11/21/24
February 03, 2005
Will Phil Jackson come back to the Lakers?: "It's unfinished business," says Lakers executive VP Jeanie Buss. "Kobe has a throne to take. Phil has something to prove. There's more to their story."
posted by LROD to basketball at 03:50 PM - 23 comments
Oh no. Anywhere but back, Phil. Please - for the sake of my mental health. I need to stop having arguements with my friends over 'whether or not Phil has any skill as a coach - he just gets the best players.' For the love of God just go to Milwaukee. Or even stay in LA and try the Clippers - wait - no not the Clippers - I can already hear my friend saying how Elton Brand was actually the best player in the NBA and just wasn't noticed until Phil came along.... Damn you Phil Jackson, and your hard to define success!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:08 PM on February 03, 2005
Monkeys will sprout wings and fly from my butt before this happens. It's as wishful as thinking gets.
posted by chicobangs at 04:10 PM on February 03, 2005
Jackson's book tore Kobe a new anus, didn't it...? So, I don't see how it would work?
posted by chris2sy at 04:17 PM on February 03, 2005
I don't see ANY motivation for Jackson to return to the Lakers.
posted by ursus_comiter at 04:26 PM on February 03, 2005
No motivations, how about $$$$$$$$$$$ man!... If the VP made the comment it is very possible that they're already talking to him.
posted by LROD at 04:42 PM on February 03, 2005
The VP is his girlfriend. Maybe they're just not spending a lot of "quality time" together, so she figured she'd plant the seed and see what happened. Seriously. The sun will rise in the West, they'll find a cure for cancer and Warren Sapp will star in the Broadway revival of "Rent" before Phil comes back to coach Kobe and the Lakers.
posted by chicobangs at 05:04 PM on February 03, 2005
And Jackson's certainly got plenty of money and if he feels like coaching again, he can get a phat contract from the Knicks or elsewhere in a matter of minutes. Turn off the reality distortion field. Jackson's got zero interest in going back to an organization that threw him under the bus once already to placate a selfish loser who's going to turn out to be an albatross for the remainder of his contract.
posted by ursus_comiter at 05:14 PM on February 03, 2005
Like I posted in the Rudy resignation thread, this is a possiblity, not a probability. But all parties involved have gone on record as saying that they could make it work. I doubt Phil will come back but I think he's intrigued by the prospect of turning Kobe and Lamar into MJ & Scottie II. He likes L.A., he enjoys the attention, and of all the "open" positions, it's probably the job with the best chance of getting into the playoffs. Although Phil has flirted with the Knicks I don't see him going back soon for two reasons, Isiah has hamstrung this squad for years to come, and I don't think he wants to step on Red Holzman's legacy. With that said, the question is: will the challenge + pay be < or > the stress + anxiety.
posted by lilnemo at 06:19 PM on February 03, 2005
Personally, I really dont care about all of the drama. Wake me up when the Lakers sign thier new permanant coach. Phil can keep surfing in the Indian Ocean for all I care!
posted by daddisamm at 07:13 PM on February 03, 2005
I don't think he wants to step on Red Holzman's legacy. I *think* it was on the Dan Patrick (radio) show today that they listed this Holzman as a reason that he would consider the Knicks.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:22 PM on February 03, 2005
Turn off the reality distortion field. Jackson's got zero interest in going back to an organization that threw him under the bus Not what Phil says.
posted by yerfatma at 07:49 PM on February 03, 2005
What amount of money is there that would cause Phil Jackson to embarrass himself enough to go back to coach the Kobe Lakers. How could he possibly coach the egotistical loser he tore apart in his book? More important -- Why should he? This is not the Kobe+Shaq Lakers, so there is no chance of a ring. Kobe is talented, but not good enough to carry the team to an NBA title. Dear Phil -- It's just not worth going back.
posted by roberts at 07:50 PM on February 03, 2005
chicobangs, -The sun will rise in the West -they'll find a cure for cancer -Warren Sapp will star in the Broadway revival of "Rent" -Monkeys will sprout wings and fly from my butt before this happens. wow, you sound pretty confident there cuz. Tell you what ... the action's right here. What type of odds you giving? Gotta be at least 10,000-1, right (I mean the odds W. Sapp staring in Rent are longer than that's probably a bargain). Anyway, just let me know what size you're interested in.
posted by Mike McD at 09:33 PM on February 03, 2005
will the challenge + pay be < or> the stress + anxiety. don't forget hiz zen powers. stress and anxiety just melt awaaaaaaay.......
posted by gspm at 06:58 AM on February 04, 2005
wow, you sound pretty confident there cuz. Tell you what ... the action's right here. What type of odds you giving? Odds? Feh. I'll bet you a WHOLE CRISP NEW DOLLAR on it.
posted by chicobangs at 09:46 AM on February 04, 2005
God I hope Phil doesn't come back. I get tired of seeing the Laker dram be the top story on SportsCenter. Even in the middle of July, it's Lakers, Lakers, Yankees, Lakers. I think it detracts from the sports credibility of Sportscenter.
posted by mayerkyl at 09:49 AM on February 04, 2005
it would be crazy if he returns to the lakers but we all know money talks more i bet he will enjoy coaching kobe by lowerin his minutes and at the same time he will screw kobe in the process if he coaches the lakers he will make butler the star player
posted by dhdefrag3x at 09:49 AM on February 04, 2005
I think it detracts from the sports credibility of Sportscenter. Isn't that like detracting from the talent of Tara Re- Paris Hilt- Jessica Simps- - man, modern society makes this sentence too easy to complete.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:55 AM on February 04, 2005
I have to say that it will be unprecedented given Phil Jackson’s trajectory as a coach to come back after leaving the job like he did, but if you take into consideration that he likes a challenge and this one looks like it would be a great one, if not the greatest for any coach to get this young talented player (Kobe) to listen and play at the level that Phil used to have in Michael Jordan and getting him to commit to the team will be very interesting to watch. On the other hand there is $$$$$$ and money nowadays plays an important role given the fact that most of the decisions in sports are based on $$$$$ lately, I would say there is a chance we might see it happened…By the way big Diesel say today that he whishes Phil the best if he decides to come back to the Lakers. Last but not least let’s remember the relationship with the VP which looks pretty solid given the time they’ve been together. The VP looks eager to see Jackson coach her team again and who knows if that might influence Jackson’s decision. In the end I think that after all have being said and done it is up to the Phil Jackson to make the ultimate decision, and that my friend is the truth of the matter in this discussion.
posted by LROD at 12:36 PM on February 04, 2005
phil should go to the clippers to get even with the lakers for disrespecting him when he ask for an extension a raise r get the highest paid coachin job and screw kobe at the same time
posted by dhdefrag3x at 03:22 PM on February 04, 2005
in the ass?
posted by garfield at 04:13 PM on February 04, 2005
Nice, Garfield.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:15 PM on February 04, 2005
I feel that Given the fact that Jeanie Buss is Jackson's significant other anything could happen even though my brain can’t conceive the idea after all that has been said, but again women have a strange power over men....Who knows???