Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Rudy T Out....Is Phil Jackson Back In???

Rudy Tomjanovich

What’s going on Rudy T?

Apparently, not the working relationship between the Lakers and Tomjanovich. It seems that Rudy T isn’t just ill as once thought...but there is something going on behind the scenes that may force him out as Lakers coach. Until he speaks...no one knows what that is.

Rudy T has some physical issues. He "retired" from the Houston Rockets because of them....and his bladder cancer took a lot out of him. Also, Rudy is the anti-Phil Jackson. He is into every play...and lives and dies with the ups and downs of the NBA. Really tough to do when you are coaching a team like the Lakers who basically live in a soap opera. He also has had alcohol abuse in his past.

Again....this isn’t set it stone. Word is that he has the "option" to resign....and the Lakers gave him that.

                        Rudy Tomjanovich

The Lakers were 22-19 under his leadership and have won the two games he has missed with an "illness".

Who will replace Rudy T?? Rumors are abound about who it could be. Some sources have them possibly looking at trying to get Phil Jackson back. Other sources think they’ll go after Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. Michael Cooper, who had a brief stint as the Nuggets head coach, will have his name in the mix. But Kobe and Coop have already had words to each other. There is even a "joke" going around that Kobe Bryant should be player/coach since he’s calling all of the shots anyways.

Most likely, Frank Hamblin, who was the only holdover from the Phil Jackson era, will stay on as coach for the remainder of the season [hey, he is 2-0].  However, the Phil Jackson rumor has some legs....and some merit.  It is being reported that Laker owner Dr. Jerry Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak approached Kobe Bryant about the possibility of bringing Phil Jackson back aboard the Lakers.  The selling points were (a) the triangle offense would HAVE to run thru Kobe like it did thru Jordan in the day....(b) having Phil back with Kobe and the Lakers would royaly peeve off Shaq in Miami....(c) Phil brings offensive discipline that has been sorely missing on this team.  Apparently, Kobe is taking to the idea. 


Do that voo-doo that you do so well

It is rumored that Phil Jackson somewhat likes the roster that the Lakers have.  He sees Kobe in the Jordan role....and an underused Odom in the Pippen role.  Chris Mihm is no worse that Luc Longley and they have plenty of perimeter shooters that the triangle offense makes into stars.  Jackson also tends to bring to teams defensive discipline...which has been sorely lacking for the Lakers and is evident by their 3-16 record when giving up 100+ points.  It has been rumored of late about Phil Jacksion's itch to get back into coaching.  But, all the jobs he may be willing to take wouldn't be open [Miami, San Antonio] or aren't very attractive [New York]. 

                              Jeannie Buss
                             Jeanie Buss:  Laker owner's daughter and Phil Jackson's woman

Here are some takes from Laker fans and observers about this development:

JOHNNYSEE: Not to me. This is purely intuitional, but I think Rudy was forced out. I believe Dr. Buss or Mitch or both have expressed displeasure with the way Rudy's coaching the team from game to game, if not necessarily with the overall results and the result was either Rudy being asked to leave or him saying, life's too short for this [crap] - if you don't like what i'm doing, fine - i'll leave. Am I the only one who noticed that Chris Mihm was suddenly in the last two games at crunch time under coach Hamblin? Either way, as most of you know, while i liked the guy, i was growing increasingly disenchanted with the coaching and, so long as this isn't health related, I'm not gonna shed any tears over this, I can tellya that. Will Jackson come back? Riley? Will they stick with Hamblin? Promote from within and give Rambis another shot? Coop? Who knows, but they sure weren't getting everything from the talent they have, such as it is.

YCS: I doubt the Lakers would give him such a long term contract, and a complete overhaul of a roster for a guy who hasnt' coached in a few years, only to jettison him after this few games. I can't imagine that would be what occured here. No way, not after 40 games. I don't care if he had players do handstands in the games. No way Buss and Kuptchak make a mid season change given how much turnover this team had in the offseason with this team above .500 in the West this year with Kobe missing games. I have no clue what it was, but I don't think it's ownership or a team issue. None of those things make sense. He's been an NBA lifer. He's dealt with all sorts of teams I'm sure in that time. You don't handle 35 or whatever years in this league without being able to handle various types of team issues. Honestly I almost hope that is the primary thing because it's either that or his health. And I'd rather have team issues for them, then health issues for Coach Tomjanovich. I'd be surprised if it weren't the latter though. He's too experienced with the NBA to have it be something in that regard.

