Pau Gasol, better or what you expected, surprised with how well he fitted?

"Ithought two years ago Pau was really terrific, game on our court he wasreally instrumental, hard to stop him at the end, Memphis gave ustrouble then. I was reminiscing back about it before we got him aboutwhere would he be physically, would he be that guy two years ago whereyou had to double him to get ball out of his hands? He is that guy.Strong enough to get to basket/foul line and make passes to openplayers. Makes big difference on our team.

Ever seen player enter mix like Pau so fluidly?

"Not since Sheed."

Surprised at Phoenix's last game?

"Pistonshave such great success against Shaq. Two years ago Pistons got deepbut Heat beat them, even during that series it was weighed, Shaq hadtrouble with Sheed. Sheed kinda likes that challenge, long arms/strongshoulders, Shaq has trouble against him. Phoenix looked like they hadno one else to go to except for Amare. Detroit is good defensive team."

Courage, how much is Kobe showing playing through pain?

"It'staken enough of of his game where he is playing best bball sinceplayoffs of 2001 when he came back from injury and we went on tear.That's the level he's playing at now. Time before he got hurt that yearwhere locker room was little volatile, halftime in Minny, Kobe waslittle angry at reproval he got from Harper, Ronnie was kinda myspokesperson about team ball, Kobe tried to get after Harper, Harp saidwe're here to help you, not here to hinder your game. You have toinclude us when you play, when you do that you get better and we getbetter too. That's basically what Kobe feels now, everyone can helpthis team win, he's just there to kinda facilitate and help everyoneelse, he's doing that exceptionally well. He hasn't had to pull backand do that one on one stuff, he did that a little against Phoenix, buthe went right back to team ball after one of those efforts didn't comeup right, that's where his judgment has really improved over the years."

Evolutionof relationship with Kobe, tough times this summer, one thing that wasclear was that he considered you his number one man in his corner, farcry from the way it was, how did that change between the two of you?

"Kobeunderstood when I was out on sabbatical he was blamed for a lot of whatwent down with the Lakers (i.e.) he was the reason for the Shaq trade,reason team didn't succeed, easy to point finger at him. Unfortunatelyno one stepped up and defended him. When I came back, I wanted tocontact Kobe and let him know I knew the truth of the situation, Iwanted to try and help and organize the team. That if he wanted tocollude with me on that, that we could team up together and get thisdone. He was willing to take that step. Wasn't an easy step becauseI've been critical of Kobe and written about it, he knew that. He saidif you have something to talk about or critique my game, come talk tome about it. That's what we've done."

Kobe's future?

"Ifwe get Drew back and have full roster in the playoffs, I'm sure a lotof it will depend on success of how we play. If we don't get healthyroster, we'll have summer where everyone will come back next seasonpointed towards one goal, Kobe will be on board with. Won't have allureto go anywhere else when he knows the potential of this team, I thinkhe's seen (seated?) here."

Kobe's iron will? Most valuable player in this league?

"Onlyone other player that stands at this level. Garnett. Remarkable trade,the collusion of those teams to get together and Boston's resurgencewill be an MVP factor. But only other person that's there is Lebron,plays at high level. Although not quite as successful, they did get toFinals last year, I don't see voting going anywhere else except thosethree players."

Kobe has better skills than MJ, agree?

"Hedoes. There are some things MJ had that Kobe doesn't. Bigger body,stronger, Kobe's strong, but Mike had incredible hands, million dollarhands, could do so many things besides being fouled and make baskets,take ball to hoop and getting hit without losing control of ball.Physically irreplaceable. Kobe's outside shooting is perhaps better,MJ's interior better, nobody's been a better inside player, that'sincluding Oscar who was very good in the low post. Thing about MJ washe would go on scoring tear, a retribution night, he would go againstthe opp leading scorer since 'he and I are matched up and I need totake him down a notch', he wouldn't do the kind of 50 pt sequence thatKobe did last year though, where Kobe just obliterated the record booksand just went out and had a hot tear where he tore up the league, 10games over 50. When you look at it, MJ shot 49-50%, Kobe hasn't beenable to do it. Shooting percentages were quite a bit different."

Doyou still relive that week in Detroit during 04 Finals? Karl Maloneinjury. Game 4 where Shaq was absolutely destroying Ben and Kobe wasjust gunning and went 10-28 and lose by 4. It seemed like he had amindset that they were going to win a championship but he was going towalk away with MVP, and it backfired, lousy shooting games. Let's sayyou get to Finals this year and win, and Pau wins Finals MVP, will thatupset Kobe?

"No, I don't think those things, that won't matterto him, those personal wars. I'm sure he would love to have an MVPaward, in the end result, he knows that winning is key, it's what keepseveryone happy. He has the personal accolades with scoring titles andbeing touted best player in the NBA. The Pistons finals, there aretimes when you feel planets are not aligned right. Every time jump ballShaq was called for stealing the tap. Series was weighted against.Nothing Shaq could do inside that wasn't offensive foul, three secondsin the lane, Kobe saw that, he saw the daunting nature of what washolding Shaq back from exerting his force that he could or he had inthe previous three championships. Larry Brown did good job lobbying forall those things, stealing the tip and offensive fouls. It was a myriadof those types of things that I think weighed in on that series."

Yoursense of calm, stoic composure in the face of chaos, you know you freakout Laker fans when you let squad play through it, is there a processyou go through when you finally call that timeout?

"Yes. Younoticed that's something I do as far as teaching tool. Reorganizingyourself, nonverbal communication, the right kinda sequence you want tohave happen. Rarely do on road, typically at home. Teach certain senseof determination. When I was a player my mentor Coach Red, would askwhat do you guys want to run, your the ones on the floor, what do youfeel, take it inside, outside shot, penetrate, punish this team? ThoseKnicks team were extremely poised and had self contained and hadawareness. I'd like to see that happen with this team. I have theleadership now with Fisher and Kobe."

Sabbatical you went on, New Zealand, hanging out with Luc Longley. Coolest thing you saw? See any great whites?

"UnfortunatelyI was really testing myself to see if I was going to be able to make itas a world traveler on my own with my hip. I was in Bora Bora in thishotel where these rays, large as 7 or 8 feet wide, snorkeling in thatwater was pretty phenomenal. Beautiful place to go and experience theenvironment. Luc took me on 4 x 4 atvs, he has this "ranch", I call ithis kangaroo ranch because there really is no ranch there. We wereriding the beach, totally open for miles, goes into circular bay, cameinto this area where he said let me go first, we'll get these giantwaves. Glad we didn't lose our atvs, that was the feeling you had, howwild this country was. We were riding these giant waves fishing forherrings. Pretty exhilarating."

Trip give you great tranquility?

"Itdid. I had great amount of time by myself, segment of trip where I wentto Australian Open where I was kinda guest of tennis match. That partof the trip was public, the rest was very private and personal."

Subliminal messages, listen to what you don't say?

"Spacebetween the music is what they always say a great composer is able todo or great songwriters. Not always the music that's played, but thespace between it. Vic and I understand each other."

Ariza timetable?

"Anxiousto get him back. With Luke and Vlade a little dinged up as season hasgone through it's course, we need another SF. Kobe has amply taken overthat spot and been comfortable there, but we miss/need someone else totake over that load with speed/quickness/defense. Trevor was set back alittle bit, doctor says there still is healing process still needs togo on, so timetable pushed back a little. Hope to have him on floor inlast week of April. If he can get few games in he'll be able to help usright away in the playoffs."