Phil Jackson Getting into the Heads of Heat, Magic

When will people learn that reacting to Phil Jackson is playing right into his Zen trap? Yesterday PJ made headlines for saying what the entire hoops world has been speculating. Jackson gave a candid answer when asked if he thought there was a chance Erik Spoelstra could get Stan Van Gundy’d.

Today, Stan Van is chiming in with some advice for Phil.

"“To second-guess another coach and comment on a situation he knows nothing about — it’s inappropriate. And it’s also ignorant. I don’t mean that commenting on Phil’s intelligence. He’s obviously a very smart guy. I mean it as ignorant [in that] he doesn’t know what that situation was and he doesn’t know what the situation is now."

Gotta love how Van Porn Stash began to backtrack mid-statement by reminding us all that Phil is an intelligent guy. I think those 11 rings speak volumes of Phil’s IQ but thanks for keeping us in the loop, Jeff…I mean, ummm…Stan.

Sometimes you have to wonder if Phil is paid by the NBA to hype the product. It seems a little too convenient that all this contrived controversy comes on the eve of the Heat and Magic doing battle in primetime. Then again, Jackson has always had a certain flare for the dramatic.

More than likely he’s up to his old tricks. Not one to mince words, Jackson is almost certainly trying to establish an early advantage over his supposed Eastern rivals.

While I can appreciate Van Gundy sticking up for another member of his coaching fraternity, he really shouldn’t be concerned with Miami matters. Not after the way he was forced out of South Beach. Now if Van Gundy is really that worried about Spoelstra’s job prospects then he’ll instruct his team to do what they did last time they faced the Heat – rollover.