Honestly. Looking at this roster. If he didn't have a past with them, I'd say Coach Jackson would be amazingly suited for this roster. Kobe would have more of a role in the triangle in years past. Odom would have the pippen role, and Atkins can hit from the perimeter. This is a team who's well suited for his offense. Coach Jackson teams have traditionally been good defensive teams. Obviously I'd be amazed if that actually were a possibility. Coach Jackson returning would be a huge slap in the face to all those critics who say Kobe forced him out, which would be quite a humorous occurrence that I'd enjoy. No way Riley returns midseason with his team on top of the East. Realistic people? I don't know. Bzdelik is probably the only option I can think of if you?re looking past whoever will take over this team on the interim level.

LAKRMIKE: I like Rudy as aperson I respect - as a nice guy. I want him to be happy and healthy. If he can do that, but no longer coaches the Lakers - I can live with it. Like you, I have been waiting half a season for the team's progress to appear. And it hasn't - until tonight.

WOLFONTHEAIR: Tim Legler said The Lakers definatley have give Rudy the "OPTION" of resigning That it is definatley health related But NOT Cancer...does this sound like alchohol again??? The stress of the season and the losing streak of 3 games? He didn't coach Sunday night..he was sick. Maybe he had a bout of drinking? Just speculation here of course. Did you also hear the wild rumor that The next Coach may be Jackson again??? Lol he seems to like the new look Lakers and is very very interested in them. Hmmmmm

BDB:  Rudy is no fool,he sees the tough part of the schedule coming up and he sees what he has.

JROWE:  Lots of speculation on the Big Show this afternoon. Theories ranging from Rudy not being happy with the team's play, to doctor's advice to avoid stressful situations. They also theorized that Jax would be contacted by Buss, and that Jackson has said that he's "intrigued" by the Laker talent. Kobe would be the "Jordan" in Jackson's new version of the Triangle, and they said "remember, Kobe didn't say he hated Phil as a coach, he just didn't like the fact that Shaq was the focal point in Phil's offense".   Another one they mentioned was Kobe mirroring Cary Grant in "It's A Wonderful Life" (I think that was the movie), where he realizes what he had, and wants to revisit it. So in this situation he misses the coach that Jackson is, and in a scenario where he's the vertex of the Triangle; then it works better for Kobe than before. That's John and Steve's take (of the Big Show). John travels with the team, and is privy to key information. Also, Joe McDonnell (when he's not full of himself) is actually a journalistic bloodhound, who gets breaking stories regularly. He backs the Jackson coming back to the Lakers theory, and feels that Rudy is viewed as being "too nice". That Jackson is missed, and would come back to the Lakers in a "let bygones be bygones" mentality. So, what ABOUT that book??? ;-)

It's got to be understood, that Kup and Buss need to maximize the team they have, with the player they've invested in 7 years and a gazillion bucks. That they've been languishing in their inconsistency with the Xs and Os that haven'tyielded anything watchable to this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Jackson is brought back, and Kobe is turned into Jordan (meaning shifting him to that position), and giving Odom the role we've been talking about. If Jackson is "intrigued", suffice it to say that Jackson's re-signing would appear to be imminent, especially since the Lakers star player gives his blessing to "appreciate what he had before", ESPECIALLY with Shaq out of the picture. This could be Kobe's dream come true.

