Rumor: Phil Jackson to Step Down

...it was amazing how fast he got out of the press room at the end of his interview after game 6.

If true, my $0.02 is that this has nothing to do with health, and everything to do with him not wanting to “tarnish his legacy” from his glory days by taking this Lakers team back to the playoffs and losing again.

Phil Jackson is all about image. This is what has made him the perfect coach for the L*kers.

While the rumor may not reflect reality, it is not meant as a joke or jab. This idea got airtime this morning. It was broadcast by a reliable source calling in to the Mark & Brian show which comes out of LA.

While I AM among those who feel it part of my fanhood to poke the LaLa posse in the eye at every opportunity, this is a serious post. Somebody is claiming that this will be a done deal in one month. The idea has merit.

Now, how ironic would it be for Doug Collins, who Jackson replaced in Chicago, to take over down there and run that team into the ground? Anything to get Collins to stop announing NBA games. Please! That guy’s whining and kissing superstar and ref -ss sickens me.

The Lakers, while solid, aren’t really bound for multiple titles unless they add a few more pieces. That was pretty obvious in the Finals and is going to be more obvious as younger teams improve in seasons to come. As far as I’m concerned they’re still Kobe and a bunch of role-players. One-star teams seldom win it all. I don’t buy into Andrew Bynum yet and I don’t buy into the rest of the Lakers supporting cast as a dynasty yet. Kobe’s a pain in the asterisk, I don’t care how good he is, he’s got to be a huge pain to deal with. All these things seem like reasons why Phil could walk away, without even mentioning the league-wise issues.

I’ll bet after a month in Montana he’ll be ready to give it another shot, because this time the team will have championship experience and Andrew Bynum.

No way Buss and Kupchak bring Collins in to coach. They know Kobe would eat him for lunch.

He was getting paid like 10+ million a year, I’m not sure if he walks away from that.

If he does, he’s prolly done with coaching for quite a while. LA is still a great situation, with everyone in their prime or young, and Bynum showed a lot of good stuff before he got hurt. Unless Kobe is even more insufferable than he appears, I don’t think there’s a better situation that Phil could get the job for.

The Blazers are better situated, but Phil ain’t stealing Nate’s job.

Mortimer

I lost a lot of respect for Phil after game 1 of the finals when all he did was complain about how the refs were giving the game to the Celtics. Great coaching in your last game! Hope you go out a loser

When I don’t see Philip on his big fat sideline chair next November

Might take him awhile considering how tall his seat is!

Phil is notorious for going to teams with superstars (MJ/Pip and Shaq/Flobe) and taking them to a championship, right? He is quitting as to postion himself to be the head coach of the ….wait for it….Portland Trailblazers!!! HE figures that Paul and KP would snap at the chance to have the Zen Munster as the coach of our young trio of stars. You can almost see the machinations ….uh….machin-nating in his mind.

Book it!!

Last time, they got a health-impaired Rudy T., and that killed them, especially when Rudy bailed so soon.
I’d have to speculate about who might replace Philthy Jack to judge the impact.

I’ll say this: That job is NO place for Avery Johnson. Coby would die seeing a former competitor as “coach”,
especially one who is a total hardnose who pushes his players hard and gets fiery.
On the other hand, if the L[xxx]rs got Thibedeau off the championship Celtics,
I’m guessing the team would HAVE TO respect HIM, after the way his defense killed them in the finals.

It doesn’t really roll off of the tongue but I like it.