Phil Jackson downplays Los Angeles Lakers perfect start
The Los Angeles Lakers started their title defence this season with a bang as they posted seven-straight wins, highlighted by their recent dominating victory over the Portland Trail Blazers,
121-96, on Sunday, which opened comparisons to the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls squad.
However, head coach Phil Jackson, who also coached the Bulls team that posted a 72-10 record in the 1995-96 season, downplayed their perfect start as well as comparison, saying that it is
too early to make an assessment.
“No, we're not going to do anything like that,” Jackson said in ESPN interview. “The season is too long. The travel is too difficult in the West conference. We just have to try and step out
and get ahead of people in our division, our conference and play as it comes a long.”
Jackson also added that their current lineup could not be compared to the 1995-96 Bulls who were a much more defensive minded than they are right now, although offence wise, they can contend
with that team.
“Not the same defense, unfortunately,” Jackson said. “We have a lot of offensive prowess, we're very good offensively, but the defense isn't quite the same.”
Lakers centre Pau Gasol, who recorded a triple-double against Portland with his 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, said that they are not aiming to surpass the 72-win season of the Bulls,
and they aren’t even thinking of finishing the regular season with the best record.
“We go game by game,” Gasol said. “We really don't talk about going for the best record. We just try to deal with the everyday situations. So far we're doing good.”
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, said that their 7-0 start is nothing for them since their goal this season is to make their fourth-straight finals appearance and bag their
third-straight title, and not reaching certain amount of regular-season victories.
“It just means we're 7-0. It's really no big deal,” said Bryant in an interview after their game against Portland. “I don't really think it matters right now. You want to win every game obviously.
We're 7-0 and you're all excited but we want to play for June.”
The Lakers remained as one of the two undefeated teams in the league, along with the New Orleans Hornets, who are still unbeaten in their first six games of the season. The Lakers will be
on a six-game road trip and Bryant hopes that they can continue winning. “This is great. Hopefully we can continue be in cruise control,” Bryant said.
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