In Web of Intrigue, Jackson a Kobe Ally

Phil Jackson has hinted at philosophical differences with Kobe Bryant regarding the offense, and now Jackson’s friend, co-author and former assistant coach, Charley Rosen, advocates the Lakers trade Bryant.

In his Internet column, he maintains that Bryant has not been held accountable by a “jock-sniffing” Los Angeles media, a description arrived at, perhaps, while waving school girlishly at Jackson before a game last week.

Rosen was at the press table in New Jersey and Jackson on the sideline preparing to, you know, coach a basketball game. Finally, Jackson returned the wave, ending the humiliation and allowing Rosen to take his seat with the rest of the Pulitzer winners.

Already having sold out a longtime friend, 80-year-old Tex Winter, for the sake of his fledgling dotcom career, Rosen continues to receive royalties from a book he wrote with Jackson last year, and in the past months has praised Jackson’s work in at least three columns.

Jackson said Sunday his friend chooses to view the Bryant situation as “half empty,” and that Jackson is the optimist of the two.

“He knows what I want,” Jackson said of Bryant. “I’ve come to the conclusion he’s got a tremendous challenge. I’m making him do a lot more than he’s capable of doing inside the offense.”

While there have been occasional comparisons drawn between Bryant and Michael Jordan in terms of their roles within Jackson’s offense, Jackson said Bryant often has been asked to play the parts of both Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Jordan, Jackson said, never had to set up the offense or handle the ball through pressure, as Bryant does.

“I can’t fault Kobe for a lot of things,” Jackson said. “And I’ve asked him to be more aggressive on top of it. I think he’ll find his way back into the offense before the season’s too far along. He’s got a rebellious side in him. I know that.”

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Samaki Walker, who has started 18 games at power forward, was unavailable for a second consecutive game because of tonsillitis. He was recovering at home and will be re-evaluated this week. A tonsillectomy has not yet been discussed. Mark Madsen started Sunday against Toronto.