NBA Final tidbits: Schilling v Kobe/ Walton gets taunted, etc.

CM Diddy · 06-12-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Bryant to Boston ace Schilling: ‘Go Yankees!’

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Curt Schilling called out Kobe Bryant on the Boston Red Sox ace’s blog for yelling at his Los Angeles Lakers’ teammates in their Game 2 loss.

Schilling sat courtside in Boston wearing a Larry Bird jersey and flashing his World Series championship ring for TV cameras. He was within earshot of the Lakers’ bench and made some observations on Bryant.

“He’d yell at someone, make a point, or send a message, turn and walk away, and more than once the person on the other end would roll eyes or give a ‘whatever dude’ look,” Schilling wrote on his web site 38 Pitches.

Asked if he was disappointed in Schilling’s comments, Bryant responded, “Go Yankees!” and pumped his fist, drawing laughter from reporters Wednesday.

Schilling wrote that Bryant came to the bench angry at every timeout and “yelled about something they weren’t doing, or something they did wrong. No dialogue about `hey, let’s go’ or whatever.” Schilling said Bryant’s comments were peppered with expletives.

Bryant was unapologetic.
“After the time of all those bleeps, we almost pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in history,” he said. “It seemed to motivate them pretty well.”

The Lakers rallied from 24 points down in the fourth quarter to get within two before losing 108-102. They won Game 3 Tuesday night and trail the series 2-1.

Bryant said he doesn’t worry that he’s too hard on his teammates.
“They’re used to it, and we all have thick skin around here,” he said. “We’re brutally honest with each other. We all love it.”

CALLER ID: Occasionally, Luke Walton picks up his phone and gets an earful.
“This is Paul Pierce,” the caller says. “You’re a bum, and all your teammates are bums.”

Only it isn’t actually Pierce—or Carlos Boozer or Carmelo Anthony. Instead, it’s just an attempt by Walton’s Hall of Fame father to motivate his son in the NBA finals.

“He wouldn’t even change his voice,” Luke Walton said.
Everyone in the NBA wants to win a title, but Walton has an added motivation: He won’t have to hear from his dad about their disparity in championships any more.

Or not as much, at least.
“It would be a lot easier to have dinner with him,” said the younger Walton, who played at Arizona. “He already talks trash about me not winning an NCAA championship.”

Bill Walton went to UCLA and won two championships, then added to his haul in the NBA when he won three more. He gave the championship rings to his parents, and Luke remembers seeing the baubles when he’d visit his grandparents.

So, if Luke wins one, would he give the ring to his dad?
“I don’t think a Lakers ring is safe in that house,” he said. “It might get mistakenly thrown out.”

STUDENT OF THE GAME: Kevin Garnett’s preparation begins long before he steps on the court.

The Boston Celtics star watches film of previous games once, sometimes twice. He looks for the defensive scheme being used against him and then tries to adjust accordingly in the next game.
It didn’t work so well in Game 3. He was limited to 13 points on 6-for-21 shooting in the Celtics’ 87-81 loss.

“I guess the consistency is the big question mark here,” he said. “Just being consistent with attacking, never letting Pau (Gasol) or whoever is in front of me off the hook. Got to be more consistent with that.”

Garnett is often seen yapping on the court and he says half of his comments are directed at teammates and half at himself.
“I’ve always said I’m my biggest critic, and Doc (Rivers) and people can tell me stuff, but it’s up to me,” he said.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson knows Garnett, along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, will play better.
“If two of the three have good games, we have to keep one of those guys at a sub-par game if we’re going to have a chance to win,” he said.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Doc Rivers reached into the past when he took over Boston’s storied franchise, inviting former Celtics to attend practice.

Sometimes, he didn’t know who they were.
“I actually met some Celtics that I didn’t know were Celtics, some of the newer guys that played one year,” he said, laughing. “I’m very protective about our locker room. I asked, `What the hell is he doing in the locker room?”’

And Rivers was told, “He used to be a Celtic.”
Rivers’ personal favorite is John Havlicek.
“He doesn’t say a lot, he just comes around and he’s him,” Rivers said. “I think that’s enough.”

The late Red Auerbach, who coached the Celtics to a record nine NBA titles, gave Rivers the best advice he’s heard.
“Be you,” Rivers recalled. “Don’t ever be concerned what anybody wants you to be as a coach or as a person.”

Auerbach offered two bits of basketball advice: “Be the agitators, don’t be the retaliators” and “Get the ball, don’t give up the ball.”
“I use both of those a lot with our players,” Rivers said.
AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen contributed to this report

LOL @ Walton calling his son to heckle the shit out of him.

Markus · 06-12-2008, 01:27 PM

What a jerkbag if i was Walton i would not give my dad a ring and tell him to go fuck himself. As for Schilling he needs to mind his own damn buisness please!

NBA Final tidbits: Schilling v Kobe/ Walton gets taunted, etc.

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