think his comment was neccessary, as they got one of the better defender in Artest. In the playoffs, I think Artest will be a factor, shutting down some key opponents time to time. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Modifly]

Artest better step up his defense in the playoffs if the Lakers want to have any chance of repeating.

[benji]

I was thinking more of crafty moves that draw contact when the defender bites, but there is that too.

He does that once or twice a game, but he bitches so much about meaningless stuff that when you include Gasol and Odom, Lakers games are unwatchable. I cannot think of a team that bitches this much, even Malone wouldn't do it. He'd eventually give up, but Kobe is bitching during blowouts.

And I say this as someone who hates the "consensus" and would give Kobe the MVP before he won it. He's still insufferable, and the media just exaggerates everything about the Lakers. And I love Bynum and Gasol among others.

[Modifly]

You said it best benji. I thought I was the only one who thought that Bryant bitches all game long.

[Andrew]

He does that once or twice a game, but he bitches so much about meaningless stuff that when you include Gasol and Odom, Lakers games are unwatchable. I cannot think of a team that bitches this much, even Malone wouldn't do it. He'd eventually give up, but Kobe is bitching during blowouts.

Couldn't agree more, that bugs me too.

[NovU]

What a bitch.