Phil Jackson & Kobe's Back

In game 4 of the playoff series between Utah and the Lakers, the ovetime battle came down to a bad back, and a bad coaching decision.

Kobe Bryant tried to pull a Michael Jordan, or even a Willis Reed. This is what great athletes do during duress and discomfort. Unfortunately, Kobe looked less than mortal with his ailment. Hence, the Lakers allowed the Jazz to tie the series at two a piece, with the series heading back to Los Angeles.

Kobe was not superman during the final quarter and overtime period, as his two for thirteen performance sadly shows. However, the question is should Kobe have even been playing with the obvious pain he was in?

It was so obvious that Kobe was in pain that all Jazz player Andrei Kirilenko had to do was reach over Kobe's shoulder to block his shot. At that point or even before, coach Phil Jackson should have pulled Kobe. Yes, Bryant made a gallant effort but the rest of the Lakers only attempted three shots during the overtime period; instead waiting or expecting Kobe to make passes.

If Jackson had pulled Bryant, it goes without saying that Kobe would not have been happy with the decision. In hindsight however, Kobe was hurting his team and Jackson should have made the change.

Another element is that we don't know how serious Kobe's back is for game five? Bryant says he will play, but with a touchy back you just don't know what to expect. One thing is clear, if Kobe displays any of the pain that he showed Sunday, Jackson better pull his superstar or risk the game and series. Utah has been allowed to even up the series, but anymore foolish decisions like Sunday may have grave consequences in the next seven days, and later with lots of questions to answer.