RSMBENTLEY:  The concept of the triangle is not hard to master, but to be able to play with it consistently, you need more than just the bare concept, you need to be able to able to impliment it automatically. That takes time, and that takes throwing away games until you get it right.  There's no shortcut to making a good system work. I hate to be repetitive, but it's just like what happened in Hoosiers. It really is. Until it's automatic, you suffer. If you try to skip over that, and just freelance because it's easier, you never really learn the system. Jackson's system would be easier to learn if he had a translator who made it easier to learn, and if he coached as well on defense as he did on offense, and so even if they were floundering around on offense, they'd stay in the game by getting stops.   That bings me to one last quick point, which is about Jacksons' teams having good defense. They've had it in spite of him. They've had it when good players who were competitive to win their matchups in man-to-man defense, for a spurt here or there. The kind of defense the Lakers needed to make that comeback agaisnt Portland a few years ago was only for one half of one ballgame. It's a different era officially since Jordan quit. An era of physicality. You have to do it for the entire 3rd and 4th quarter... maybe the entire game, if you're against a team with as many weapons as San Antonio now has.   Lakers have no physically intimidating players except Kobe. So what they need to do to be effective is to know what the offense is going to do against them and take initiative. Take some risks, go for steals, be ready to rotate if it fails. Think ahead. Know who to double with who, and when to rotate back. Good defense is dynamic. That motivation is not going to come from Phil, but it looks like Hamblen figured it out. Then again, the Blazer tonight played at a level where the lakers matched up against them man to man. If it was a different team like the Spurs, the only way to defend is to be out-thinking their coach, and that usually comes from your coach, and Phil doesn't usually do that. But that's what they need to do.   Phil cannot cure this defensive mess. But he could cure the offense, if he just gets them to continue doing what they did tonight: move the ball. Just move it. And they'd be in better defensive posture transitioning after a make than a miss and outlet, which has generally killed them, though already, Hamblen seems to be imparting lessons with respect to transition ball.


47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even though Kobe will go down as one of the greatest NBA player he is the problem.  He even told the sports world he would rule the Lakers.  Trade Kobe.

Anonymous said...

Rudy has a drinking problem and Phil will have a rape problem....which is worst ??

Anonymous said...

WHO CARES!!!!! KOBE WILL BE AN UNDERACHIEVER WITHOUT A SOLID BIG MAN IN THE MIDDLE AND NO BIG NAME COACH WANTS TO HAVE A PLAYER RUN THE FRANCHISE AND NOT HIM. KOBE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP ANYWAY.

Anonymous said...

GIVE KOBE THE JOB SINCE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HE ALREADY ADDRESSED HIS TEAM-MATES AS "MY PLAYERS". WHAT A JOKE?.

Anonymous said...

Kobe is a legend in his own mind!!!!

Anonymous said...

Kobe Bryant is the Man!! Hes a Laker for Life and he will definitely win a couple of titles regardless of what people say!!

Anonymous said...

What makes a player good? A= attitude... kobes atttitude doesnt match a player that can aspire others to be better. I doubt if the players around him even feel good playing with him. I used to play basketball and the hardest person to deal with on a team is the person who always thinks that without him you cant win a game. The Pistons championship last season shows that anybody can win without a real superstar on their roster. WHO CARES ABOUT KOBE!!! he sucks.

Anonymous said...

Some very interesting comments...and some valid ones being made here.
I think it's important to keep in mind that the coach is not on the floor playing and really has more to do with the team's chemistry and that sort of thing.
I hope Rudy is okay.  He's a excellent coach, and a fine man.
Now don't get angry everyone, because I think that Kobe is a phenomenal player.
But he's basically the Terrel Owens of basketball...just not that overtly obnoxious.
I am and always will be a Laker fan, but I don't respect Kobe as a person or a team player.
Look at last year's Pistons.  No superstars...no huge egos...no headliners....
Just a World Championship.
It's all about putting the team first.
That's why the Celtics, the Lakers, and the Bulls were so successful.
Because nothing came before winning.
Whatever went on outside, when those teams came on the floor there was only one thing on their minds......Winning.

Anonymous said...

Kobe SUCKS!!! Look at his team's record without him playing- they're actually doing BETTER when he DOESN'T play....Kobe, please leave L.A. Phil, COME BACK!!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Kobe, you don't really suck- you're brilliant all by yourself but you DEFINITELY suck on a TEAM

Anonymous said...

he  did lot for laker and they dump him ,he is the best in nba.great with big heart. phill please do not take mr buss offer.

               SUNNY

Anonymous said...

As a Laker fan since the 80's I have to say I am somewhat sad that I can't get myself to watch a game this year due to the drama.  The Lakers have truly embarassed themselves and their fans.  I would hope Phil doesn't come back to the Lakers as much as I would love to see him coach again.  It was horrible the way they treated him last year and the Lakers deserve the record they have this year.  It would be great to see Phil meet up with Shaq again somewhere soon.

Anonymous said...

