Michael Ventre

Love triangles rarely work out to the satisfaction of all three parties. Someone ends up bitter and crushed while the other two live in bliss. Sometimes all three go their separate ways, each unfulfilled.

The Los Angeles Lakers once had such an arrangement, only theirs was more like a hate triangle. Kobe Bryant hated Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq hated him back with equal gusto. Kobe hated Phil Jackson. Phil grew to hate Kobe, or at least he hated working with him, enough so that he put his feelings on paper for all to see. Only Shaq and Phil coexisted in relative harmony, only their union eventually was torn asunder by a heartless patriarch named Jerry Buss.

But life takes kooky turns, especially when it comes to relationships. Against all odds, Kobe and Phil have been reunited. They’re together again in Lakerland, the sagacious mentor and the headstrong young superstar. They said it wouldn’t last, but it’s been more than two weeks now and there hasn’t yet been any talk of annulment.

The second time around is not always successful, however. Feelings change. People drift apart. The old spark isn’t always there.

In the case of Kobe and Phil, they have the added burden of knowing that they’re no longer surrounded by the most dominant big man in the game, plus lesser but still important cogs like Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Brian Shaw, Horace Grant, Ron Harper and others.

While the hate triangle festered, Jackson’s triangle offense produced three straight NBA titles. But those days are gone forever.

Now that the source of many of their problems is in a Miami Heat uniform, will Kobe and Phil discover peace and happiness together?

It depends on your definition of peace and happiness.

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If it means that Kobe and Phil will be better at understanding each other’s wants and needs, communicate freely and openly, and work toward a common goal, then yes, they’ll get there.

But if it means recapturing the magic of those championship days, then no, this relationship is already on the rocks.

Getting rid of Shaq was an idiotic move in pure basketball terms. With him inside and Kobe on the perimeter, the Lakers had something special. Without Shaq, the Lakers were a lottery team, an assertion that was confirmed when they made the lottery.

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But Kobe certainly was happier with Shaq out of the picture. He could do whatever he wanted. He could shoot fadeaway three-pointers while double-teamed. He could put the ball on the floor and try to outmaneuver three defenders. He could refuse to pass the ball.

While Kobe managed to establish himself as king of the franchise, it was a Pyrrhic victory, because the Lakers’ championship cachet was wiped out. All he had in the end was scorn, lots of losses and an occasional rebound from Chris Mihm.