Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - Guess what? The Lakers want Phil Jackson back.

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Guess what? The Lakers want Phil Jackson back.

The latest soap opera in the NBA's journey toward total irrelevance.

Quote:

A somber Rudy Tomjanovich resigned yesterday as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, a position he held for less than seven months, because he felt the stress was jeopardizing his health.

By then, the reality show that is the Lakers was spinning 360 degrees: a team official said that Phil Jackson, whom Tomjanovich replaced in June, was the organization's sole focus in the hunt for a coach for next season.

For now, the assistant coach Frank Hamblen, 57, will take over, and he will probably finish the season as head coach.

Whether the team would want Jackson back after their uncomfortable parting, and whether the team could forgive Jackson for disclosing behind-the-scene issues involving his feelings toward Kobe Bryant in a recent book, will no doubt provide drama in the Hollywood environs.

A confidant of Jackson's said that Jackson's return to the Lakers was plausible but a long shot. Jackson has expressed interest in coaching the Knicks, his most likely destination if he returns to coaching, the confidant said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/03/sp...tml?oref=login

Dude, no matter what, the Lakers will always have my support

further, I doubt Jackson will return to the Lakers much less coaching

Are they planning on trading Kobe then?

This confused the hell out of me, why would Phil go back? It's only been 6-8 months since he was basically pushed aside. He recently came out with a book that blasts Kobe, and the Lakers are still a year or two away from making a serious run. I do believe the Laker job is an attractive one, but I am in disbelief to hear Jackson's name again in the running.

the main reason Phil left was due to the insane amount of money he was asking for. basically, he was telling Buss that he wanted to be paid more than any coach in the history of the NBA. of course, if any coach has the track record to support such a request, it's Phil. however, there was no way he was going to be brought back with the kind of money he wanted. if they can agree on a happy medium as far as pay, I think he'll be back.

I thought Phil was unwilling to work with Kobe anymore, saying that he doesn't listen to anything he (or anyone) says and his ego is completely out of control. Has this changed?

I have yet to read his book, so I can't say much about Phil's side of the story. What I can say is that the Lakers need a coach like D'antoni of the Suns. They don't have the right parts for the triangle offense. They need to get out and run. They are a brillantly enjoyable team when they are in their element - much more skilled than people have them pegged as. Rudy just wasn't doing a good job.

Quote:

...because he felt the stress was jeopardizing his health.

What a mess the Lakers are right now. And its all Kobe's fault isn't it? I almost wish Miami takes the Conference, just to vindicate Shaq. It looks like Management gambled on the wrong superstar after all. I can't see this team, or any team in LA, being built around Kobe now. He needs to find another team with another superstar on it, like Minnesota for example. You know Shaq is loving this.

Sounds to me like the old Steinbrenner/Martin love/hate affair is springing up in LA Basketball. Only now it's Kobe and Jackson.

Both know they need each other to win, but both have such strong personalities and are set in their ways that they refuse to meet each other 1/2 way.

That's what this reminds me of. And what it may play out to be.

I suspect that Phil Jackson will take over in Minnesota this summer, after their season tanks. They can then dump Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, and Olowokandi to get better players to surround Garnett. Then Phil can ride another overloaded team to the finals :lol:

I'm not kidding though, I think Minnesota is the most likely place that he will end up at.