Zen Master officially back with Lakers

[Indy]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Phil Jackson is coming back to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he left last year after three NBA championships in five seasons.

Lakers spokesman John Black said Tuesday the team has re-hired Jackson, who was let go by owner Jerry Buss last June 18.

A news conference was set for 5 p.m. EDT at Staples Center.

Jackson, who will turn 60 in September, is arguably the most successful coach in NBA history. He had health issues in the past and underwent an angioplasty two years ago. He told ABC-TV before the opening game of the NBA Finals that he underwent a series of tests to make sure he was healthy.

[TheFranchiseKing]

I knew this would happen but I think it's a stupid choice on his part.

This can either go well and very bad. I still don't see them getting past the first or second round without a major roster change.

Thoughts?

[Fenix]

What the fried fuck? It happened! Now Odom gets to stay and be usefull! There's mercy on this world! (Draft Diogu&somehow Ukic!)

[ntong]

I knew this would happen but I think it's a stupid choice on his part.

This can either go well and very bad. I still don't see them getting past the first or second round without a major roster change.

Thoughts?

very bad??? how so...
how do you know they will not make signficant changes?

[galvatron3000]

Great now we can focus back on the Spurs' title run and not the speculation of if he goes back to LaLa land or not.

[ntong]

BTW, anyone know when Brian Grant's contract will be over? that guy eats a lot of money, lakers can get someone like Peja with that amount of money...

[Drex]

Peja-Kobe doesn't sound as good as Pippen-Jordan

[Indy]

Peja-Kobe doesn't sound as good as Pippen-Jordan

No, but it does sound pretty good

[maes]

Huge win for the Lakers.

Personally, i find all that flak about "PJ only goes to ready made teams" very petty. True Chicagoans know exactly what kind of team PJ inherited and it wasn't that great. Nobody thought the Bulls could ever get past the Pistons.

Before the rings, Jordan's closest comparison was Dominique Wilkens. Incredible, athletic scorer who could put points up at will by slashing. Good jumper but not great. Black hole, doesn't pass (admittedly he was forced down this route by Collins). He was picked 3rd in the draft instead of 1st for a reason folks.

Pippen was some kid who didn't play serious college ball, unproven. And it came out during the playoffs where he got "migraines" and couldn't play...labeled a total choker.

And Ho Grant? That was a sucker deal for NY to get Charles Oakley for a soft 6'10 with no post game.

My guess is that anyone that calls PJ a walk-in championship coach only jumped on the Bulls bandwagon after they started winning. You had to watch the Bulls when they were bad, even when Jordan first got here, to appreciate how much he changed things around.

[TheFranchiseKing]

Ntong wrote:

very bad??? how so...
how do you know they will not make signficant changes?

THEY HAVE NO CAP SPACE AND A ROSTER FULL OF PLAYERS NOBODY REALLY WANTS. (Besides the untouchables that is)

[Fenix]

THEY HAVE NO CAP SPACE AND A ROSTER FULL OF PLAYERS NOBODY REALLY WANTS. (Besides the untouchables that is)

I wouldn't describe Odom, Butler, Mihm and Walton as players you wouldn't want in your team. You probably meant Sucky Atkins.

BTW, Vlade Divac has been seen in LA. He's still alive.

[J@3]

Hmm... this'll be great or awful, I can't see an inbetween. I'm leaning towards awful but to be honest it's better then getting someone unproven in.

[Jackal]

I think it's great to have Phil Jackson back. Other coaches would have to get used to Bryant, they wouldn't know him and how he works etc. Jackson knows Bryant, he knows him well.

With the release of the book too, I think Bryant now knows exactly how Jackson feels about Bryant. So, everything's out in the open. I think Bryant knows he's going to need help in any way he can get it if he wants back on top again. I'm hoping he's learnt a lesson or whatever & I hope Phil can get them back around the top.

Sigh, that's a lot of hoping.

[J@3]

Everyone's saying "oh but Jackson knows Kobe, this is great!"... he didn't exactly have the greatest relationship with him, and if I recall alot of people (can't remember names) were blaming Kobe for Phil being sacked in the first place. How does that work.

[Jackal]

Because he didn't have the best relationship, doesn't mean that has anything to do with the fact he knows how Bryant works. Guess all I'm trying to say is that they'll be better off with Jackson given they've done it before, even though they don't like eachother, they know how to work with eachother. They are professionals after all. It's better to have a Phil Jackson who doesn't have a good relationship with Bryant than to have a Rudy T that doesn't know Bryant and once he does see what's what he decides to leave.

