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I Dennis acronym please be joined by mark Keisler of the Los Angeles Times and author of mad -- ball. They're continuing saga of Kobe Phil and the Los Angeles Lakers mark thanks -- it's time to join us my pleasure. The Lakers -- one of the most storied franchises in all of sports your book chronicles -- history but let's start with this year -- team. They -- -- playing with a purpose after losing to the Celtics in last year's NBA finals out of the finals help this squad for this season. Follows. Did you talk about motivation was like hit them with a cattle prod. No matter what happens this season northern check it everything they do versus the Celtics. And for a long time the Lakers you know that the the season they thought that they were -- the best and they're now getting the idea. That there are not -- the best that you know that that Boston is right there with some. And like that is you saw on the game last night when they come back from a very an impressive road trip and played much better and much better defense against the Bucs. -- let's work our way backwards now have a solid brought in last year at the deadline he. Really mesh well with the team is -- the perfect complement to Kobe Bryant you think. If he's not perfect he's right there. You know Shaquille was actually perfect complement to Kobe. He had -- I think Danny Ainge. Once compared it to Michael Jordan playing we will Chamberlain. But with Powell Powell is a very talented post player which is exactly what -- a compliment to Kobe would be in the triangle. Plus you know there's no interpersonal issues so you know you could say he's his ideal. It was a tumultuous offseason for Kobe before the 20072008. Season. He wanted to leave any ended up staying -- now he seems very very happy but he can opt out after this season. Is there anyway Kobe lasers he'll Laker for life. Well you never want to say no way with Colby. You know he had been the perfect soldier for three years for the after Shaquille laughed and then all of a sudden he realized how hopeless situation wise. At that point I thought the Lakers were going away forever and I was pretty reasonable expectation. And you -- at that point he really did one out of here and the thing about Kobe is if he decides somethin' you know you're going to have a lot you've got a lot of trouble under the sign him. So going in the last season I just didn't understand that you see you know how they could exit and they fixed -- you know and the Andrew Bynum development. Is completely turned -- around them they got -- next thing you know Kobe is looking around the league in this is the best team now. Having said all that they'd better win a championship this year because the all that ever counts is how people feel on the last day. And that all depends on the they would championship so it's more about winning the money for Kobe at the stats clearly people people misunderstand Kobe on that Kobe Kobe can can make a lot of money anywhere. This whole thing about Europe is as looney tunes. You know Kobe's Kobe isn't the you know he's on the Michael Jordan -- Kobe wants to be remembered as the best ever. And European championships are going to have anything do with that. Not quite NBA championships Zeneca. They -- couldn't let's get out here without talking about the Shaq Kobe -- both guys say it's behind them but Shaq recently when Phil Jackson for all their troubles. And even hinted he may want to return to LA do you believe the feud is actually over the -- is way too deep. Well I believe the feuds over. I don't think either I'm cares so much about it you know they're not best friends but good they're not -- odds anymore. -- you can tell it you know at old. Not someone Kobe relish is talking about because he never does. Which was to kill you just have to understand that kills half hitting everything he's everything he says no or resist throwing it out. But you know there's there's definitely no bad feeling between the guys anymore. So possibility Shaq could in his career in the U purple gold I don't think so. Carlos talked about Lakers owner Jerry buss you don't hear much from bus but step from what you read. Is Stanley so involved every aspect of the team what's doctor buss really like is an owner -- I think he's a really good on and I think he you know if there was three year period after he traded Shaquille where I thought. He was out man in the whole franchise was out man and they just weren't ever going to be able to get back. To where they weren't they have lost -- then and still would have been a problem but you know I think the franchise Jerry buss has always been great because. He. We'll spend whatever it takes and he gives a general direction but then he lets his people do their jobs. That was easy to do that when Jerry west was -- but you know was -- you know wasn't quite as easy when -- before and -- -- -- -- -- came -- behind them. And then all of a sudden I got to be like Mission Impossible and and to everybody was firing on match. But Mitch. Made good his single decision that's been the most important since Shaquille left and that was drafting Andrew Bynum and that was not a cinch. That was a big surprise everybody. Even if Kobe had last they would now be rebuilding this team around the young seventh -- knows who might be the best you know best young center in the game. So hit the Lakers have been a really a model organization for a long time and then -- -- they can they can still lay claim of Tibet. Will we revenge from Mitch everybody wanted to fire what are your gun now look into that which -- the revenge type but yeah I'm sure he's not sure he's happy -- he was a year ago. All right -- marte to grab the book mad man's thoughts out now right now -- local bookstores the book goes all the way back in time hits on Korean wilt Chamberlain and of course. Magic Johnson all the Laker legends -- mark Chrysler. I'm Dennis Ackerman.