Since the departure of Phil and Shaq everyone knows it's the dog and kobe show or is that pony. The lakers owner and management and of course Kobe cleaned house after Phil and Shaq left. They deserve the team they have, Kobes ego deserves the team they have, but at least  they can all sit at home and enjoy watching the playoffs and championship games and say we paid kobe all that money, so we can sit at home and watch. I don't think anyone would be able to coach kobe because kobe calls the shots.    KJL  

Anonymous said...

I think Kobe , kup and Buss realize than they make a big joke and mistake for the 10 years ahead. How Laker's people could not understand that without Shaq and Phil the lakers w'd not be a big franchise amongs the best of the NBA. Kobe didn't want that Shaq be  MVP again last year for the Finals and he didn't want  his team to win the championship they desserved. I don't care about this guy[Kobe], I was a fan of L.A and have been following Shaq steps for while. Now The truth is Wayne is better than Kobe . bYE BYE kOBE

Anonymous said...

One of the saddest things is to see a player overestimate his importance to a team. Kobe has forgotten why he wanted to be like Jordan in the first place. Jordan was the player who was the lynchpin in the Bulls winning, but Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman and others were the pieces that made the whole thing run well. Remember how many times the Bulls lost before these pieces came together? Ask Barry Sanders how important it is to have good players on a team. Ask Dominique Wilkins how many highlights he'd give back to have had a team around him that could win. Do I feel sorry for the Lakers? Yes, because they would rather be the the example of a modern sports team run by a player as opposed to the Laker's TEAMS of the past. It's a sad day when we have forgotten the fundamentals of sports. If you want to be an individual, play tennis, golf, or run track. Kobe should be embarrassed and the Lakers should apologize to Phil Jackson, Shaquille, and all of us who have been true fans over the years. Where is Magic Johnson when you need him?

Anonymous said...

One of the saddest things is to see a player overestimate his importance to a team. Kobe has forgotten why he wanted to be like Jordan in the first place. Jordan was the player who was the lynchpin in the Bulls winning, but Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman and others were the pieces that made the whole thing run well. Remember how many times the Bulls lost before these pieces came together? Ask Barry Sanders how important it is to have good players on a team. Ask Dominique Wilkins how many highlights he'd give back to have had a team around him that could win. Do I feel sorry for the Lakers? Yes, because they would rather be the example of a modern sports team run by a player as opposed to the Laker's TEAMS of the past. It's a sad day when we have forgotten the fundamentals of sports. If you want to be an individual, play tennis, golf, or run track. Kobe should be embarrassed and the Lakers should apologize to Phil Jackson, Shaquille, and all of us who have been true fans over the years. Where is Magic Johnson when you need him?

Anonymous said...


KOBE ,
 uneducated,spoiled rotten by DR. Buss had one of the best coaches ever,shall we go on.He can not carry a team like Jordan and Dennis(that is right..Rodman)
can.Or does he deserve to be even mentioned with the great ones???????

Anonymous said...

kobe is tight forget all u haters jackson back will give lakers what they neede

Anonymous said...

To the moron who said "take a look at their record, they are better without kobe," I say, look again.  They are 5-5, including 9 of 10 at the staples center, and 2 wins against the Warriors and 1 against Charlotte Bobcats (both a couple of the worst teams in the league).  They are 5 games above 500 with Kobe.  They are .500 without him in the easiest schedule stretch of the season, not to mention boring to watch.  Kobe is an MVP caliber player and does make everyone else better despite his numerous bandwagen haters.  Obviously Phil knows and believes this or he wouldn't consider coming back.  Shaq's ego has always been the real problem.  "Feed the Big Dog... The Diesel needs the ball. .. This is my team"  If Kobe ever said those things, you people would lynch him.  When Shaq says it, noone bats an eye.  Everyone loves to rip on Kobe and all he does is quietly prove the haters wrong, everytime he steps on the Court.   You will all see when he brings Lakers back to the promise land.  They are one good interior player and one coach away from another dynasty.  Come back Jackson!

Anonymous said...

the problem is not the coach.... it is ko... who?  someone with a number 8  and the owner.... i cannot believe that owner lets this stupid raper lead and take control of the game.....  they lost a superstar and a supercoach... shaq and phil..... if they want to win or do some good get rid of the rapist.....  

Anonymous said...

