Tex Winter on Kobe’s best: now or before?

March 2nd, 2008, 12:22 pm · Post a Comment · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM

LOS ANGELES — Glad to see Tex Winter back around the Lakers. I caught up with him the hallway at Staples Center and asked him for his take on the team. Among the things we discussed was whether Kobe Bryant is playing better than ever previously.

“I’ve seen him at least play as good,” Winter said. “I think he’s playing well. During the championship runs with Shaq on the post, I’ve seen him be a little bit more effective. He got the ball to Shaq (O’Neal) an awful lot. I don’t think Shaq ever really did appreciate how much Kobe did get him easy opportunities.”

Bryant is doing quite well to set up his teammates now, though, Winter stressed. Everybody on this roster is, just the way the triangle offense is meant to go: “They love to play in the team concept, and that is what we want.”

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