Bryant Thrives With an Assist From Jackson

Red Auerbach and others often criticized Jackson for "picking his spots" and taking ready-made contending teams led by Jordan and O'Neal to nine NBA championships. After a year away from basketball, during which he traveled to Australia and New Zealand, he has found enjoyment in nurturing this group and leading it to an 11-game improvement from last season. "That's the joy of coaching for me," Jackson said.

Jackson has had occasional differences with Bryant over shot selection and his tendency to break free of Jackson's share-the-ball philosophy. But if Jackson has had any problems with Bryant, he has mostly kept them private, rarely sending his message through the media, as he did previously with both Bryant and O'Neal.

They also relate on a much more personal level. Jackson and Bryant huddled to work out the strategy against the Suns and there have been several times when Bryant has given Jackson pats or when the two crack jokes in the team huddles or practice. "We're talking, joking around on the bus. It's been a great relationship and it's made the season more enjoyable," Bryant said.

"We've kind of come over a hurdle of the despondency of last year to the optimism of this year and in doing so, he's kind of pulled [his teammates] up by the bootstraps with his scoring and ability," Jackson said. "Right now, he's really confident that his teammates can do things out on the floor and he's helping them develop their game. He's doing a real good job being a floor general on the court."

In the first two games of this series against Phoenix, Bryant has helped dispel perceptions that his dominance of the ball throughout the regular season stunted the growth of his teammates. Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, Luke Walton and Smush Parker have all emerged as forces against the Suns. Bryant often lost his cool this season, out of frustration with his teammates, but his growth as a leader can be seen when he tracks down Kwame Brown after a missed shot or fumbled pass to tell him that it's okay; or when he chased down Steve Nash after the reigning MVP got into a little exchange with reserve guard Sasha Vujacic. "Sasha's like my little brother. I'm not going to let anybody pick on my little brother," Bryant said.

Bryant later provided retaliation when he caught a pass from Lamar Odom and elevated from just outside the paint for a full-extension jam over Nash, who dropped flat on his back. "He has that swagger that gives his teammates the ability to feel that they can follow him because they know that he's going to give them production every night," Jackson said.

Bryant offered a simple explanation for why he has bought into Jackson's philosophy this season: "We've won three titles together," Bryant said. "We've been through so many wars."

Only now, they are on the same side.