I don't doubt for a second that the Lakers are the best they've ever been these years. Watching the game last night, coach bernie really motivated the guys and got them playing hard. As they did that, everything started clicking. The only things that can stop this team is if they get lazy or if their shots don't fall. Guys like Jodie meeks, Blake, and Jamison will continue to get open looks, and if they shoot at a respectable clip I don't see any team beating them. IMO LA needs that "If you play hard, I'll play harder" attitude. And now they might be finally moving towards that
lol not my expectations. in an entitled town like LA, fans EXPECT a Finals appearance every year as long as Kobe is on their team. it's Finals or bust and that's why they got rid of Brown... now if they don't make it this year, it's going to be the excuse of "well they didn't have a full training camp" under Jackson just like last year's excuses under Brown- lockout, no real preseason, etc... they didn't reload much out side of adding Nash. Howard will be relentlessly fouled until he figures out a free throw.
I guess I would have a lot more respect for Jackson if just once he went to a team that wasn't overloaded with talent. I know he is a successful coach and all that, but he left the Lakers in part because they struggled a bit... and he returns after they add Howard and Nash.
Is it any surprise? Phil Jackson only comes back to coach when he deems they have a championship caliber roster.
thats why its called unreasonable. That 2010/2011 roster was a mess, not to mention Lamar Odom's reality show as a circus The Lakers had one of the worst benches in the league last year and also one of hte worst 3 point shooting teams Adding a 36% shooter like Meeks and a 17 ppg/ scorer like Jamison is not "much"....if outscoring Carl Landry, Richard Jefferson and Jarret Jack off the bench is "not much" I'll take it
Seriously - why does everyone want to gloss over this? They call him the Zen Master yet every time the going got tough, he bailed on his team. At some point someone has to mention this right? He's a great coach who is only interested in coaching a very specific team - one that has an overwhelming advantage over 96% of it's competition every year. That has to say something about him, right? He's like the anti Rick Adelman.
Can't hate on Phil for only wanting to coach top teams. He is already one of if not the best coach of all time, that's what his legacy is. if you were part of a profession, would you not want to go to the best employer with the most resources?
Exactly. When you're Phil Jackson you've earned the right to coach the team u want when u want basically.
i hope phil comes back to coach and fail. biggest opportunist and overrated coach in the history of the nba.
i remember reading an article last year and it said that Phil Jackson would love to come out of retirement and coach the knicks
Are you kidding me, first they let him go only to hire him back within 2 years and he's accepting it?? Lost a little more respect for Phil if he takes the job.
If Jackson wants it, the Lakers would be crazy not to bring him back, and pay him handsomely to do so. While I'm not a fan of the guy, his record speaks for itself.
@WojYahooNBA: Biggest hurdle in Lakers-Jackson talks remains "How Phil's going to handle the travel schedule," source w/ knowledge of discussions tells Y!
Give him his own personal jet, with a limo at every road game to take him wherever he wants to go? Presidential suite at the team hotel? What else could the Lakers do? Supply him with coke and a $3,000 a night call girl?
I doubt PJ will use the triangle with Nash, maybe when Nash isn't on the court, but Nash is a better 3 point shooter than Fisher (about 5% over their career despite always being the focal point for perimeter defense vs someone who has never been one)