Bryant probably did play a factor in the sacking of Phil Jackson, I still believe in that. Bryant's decision about re-signing with LA was based upon wether Jackson was or wasn't going to come back to LA. I truly believe if LA had kept Shaq or Jackson, Bryant would've signed elsewhere. Now that Bryant has his contract and is happy money-wise, the Lakers don't have to please him anymore. They can sign Jackson regardless of what Bryant thinks, in other words, they're not afraid of losing Bryant due to Jackson.

What could also be the case is that Bryant figured Jackson was a pretty good coach, but I'm going with the first one.

[[L3]1101]

Kobe has become an arragont the last couple of years. I don't remember MJ being that arrogant any time in his career. MJ has always been supportive of his teammates. I don't see why Phil Jackson would want to coach Kobe or the Lakers. Lakers is no way near a championship team. Major changes needs to be done during the off sesason, but with the players that LA has to offer, i doubt we'll see any major changes. This might be off topic, but Odom needs to get his ass away from LA. He's better than just a supporting role. He needs to find a team where he's the go-to-guy.

[galvatron3000]

Huge win for the Lakers.

Personally, i find all that flak about "PJ only goes to ready made teams" very petty. True Chicagoans know exactly what kind of team PJ inherited and it wasn't that great. Nobody thought the Bulls could ever get past the Pistons.

Before the rings, Jordan's closest comparison was Dominique Wilkens. Incredible, athletic scorer who could put points up at will by slashing. Good jumper but not great. Black hole, doesn't pass (admittedly he was forced down this route by Collins). He was picked 3rd in the draft instead of 1st for a reason folks.

Pippen was some kid who didn't play serious college ball, unproven. And it came out during the playoffs where he got "migraines" and couldn't play...labeled a total choker.

And Ho Grant? That was a sucker deal for NY to get Charles Oakley for a soft 6'10 with no post game.

My guess is that anyone that calls PJ a walk-in championship coach only jumped on the Bulls bandwagon after they started winning. You had to watch the Bulls when they were bad, even when Jordan first got here, to appreciate how much he changed things around.

I disagree, now if Phil had taken over 3 years prior you would be correct but the Bulls were headed in the right direction and had taken the Pistons to a game 7 prior to Phil taken over so what you are saying in that regards holds no water. Also, Jordan had no real jump shot when he came into the league but his first step is was amazing. Same with Vince, he never showed in college he could shoot but that first step in a league like the NBA where zone used to be illegal is a dream for players like that so in that regards I sorta agree with you.

[MaD_hAND1e]

Wow. THey interviewed Shaq on Sportcenter about the Jax's move, and when asked about Kobe Bryant, Shaq replied " Who? I'm not good with names, I dunno who you're talking about"

[Jackal_]

Wow. THey interviewed Shaq on Sportcenter about the Jax's move, and when asked about Kobe Bryant, Shaq replied " Who? I'm not good with names, I dunno who you're talking about"

LOL that's awesome. Back to the topic of Jackson...I think this is what the Lakers need, after this season they need lots of improvement...and I'm sure Jackson can bring that to the team.

[Jackal]

You gotta love the big man, no matter what you say, he's hilarious.

[Indy]

Wow. THey interviewed Shaq on Sportcenter about the Jax's move, and when asked about Kobe Bryant, Shaq replied " Who? I'm not good with names, I dunno who you're talking about"

hahahahahahahaha

[Old School Fool]

Wow. THey interviewed Shaq on Sportcenter about the Jax's move, and when asked about Kobe Bryant, Shaq replied " Who? I'm not good with names, I dunno who you're talking about"

hahahahahahahaha

[Indy]

I do see the Lakers making some big offseason moves, maybe acquiring a couple good players through the draft including the possibility of snagging Raymond Felton at 10 and making the playoffs next year.

[J@3]

Or alternatively Phil decides he wants another tried and tested college player or an oversized Euro who does nothing and it's another season down the toilet.

[Boyk]

Wow. THey interviewed Shaq on Sportcenter about the Jax's move, and when asked about Kobe Bryant, Shaq replied " Who? I'm not good with names, I dunno who you're talking about"

The guy who helped you win your very first championsip Shaq Daddy, and the 2 after that also...
Something Dwayne Wade or Penny Hardaway couldnt even help you with.
Dickhead.

Anyway, this is awesome for the Lakers, hopefully Kobe comes out a lot more team-orientated this year, and the Lakers getting 50 wins would be a much improvement and something to be excited about imo.

from a fans perspective anyway, every team wants the trophy lol