We’re just a little over a week removed from the culmination of dramatic Laker postseason yet the real drama is only beginning.
Forget about Mitch Kupchak’s Odom/Ariza sized headache for a minute. Let’s get into how the Laker general manager will handle the new dilemma of Phil Jackson’s dabbling with working part-time as the head coach during the 09-10 season.
First things first: We’re talking about Phil “X” Jackson here. PJ is the only human being not named Dean Smith capable of telling Michael Jordan how to do his job. Coach Jackson was the only person who had enough rings and stones to tell Shaq and Kobe to STFU and play ball. Not since Spike Lee have “X” hats been so popular. Therefore, if PJ only wants to coach home games, then you let him. A part-time Phil is still better than a full-time Rambis.
However, this is still a young Laker team that needs the occasional tongue lashing. Winning one title is good enough for fans in South Beach but isn’t nearly enough for fans in Venice Beach. We’re greedy in Los Angeles. We want another dynasty.
I’d like to suggest that the Lakers institute the Vin Scully rule for Phil Jackson next season. No, that doesn’t mean that Jackson must be able to have great antic dotes for every NBA player and speak with a poetic idiom. The legendary Dodger announcer in recent years has restricted his travel to going no further than the Rocky Mountains. Phil should adhere to a similar travel schedule. After all, Rambis already had a chance to end the losing steak in Portland this year, that didn’t work out so well. There should be a few provisions for Jackson though.
Phil should be required to make at least two trips past Denver a year: one to Boston and the other to New York. The Big Apple trip is simply because this will be Phil’s final trip to the Garden which is where his NBA career began. In exchange, Jackson will be given two additional games off, both against the Clippers. Once the playoffs begin, Phil must make himself available for all travel as it relates to the NBA Finals and Western Conference playoffs.
Of course, if you’re as foolish as Alonzo Mourning, then you most likely believe that Kobe has been coaching this team anyway. In fact, if you listen to the national sports media, then you’d believe that Kobe is also the general manager. And if you work at Staples Center then you know that Kobe is also Vanessa Bryant’s parking lot attendant and personal usher as well. Yes, Kobe Bryant is the Los Angeles Lakers. Who needs Phil?
Whatever the case is, Phil’s health has taken its toll on him and he’s finally reached the point where he can no longer take the rigors of the NBA schedule. At some point, the Lakers must transition to a new head coach. This would be the best way to get Kurt Rambis into the fold while simultaneously keeping the seat warm for Coach K, Byron Scott or even Octomom as one website suggested.
I’m not sure how a part-time Phil Jackson scenario would work but I’ll take a coach with 10 rings anyway I can get him if I’m the Lakers. As we learned the hard way, coaches with two rings or less just can’t seem to hack it in Los Angeles. Just ask Rudy Tomjanovich about that.