So much of this season in LA, the turmoil and drama, the fun for everyone else, has been focused squarely on Dwight Howard. No, I’m not here to say while the whole world was looking right I’m looking left, and have an atom-splitting perspective on why the Lakers are were a mess. In fact, as criticisms of a guy who I simply enjoy watching each and every night (not named Lebron James) start to rise, I’m dumbfounded how “benefit of the doubt” and “Dwight Howard” get used in the same breath. But I can’t change the world’s mind if Kobe Bryant turns to villain here, or at least unfairly gets his share of criticisms. Oh wait, you thought I was talking about Kobe not deserving any criticisms for play on the court? No sir, in fact, I’m right there with you. Where I stand up and leave the room, is when I get the proverbial “Kobe isn’t being a leader with his handling of Dwight”. Kobe is doing just that, and more.

I’m reminded of Phil Jackson as both the Zen Master but also, and maybe more importantly, a master of chaos. In most cases, the chaos he created. From the constant wedges driven between massive egos of Michael Jordan and really everyone else on that Bulls team combined, to masterfully running the mind game of the decade on Kobe. With the feud between Shaq and Bryant spilling out of control, of course not winning fueled it, but the idea of Phil Jackson walking away was very real. Kobe was too young to realize the loss of Jackson would be devastating  and let ego take over. We know the rest, Jackson returns, under his own terms, as Bryant was all but pleading for the return of the legendary coach. What a power play, but it could only happen with a couple of key factors in play. Jackson had a resume second to none, proven success with the rings and all. Second, Jackson was not afraid to play chicken, but really play the game. Knowing that any threat or form of foreshadowing that he would leave if things didn’t change, would have to be followed up immediately by him walking. Which of course, he did. The seed was planted.

Fast forward to February 23rd, where the Lakers look like they’ve turned a corner, and Dwight Howard has been a huge part of it. Kobe even recognized his new teammate’s efforts, and it was after scoring 40 on the Blazers where Bryant took notice of Howard. So, can we now say the team has turned a corner? The Lakers are back…Right? Not yet, but watch the progression. Despite a miserable ASG performance (9 out of a possible 281points just won’t cut it) Howard has played noticeably better the last two games. Oh wait, you thought I meant progression of the team here? The gelling of Nash/Howard/Kobe? No the relationship, and how it continues to parallel the tough love Bryant received. The Lakers talk to the media, so did Phil. Bryant has alienated the (other) star player on the team at the risk of losing games, just to prove a point, so did Phil. By tearing Howard down, Bryant appears to be building him back up, as Phil did to Kobe. So the big question is not will these two co-exist this year, but more importantly how will they work together in Bryant’s final season next year. Howard may be better off playing possum until Bryant walks, the old mind control over Deebo, “When Bryant leaves, I’ll be talking again.”

As the season moves from regular to the playoffs, remember the relationships that Phil Jackson worked so hard to master. How he cultivated them with monsters like MJ, Shaq, & Bryant. How he managed and used tension between the role players and secondary stars, be it a Scottie Pippen or younger Kobe Bryant. The system that worked so well is the same one in which Kobe Bryant came up in. The same one that’s resulted in not one not two but five rings. Tough love has worked for Bryant, it’s made him a better player, and it’s not outside the realm of any possibility he’s trying to get Dwight Howard up to speed the only way he knows how. While the new coach and point guard are working on getting that offense up and running more consistently, there’s another dynamic worth watching. How Phil Jackson’s legacy is still working, in this case working it’s way through Kobe Bryant to hopefully light a fire under Dwight Howard. But one thing we know from history, it won’t be easy… for anyone.