Note to Phil Jackson: Don't do it !!!

In case you haven't been following the debacle that is the Los Angeles Lakers, they've gone from title contender to 9th place in the NBA's Western Conference this year. The fall from grace is attributed to the once-loved, now-despised Kobe Bryant. Let's recap, shall we? Kobe didn't like the triangle and didn't like Phil Jackson. Phil is no longer the coach of the Lakers. Kobe didn't much care for Shaq. Shaq is now playing in Miami. Kobe wanted Coach K (from Duke), and Laker management was inclined to court him. They were subsequently spurned. The Lakers finally got a credible coach in Rudy Tomjanovich, but his tenure was short-lived due to "medical concerns." I'll give Rudy the benefit of the doubt here given his medical history, but...after one Hall of Fame coach declares the league's best shooting guard as "un-coachable" and another Hall of Fame coach walks mid-season, you have to ask yourself: How much longer is Jerry Buss going to kiss Kobe's BVD's?

Currently, the Lakers have a recycled coach--Frank Hamblen--filling in. Mind you, I'm not a Laker fan, so I hope they stay with Frank and stay out of the playoffs. What I find hysterically funny is that Laker management is actually considering making overtures to bring Phil Jackson back into the fold. On the other hand, how big a stretch is it given that Phil is still dating the boss' daughter.

*Note to Phil Jackson: DON'T DO IT!!! Let them beg, plead, and wallow. Heck, string them along, but for the love of Pete, don't go back there! After being a great player and an even better coach, 9 championships--equaled only one by Red Auerbach--you have nothing left to prove. That said, if you're reaaaallly looking for a challenge, might I recommend the Sacramento Kings?

Just as Flip Saunders' message had worn thin in Minnesota, the same argument can be made for Rick Adelman's mantra. Rick should be commended for some good seasons and has admittedly had some tough breaks with injured players, but so does everyone else in the NBA. The fact is that the Kings are still offensive juggernauts, but defensive softies. And there's no penalty in the Rick Adelman regime when players wave the purple cape, yell "Ole!!", and watch even mediocre point guards drive to the basket. Rick, the reported "Players' Coach", is also far too predictable. Amazingly, game after game, the Kings live and die by the jump shot, with little variation, even when the shots aren't falling.

The talent is there, Phil, and how ironic would be to have the former Lakers' coach bring a championship to a hated rival? Chris Webber is averaged close to a triple double last month and is having a career season, Mike Bibby can still drive to the basket at will, and newly acquired Cutino Mobley can shoot the lights out! We've got some great energy players on the bench, a more than serviceable center in Brad Miller, and hey, you can even trade Peja if you want. If you help Sacramento win it all, you get to shut Charles Barkley up on TNT! C'mon, Phil. You know you bleed purple!
Peace,
+THINKR