I am a laker fan and have been so for many years.  I think looking at the lakers record they are in a pretty good place (24-20) heading for the allstar break. You have to put a few things into consideration.  For one the Lakers are in the Western Conference.  Which means with the exception of the clippers and the warriors every night is a tough game.  As an example you go from Sacramento to Phoenix to San Antonio, then to Utah, then to Seattle, then come back by Denver and Houston and minesota.  And the lakers are 24-20 with Kobe missing the last ten games.  They are only 10 or eleven games out the first spot in there division.  The Lakers right now have no real consistantcy in there play.  You still have alot of players  i.e.(Odom, Butler, Atkins) still learning how to play in a new system in a new conference on a new team. Chemistry takes time.  On to Phil coming back if he does i thin it will be a step in the right direction.  I think Rudy is a great coach just not with this team.  In La there is alot of stress and pressure and I was waitng for Rudy to get lamar butler and Atkins to play better with kobe.  TO those of you to say Kobe sucks, Come on that's a ridiculous. I do not like kobes actions or persona off the court.  But if you just look at his numbers over his career his is a superstar.  ANd this year he's been putting up mvp numbers.  He's averaging 27.2, 6.7 ast, and 7.0 rebounds a night.  Hopefully if Phil comes back he can get the players to play better within there roles and stiffin up the defense.  Only time will tell

Anonymous said...

I hear Kermit Washington bought a house in LA.

It would be interesting to see a Triangle built around Kobe. While he's not in Jordan's league, it is a fine offense for him...and he already isolates himself with the ball for 20 seconds every play anyhow.

Would LA want Zen Boy back after the brutal disrobing he suffered at the hands of Larry Brown last year? Has Kobe read Phil's book yet?

Bringing back Jackson to coach the team would be the act of a man with a far bigger set than the GM who caved in when Kobe flirted with the Clippers last year. In the end, I just don't see it happening.

Anonymous said...

fuck all yall. kobe is the man without kobe shaq would nout have got a championship. if he was so good,how come he could'nt win one in past.
he will get to the nba finals, an choke. kobe just dont have good enough players around him to win. big ups to kobe

Anonymous said...

It would be a sad day if phil take dumb ass(mr. buss) offer, their rapist wanted him and shaq out and they did it like dumb asses and their stupid ass paid whinny-rapist boy all that money to look like fools. I'm so tired of always hearing about kobe, there are other players who deserve respect on that sorry ass team, I would demand the respect, kobe don't pay their salary, I thought it was called L.A LAKERS, not Koby and his players.PHIL DO NOT COME BACK TO THE LAKERS, GO TO MIAMI*100% SHAQ FAN ALWAYS.

Anonymous said...

Kobe is whinnig again because their lossing so I guess it's the coach fault and now kobe wants him out, if the other players don't play to kobe boys standards will he start crying again to have them fired or traded too. L.A. need a team like back in the day, where's the magic johnson,m.cooper,bryant,worthy,a.c. green, that was some good playing, they cared about the game, not who has the most bling and look what I can do, I can make the most points.

Anonymous said...

Kobe is the the bomb!!!! 4sure he should get the job. he is the takin them to the top. with him they could win every game

Anonymous said...

BUSS AND THE LAKERS DESERVE EVERYTHING THEY GET.   GETTING RID OF ONE OF THE BEST COACHES IN BASKETBALL BECAUSE THEIR SO CALLED SUPER STAR PLAYER    KOBE     WAS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE SEEN IN ALL MY YEARS OF WATCHING PRO BASKETBALL.  FOR THEM TO EVEN THINK THAT COACH K WOULD TRY TO COACH    KID KOBE    WHAT A LAUGH.    COACH  K WOULD NOT HAVE      KOBE     ON HIS TEAM IF HE ACTED LIKE HE DOES NOW.  DO THE LAKERS MANAGEMENT NEED A LESSON IN BASKETBALL [ TEAM SPORT ] TO SEE THAT    KOBE    IS ALL FOR     KOBE.   LEBRON IS A BETTER PLAYER AND IS MUCH YOUNGER THAN     KOBE.

