Phil Jackson is back as Lakers coach

[Zomby Woof]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/basketball/nba/06/14/jackson/index.html?cnn=yes

I await the return of a championship-caliber Laker team.

[WeRQ4U]

1. Phil was an average coach who was always surrounded by good players

He will be exposed.

[Zomby Woof]

3. I disagree

The true sign of an average or weak coach is when they DO have great players, but cannot win. Ergo, Sacramento.

[WeRQ4U]

9. That's the sign of a bad coach.

The sign of an excellent coach is to take a team of players without super-stardome and turn them into a championship caliber team.

ALA Larry Brown last year
ALA Larry Bird with the Pacers (not a championship, stopped by Phil)

[GreenArrow]

10. I agree, for the most part

I'd say he's a good coach who has benefited by having great players.

Why not really test his mettle and take a job at Atlanta, for example?

[Zomby Woof]

11. Phil did have bypass surgery recently

So Atlanta was not an option. ;-)

[WeRQ4U]

12. Jesus couldn't coach Atlanta to a successful year.

[GreenArrow]

13. well, Phil's close isn't he

Doesn't he play an angel or something in that commercial?

"He who leaves before the final bell tolls may not be there before the game unfolds?"

Or some such shit.

I think Atlanta would be a good venue for him. Or New Orleans. Or Charlotte.

[Zomby Woof]

14. Sacramento made a bid for him

But he knew better than to head north to underachievement-land.

[GreenArrow]

17. I'm surprised he's going back to LA

I thought he might do Cleveland, and let Kobe, justly, rot.

[Zomby Woof]

18. Desperate times I guess

The Lakers missing the playoffs was a big blow, and he misses coaching. Besides, with Shaq gone, it should be smoother, although I imagine some serious trades are in the works.

[WeRQ4U]

19. I would imagine there will be trades as well...

I wouldn't be suprised if his contract was contingent upon making an effor to acquire some quality supporting men.

[jus_the_facts]

2. HEY ZombyStranger..........

.....whasssup m'Man?! :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

4. Stirring up shit!

:P

Took a 2 week vacation from this place. MUCH needed, mind you! :D

[jus_the_facts]

5. Ahha...shit stirin'...favorite pastime I dare say.....

.....I'm at work and hatin' it....and yeah I'd noticed you were MIA...figured you were livin' it up in Cali! :D

[Zomby Woof]

6. CA is July 31

But need lots of prep time, and will be training my replacement soon! :D

[jus_the_facts]

8. Wish I could be your replacement....sigh....

....this gig is up in a few weeks now...sure hope I can at least get another temp placement within a few days after this one ends. :scared:

[Wapsie B]

7. Phil has the ability to take a good team all the way.

Not a lot of coaches do. There are some who can rebuild and turn a program around. But others who can maintain a certain plateau of success but never make it to the top. Others can take a program from nothing and take it all the way. Bob Devaney and Bobby Bowden in college football come to mind for the latter. But Phil can take a good team with marquee players and egos to match and mold them together into a winning machine. That's his stock and trade.

[democracyindanger]

15. As Terry Porter said when he was an assistant

at San Antonio:

"Let's see him try that Zen crap in Vancouver."

[Zomby Woof]

16. We all know how successful Vancouver was in the NBA