Phil Jackson signs with the Lakers

[baggio248]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Phil Jackson is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers following a reconciliation with the team that cut him loose last year after three NBA championships in five seasons.

Spokesman John Black said Tuesday the team has rehired 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.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3679354

[Jihforce]

This should make next season more interesting. Lets see if Jax is really the man now.

[tupacboy]

woot!! another link...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2084948

[navyones]

I wonder how Phil Jackson's move to the Lakers will affect Kobe Bryant. Jackson and Bryant are rumored to be at odds.

I do like the fact that the Lakers are going back to what worked!

[CornMonkey]

though i'm not the biggest fan of the triangle, i'm glad that the lakers have PJ back. hopefully, his health won't bail out on him like it did with Rudy T. now that coaching position has been taken care of, it's time for some trades!!

of course, all this is moot if the nba goes on lockout.

[MikeD]

I wonder how Phil Jackson's move to the Lakers will affect Kobe Bryant. Jackson and Bryant are rumored to be at odds.

I do like the fact that the Lakers are going back to what worked!

Yeah, well they don't have the Diesel. Or Malone. Or Horry.

Not a stretch to guess that they won't be that successful. Kobe and Phil may be :shakehand now, but won't be long before they're :boxing: ...

[Showtime]

I figured it would happen. I just don't know if it is the right move. But any way you look at it, it will improve the coaching situation.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-061405lakers_lat,0,1118606.story?coll=la-home-headlines

News conference at 2PM.

-j

[bachviet]

The team is still not going anywhere anytime soon. It's probably a little bit better than my Clippers.

If the management thought that his system didn't work two years ago, what makes them think that it would work now?

[tupacboy]

lakers need to sign curry... he'll help... and i kinda like swift...

[ShawnLee]

I still wonder about their whole pricing situation. Can they afford to pay the players that they need now? I don't think so.

[CornMonkey]

I still wonder about their whole pricing situation. Can they afford to pay the players that they need now? I don't think so.
that's why they need to dump over-valued contracts... *cough* GRANT *cough*

[Showtime]

Last year on Grants contract and there is no dumping a contract like that. Riley overpaid him 6 years ago and taking him was the only way the salaries would balance out for Shaq.

A lot of contracts expire in the next couple of seasons and the exisiting pieces are good enough to make the playoffs. I am not worried.

-j

[Jihforce]

if they fix the SF issue they have now, they will make playoffs, if they don't, then its going to be yet another mediocre season. Jax is not a person i consider a "builder", he's more of a finisher.

[A Day]

I heard the Lakers are goin after Garnett, Artest and Pierce, not all of them together, but if not one, then another....any of those players would be a perfect addition. Phil + Kobe plus one more star player = Guaranteed Finals trip

[MikeD]

I heard the Lakers are goin after Garnett, Artest and Pierce, not all of them together, but if not one, then another....any of those players would be a perfect addition. Phil + Kobe plus one more star player = Guaranteed Finals trip

:stupid:

[cheapchinese]

Artest???!! No way

Pierce and Kobe are too similar in game play

Have Garnet is a great addition to its front court.
Odom can't handle it down there

[molecularfire]

I dunno... I would kinda like watching a Artest/Bryant brawl on the court.

[zenbooty]

I wouldn't be surprised if they traded Kobe. Maybe send him to the Clips for Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston or something like that.

[brainsmile]

they're not trading Kobe... they will get along because Kobe will be the focal point of the offense and so his ego will be satsified. They don't need big people in the triangle just versatility which Odom and Butler provide.

That being said I don't think they'll win more than 47 games.

[A Day]

trade kobe? lol if they were going to trade kobe they would have done it before they traded shaq, ruined the team and gave half the teams salary to kobe for the next 7 years. they obviously want to keep him

[ray]

Giving Kobe another star player? Oh, I don't know if his ego would approve of that. The problem is, a lot of players know that Kobe wants his team. Remember when Shaq left for Miami? I recall a handful of other star players who made comments that they would give anything to play with a guy like Shaq, but none of those guys said they wanted to play with Kobe. Why play with Kobe, when you have guys who are a bit more level-headed and mature? Does anyone actually think Kobe has changed? I don't. I'll see it when I believe it.

