Appreciation Thread for Phil Jackson

Roxs-Redemption · May 9, 2011

Phil Jackson... A great coach...monitoring from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant... one star to another...

Here is what an Australian newspaper article got to say:

A HUGE fine and a resounding playoff defeat made for a deflating end to Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson's illustrious NBA coaching career.

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Lakers 122-86 to sweep the two-time defending champions out of the playoffs, ending a Lakers season that Jackson had vowed would be his last. Adding to the sting, the league fined Jackson $US35,000 ($A33,000) before the game for his remarks criticising officiating in the series.

Jackson had complained on Saturday that game officials were allowing defenders to use their knees to shove Lakers big man Pau Gasol out of position.

"I got out with a sour note after having been fined $35,000 this morning by the league,'' Jackson said. "That's not fun, feeling like I've been chased down the freeway by them.

"As Richard Nixon says,'' he added with a rueful smile, "You won't be able to kick this guy around anymore.''

However, in the wake of the defeat it took some doing to induce Jackson to reiterate his plan to retire.

Asked point-blank if he had coached his last NBA game, and if so how it felt, Jackson side-stepped neatly.

"Feels really good to be ending this season, to be honest,'' he said.

And as for the "last game'' portion of the question?

"I haven't answered that, have I?'' he said with a smile. "And you're not going to force me to answer it.''

But the 65-year-old Jackson, whose five adult children turned out for the game, relented.

"All my hopes and aspirations are that this is the final game I'll coach,'' he said. "This has been a wonderful run.''

Jackson, a Hall-of-Famer since 2007, departs with a record 11 titles as a coach and only 10 postseason series defeats.

He won six championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, three with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal leading the Lakers, and the last two with a Lakers team led by Bryant.

It was only the pursuit of a possible three-peat that lured him back this season, although he said he knew it would be difficult for a Lakers team worn out by its prior championship chases.

"The thrill of trying to chase a three-peat is an exciting thing,'' he said. "I knew it was a big challenge for this team...

''(That) puts a lot of strain on the basketball club from all angles: personalities, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and getting charged up for game after game and assault after assault when you go in and play a team,'' Jackson said.

"It was a challenge bigger than we could meet this year.''

Bryant was among those who recognised the end of an era.

"I grew up under him,'' Bryant said. "The way I approach things, the way I think about things - not only basketball, life in general - comes from him.

"It's a little weird for me to think of what next year is going to be like.''
Click to expand...

Enjoy your retirement, coach.

Not sure if this thread is actually needed...

across110thstreet · May 9, 2011

monitoring?

IBTL · May 9, 2011

yeah thanks for jordan pippen kobe shaq horry gasol odom is more like it

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Appreciation Thread for Phil Jackson

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