Phil not playing by Jordan rules

So, in a nutshell, Phil Jackson is now admitting to having won three straight NBA titles with one lazy superstar (Shaq) and one uncoachable superstar (Kobe).

While it is amazing that he came back to coach the same one previously deemed uncoachable, the icing on the cake is Phil, after coaching Michael Jordan for all those years, implying that Dwyane Wade is frequently the beneficiary of overly generous referees in regard to uncalled traveling violations.

CHARLES E. SMITH

Santa Ana

For a guy who talks like Mike, walks like Mike and sometimes even plays like him, Kobe Bryant certainly wasn’t anything close to Jordan on Christmas Day.

Flu or no flu, that was the sullen, feeling-sorry-for-himself Bryant we haven’t seen since Game 7 of last season’s playoffs.

Thanks for the gutless performance, Kobe. Here’s hoping the NBA serves up a better matchup next season.

CHRISTOPHER WATERS

Redondo Beach