Anonymous said...

just as a fan i want you all to hear me out...
        can we realy know what is needed in l.a? what if the lakers where 30-11? What then ? who knew sun or sonics would be this good? how do we know that if the lakers stayed togahter they would win ? yes better chance but guarantee ? no we seen that last year , days have change in sports because we have players in very sport quick to open there mouths , what would have happen if pippen would speak on jordan or asking to be traded, when they played? im sure he at times had much to say, never to say he was like mike but pippen and as people say he lived in his shadow but thats the way it is , and now days its like nobody wants to be a indian all want to be chiefs and it doesnt work that way,  its just sad when a player is put to be all you can be and expectations are high and your single out but thats the way it is money can"t buy anything why because we all played at one time for the love , good time, bonded playing to win not for money or stats , its just the media  says things i just hope odom dont give in to that and they stick togather to show that they are as good any team , lakers are the show time and high expectations are always there , whos talk  about the most " lakers" not even" heat " get that much or the best team with the best record,  well if it wasnt for the lakers nba would be just another sport,  but guess what lakers are never in the back seat they will always be in the driver seat nba much more strong, records would break on t.v if lakers and heat meet in the finals , isnt that what people want to see? thank you let it stand for the record. i love my lakers nomatter what and well we all have made bad decions in life its just that theres are put at a higher stage , i wish kobe the best and i know his the indiviual to have the ball when it counts, its been said by all coaches... dont give up .... always a fan of the nba and lakers fan ,, soon ill write

Anonymous said...

My point of view is "Kobe, leave LA well you still can" face it the Lakers will not win another ring for a long time. Their to young and unexperienced. Kobe is my favorite player behind T-Mac but he needs to find a new home. And for Phil coming back doesn't really matter.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kobe and all Laker players,
I have been a Lakers fan before Kobe came to play with the Lakers.  Kobe is my main man.  He is a great player and I don't believe in the rumors that he is a rapist.  I BELIEVE IT WAS A SETUP SO THEY CAN GET MONEY FROM KOBE.  Phil Jackson please come back to the Lakers.  You are a great coach of all the NBA coaches. How is your beautiful fiancee? When are you getting married to her?



                                              Las Vegas Nevada
                                                       2/5/05

Anonymous said...

Dear Kobe and all Laker players,
I have been a Lakers fan before Kobe came to play with the Lakers.  Kobe is my main man.  He is a great player and I don't believe in the rumors that he is a rapist. Phil Jackson please come back to the Lakers.  You are a great coach of all the NBA coaches. How is your beautiful fiancee? When are you getting married to her?



                                              Las Vegas Nevada
                                                       2/5/05

Anonymous said...

THE LAKERS HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM! YOU HAVE AN IDOT OWNER THAT FOR SOME REASON HAS GIVEN THE POWER TO AN ALREADY POWER HUNGRY,SELF CENTERED,SELFISH PLAYER LIKE KOBE,SURE HE HAS SKILLS,SO DOES  ALOT OF OTHER PLAYERS IN THE NBA.WHEN YOU GIVE A PLAYER SO MUCH CONTROL AND FULL RAINS OF THE TEAM,DO WHAT YOU WANT SHOOT 80 TIMES PER GAME,KEEP THE OTHER 4 GUYS ON THE TEAM AROUND TO BACIALLY PASS THE BALL TO HIM AND SET PICKS.SINCE KOBE IS CALLING THE SHOTS ANYWAYS,MAYBE HE SHOULD COACH/PLAYER.HE'S DOING IT ANYWAYS! THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN ON ANOTHER TEAM.IF KOBE GOES TO ANOTHER TEAM,HE'LL HAVE TO BE UNSELFISH,DISH OUT THE BALL,BE A TEAM PLAYER,MAKE PEOPLE AROUND HIM BETTER,THOSE WILL BE JORDAN QUALITIES WHICH I HAVE YET TO SEE IN KOBE!! HE'S BETTER OF IN LALA LAND,WHY WOULD HE LEAVE?HE'S GOT IN MADE!THEY'LL NEVER WIN ANOTHER CAMPIONSHIP.SO WHAT, THANKS TO SUCKERS FANS AND DR BUSS , KOBE IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK...

Anonymous said...

I think phil should come back because the lakers really need his mind and his playoff experence. I don't think the lakers will make it to the playoffs without phil

Anonymous said...