[bachviet]

Giving Kobe another star player? Oh, I don't know if his ego would approve of that. The problem is, a lot of players know that Kobe wants his team. Remember when Shaq left for Miami? I recall a handful of other star players who made comments that they would give anything to play with a guy like Shaq, but none of those guys said they wanted to play with Kobe. Why play with Kobe, when you have guys who are a bit more level-headed and mature? Does anyone actually think Kobe has changed? I don't. I'll see it when I believe it.
:stupid:

He's not MJ and you won't find another Scottie Pippen.

[molecularfire]

Nah, Kobe and Odom can get the job done as MJ and Pippen (although admittedly not as good as MJ and Pippen) but what they need is a good big guy or two decent big guys to take some pressure off of them. IMO, that's the main problem that the lakers have, their lack of ability to give any indication that they can be a factor in the paint.

[ray]

Nah, Kobe and Odom can get the job done as MJ and Pippen (although admittedly not as good as MJ and Pippen) but what they need is a good big guy or two decent big guys to take some pressure off of them.

Wouldn't you rather have Shaq and Kobe than Kobe and Odom then? LOL

Goes back to my original point. Kobe's ego is too big. If he loses that ego, maybe the Lakers will return to championship form.

[molecularfire]

Yeah... a trade of Shaq for Odom... I don't think there is a single non-stoned person alive that wouldn't make that trade... and heck, a vast majority of stoned people would probably also make that trade. If the lakers can get Shaq back, great but I would be moderately shocked if that happens so the best we can really hope for is to get a decent center and try to run plays through Kobe and Odom. Is it perfect, no but right now I do think it is their best shot.

[MikeD]

This will be a true test of Jackson's coaching ability. Yeah, he's won 9 titles, but he's always had 2 superstars on his team when winning them. This time around he's got one; not another player on that squad is even close to being labeled "superstar".

Me thinks he's gonna be exposed a bit...

[navyones]

This will be a true test of Jackson's coaching ability. Yeah, he's won 9 titles, but he's always had 2 superstars on his team when winning them. This time around he's got one; not another player on that squad is even close to being labeled "superstar".

Me thinks he's gonna be exposed a bit...

Many of the players, who played for Jackson, weren't Superstars until spending time under Jackson's coaching. Jackson has an uncanny ability to get the very best from his players. The Lakers are lucky to have them back. I just hope the "Oversized Ego", Kobe Bryant, doesn't derail everything Jackson does.

[MikeD]

Many of the players, who played for Jackson, weren't Superstars until spending time under Jackson's coaching. Jackson has an uncanny ability to get the very best from his players. The Lakers are lucky to have them back. I just hope the "Oversized Ego", Kobe Bryant, doesn't derail everything Jackson does.

Well, by "Superstars" I meant Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe.

Jordan - Greatest player ever.
Pippen - Borderline; Jackson may have brought the best out of him. I don't see anyone on the Lakers who can play to Pippens '90s standards, though.
Shaq - Superstar.
Kobe - Superstar.

I don't see where these guys, with the possible exception of Pippen, could be considered players who "...weren't Superstars until spending time under Jackson's coaching."

Don't get me wrong, the guy is a good coach. I just don't see any titles in LA with the talent they have, no matter who the coach is.

[verve247]

I think Phil can improve the abilities of Odom. Rudy T. wasted his talents last season. Compared to how Odom played great with the Heat 2 years ago and was so-so with the Lakers last year, shows he has potential.

[bachviet]

I think Phil can improve the abilities of Odom. Rudy T. wasted his talents last season. Compared to how Odom played great with the Heat 2 years ago and was so-so with the Lakers last year, shows he has potential.
It's not the coach but it's Kobe wanting the ball all the time. Odom is at his best when he plays point forward and controls the ball.

[verve247]

I was not impressed with Odom when Kobe was sidelined with an injury. Odom's stats boosted slightly while chucky atkins took over. It's not Kobe, Rudy was too soft of a coach for the team.