 First and foremost, the lakers can't win with or without Phil. No one will top San Antonio or Pheonix in the west. Jerry, Kobe, and Mitch can forget it, the dynasty is over (history). Then you look at this, why would you get rid of the best GM in Jerry West, the best Coach ever to coach Phil Jackson, and the most dominate player to ever play the game Shaquille O'neal. For someone who want's to be like MIKE, and he can't.
Don't get me wrong Kobe is a talented athelete, but the difference here is Micheal won 6 NBA titles. Kobe won three with Shaq, Phil, and other great players, Kobe knows it as well as you do that he can't win it by himself, so why not share the ball. Lamar Odom is a good player, look at what he is doing without Kobe.
 But I feel sorry for Lamar, he will be the next player on the trading block, "cause Kobe gets offended if someone else steals the spotlight, the same way that he got Eddie Jones traded, Nick Van Exel traded, Phil Jackson fired, and Shaquille traded.
 Wake up Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak, before the parade passes you by, standing there holding Kobe's little hand. Make sure that you burp, change the baby's diaper, and rock him to sleep after you feed him, or he will cry.
 There must be something wrong with the owners named Jerry. First Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, win two Superbowls then fire the coach. Second Jerry Kraus of the Chicago Bulls, you win 6 NBA titles in 8 years, you fire the coach, and split up the team of the 90's. Now this nuckle head Jerry Buss, you fire the best coach ever, Phil Jackson, then trade the most dominate center ever to play the game, Shaquille O'neal.
 Is this a chain reaction thing with people name Jerry. I've got an idea, trade Kobe to the Rockets for Tracy McGrady, bring back Shaq, and Phil. And I promise you that you will be back winning Championships. Better yet sell the team, to Jack Nicholson, and I promise you that this would be a better team.
&

Anonymous said...

                                      ''WRONG ANSWER'
Getting rid of ther best center in the NBA "Shaq" and the best coach in the NBA "Phil Jackson to keep Kobe Bryant, was a wrong answer, and Kobe Bryant and everyone else knows it.  One man can't win a title, or in the case of the Lakers, this year they won't even get to the playoffs.  Anyway, I never liked the Lakers anyway.  Now that "Shaq" is with Miami, I am going to root for Miami.  And Dwayne Wade, now is he a good player or what.  Like Shaquille Oneal said, he is the best player on the team right now "Miami Heat".  If any team in the east can win the NBA title this year it will be the "Miami Heat". Trust me on that one.

J. Blackwell, Spring Lake, North Carolina

Anonymous said...

the lakers can never win a nother tittle without phil jackson.when they had phil they were better as a team. because phil knows what he is doing when time comes for them to play they do that but they will not win if the lakers do not get phil jackson back.

Anonymous said...

HEY BABYBOY IF    KOBE   IS SO GOOD THEN WHY AREN'T THEY WINNING.   KOBE NEVER WON A RING WITHOUT SHAQ PLAYING AND NOW THEY CAN'T WIN 50% OF THEIR GAMES.  LOOKS LIKE    KOBE   IS THE PROBLEM.

Anonymous said...

you know what,i never saw a nba team as 'stupid' as Lakers do,without 'shaq' no more Lakers, Shaq was a great player who brought championship,it's better to sold Kobe and Kup than Shaq.1 to 1000 chance i will not sold Shaq,i hope
Phil be back soon before it's too late.

Second Lakers Owner

Anonymous said...

Boy are the Lakers stupid.  Putting their whole future on someone {KOBE} that has not proved himself to be a team player.  Can't for the life of me see why Buss would do such a thing.  They had the best coach and best center in the game and got rid of both for  KOBE.  WOW  some move.  Then they want coach K to come to the Lakers.  Now that took some nerve.  As if coach K would want to coach a brat like  KOBE.  Coach K and coach Jackson already know how to win basketball games and it is not by pampering players.  Players either play as they are told or they sit the bench.  When is   KOBE   going to learn that lesson.  I thought owners paid players to play basketball and paid coaches to coach.  The Lakers owner is paying  KOBE   to run the team i guess.  I feel sorry for the Laker fans that have to suffer thru this year.  Loved the Lakers when Magic and team were there because they knew what it took to win.  Would love to hear what Magic thinks of the Lakers now.

Anonymous said...

IF Ruty T step down that lets you know about #8 any body that think he is #23 is
gonna act like one #23 was really good #8 is a good peace to star a team with a super star Duncan KG Iverson.

Anonymous said...

IF Ruty T step down that lets you know about #8 any body that think he is #23 is
gonna act like one #23 was really good #8 is a good peace to star a team with a super star Duncan KG Iverson. _ROBERT.

Anonymous said...

WELL I WANT PHILL TO COME BACK JUST LIKE ALL LAKER FANS!!! THAT IS ALL FOR ME BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TWISTS AROUND LAKERLAND THESE DAYS IF PHILL WAS TO COME BACK WHAT WILL HAPPEN?? KOBE?? REACTIONS PHILL?? HIS REACTIONS WILL IT WORK BETTER?? WILL SHAQ PROBABLY SAY SOMETHING? WE DON'T KNOW BUT LAKERS NEED TO STEP IT UP THEY ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN SEE BUT KOBE, DIVAC, ALL THOSE ON THE INJURED LIST! ARE JUST MISSING SPECIALLY KOBE BRYANT THE REST OF THE TEAM NEEDS HIM!! BUT THEY ARE PLAYING GOOD!! KEEP IT UP LAKERS!!! BUT SOON EVERYTHING WILL BE OVER AND THE LAKER TEAM WILL BE WINNING!! YEAH GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

How many of you are really Lakers fans and how many just want to take shots at Kobe and the Lakers? Did the Lakers make a mistake by letting Phil and Shaq go? Probably so, but you can't blame everything on Kobe.  Mike couldn't win without Scottie and Shaq or Kobe would not have won without each other.  It was just as much Shaq's fault as it was Kobe's.  So it's not fair to just lash out at this kid.  What were you saying when they were winning?  What should have happened was Buss should have stepped in and let everyone know whos team it really was.  If anyone will stop and take a good look they would remember that Shaq was the one that was always saying "my team" or "my guys".  How many of you will let someone continue to lash out and not defend yourself?  Phil is a great coach,but he also got caught up in the mess too.  People can say what they want, but let Kobe become a free agent and see how long he will be left out there.

Anonymous said...

 Whatever happens, don't let Kobe go off to Colorado to get rehab on his sore ankle. We don't need to have another young lady raped. Anyone with any morals would not want him on their team. Any decent fan had rather root for a lose than cheer for a rapist

Anonymous said...

I absolutely think that Phil Jackson should come back to coach the Lakers. He never should have been let go in the first place. I have his recently released book, "The Last Season", and the whole atmosphere surrounding that team last year was utterly ridiculous. Part of the problem with these overpriced players like Shaq and Kobe is that they are solely focused on I and Me, instead of "we", the team. Obviously, the Lakers had serious problems last season, but when a troubled season culiminated in a finals appearance, letting the coach go as Dr Buss did isnt the answer. The Yankees havent let Joe Torre go the times he has lost the World Series, and the Braves havent let Bobby Cox go because he has only one World Title. Phil Jackson has been probably the most successful coach in NBA history.
 While I realize that Shaq is gone to Miami and doing well. I still think that the Lakers have a shot to do something big with a healthy Kobe, and their supporting cast. While it's true that Jackson didnt win a title in the two years Jordan was retired, including his comeback in 1995, he still had a degree of success. Additionally, there is no telling who the Lakers will get over the summer. Phil Jackson wins, and it is all about winning. I would want Phil Jackson on my team any day, and were I him, I would go back to the Lakers, rather than coach the Knicks with as many troubles as they have. Or, if not the Lakers, I would take a job with a team that has a chance to win big.
      I dont think Jackson will be back this year, unless something surprising happens, but I do think he will come back somewhere over the summer, maybe to the Lakers. Whoever hires him, it would be the right move, as he is the most successful coach in history.

Anonymous said...

Well, in case anyone missed the scoop....Here it is
Recap Heat vs. Knicks
Isiah Thomas speaking.

Prior to the game, Thomas held a 20-minute news conference in which he reiterated that he isn't interested in coaching the Knicks, saying his job is to lead the organization as the team president.

He also said he was flattered by Phil Jackson expressing interest in possibly becoming the Knicks' head coach but cautioned that the task of turning the franchise around will be a "long, slow, tedious process."

Anonymous said...

Hey, Rudy T. may of been rusty. A coach who showed he can lead a team to success is Byron Scott, who's been relegated to some team in the doldrums of the east. Is he that hard to get along with?