The Phil Jackson-Kurt Rambis co-head coach approach
More on the concept of Phil Jackson ceding head coach duties to assistant coach Kurt Rambis during certain roadies. PJ floated the idea on 710 ESPN's Mason & Ireland Show yesterday, which naturally created a buzz. But as Clark Kent shared with the Times' Mike Bresnahan, the idea has already graced the Laker drawing board on several occasions.
"This is not new to me," Rambis, who was one of the final candidates
for the Sacramento Kings head coaching job, said late Tuesday night.
"This is one of the many ideas we kicked around a little.
"The hardest part about the job is the travel. It's especially hard
when you have physical issues. There's some travel that are
particularly grueling. He can take tough road trips off. Phil is
probably at a point where he is looking to wind his career down and I'm
looking to wind my career up."
First things last: A clean bill of health is in order before PJ and Rambis order whiteboards made for two. But assuming everything checks out, I could get behind this plan. PJ is much too respected to lose the team's ear, particularly with the circumstances dictated by health, not disinterest. Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and (assuming he's back) Lamar Odom can be trusted to as veterans charged to ensure mice don't play with the cat away.
Having said that, "Jackson-Rambis in 2010" isn't fool proof or without potential issues. The two would need to be on the exact same page and able to pass control back and forth without egos or hurt pride getting in the way. Mixed messages could turn very problematic. But if fluid communication and teamwork is prioritized, I imagine this would work, particularly since I doubt we're talking a ton of road games to begin with.
Share your thoughts in a poll below. The K Brothers are all about lending voice to the people.
AK
AK/BK
Has this ever been tried before with any NBA team (or any team for that matter) and what is the success rate? It'd be interesting to note.
Posted by: rojaro | June 24, 2009 at 12:52 PM
If Kurt Rambis grows back his pornstache, than I am all for his promotion. Rambis versus Stan Van Jeremy will be a battle for the ages.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | June 24, 2009 at 01:05 PM
I wanna be I wanna be I wanna be like KB Blitz.
Posted by: L.A Times Blitz | June 24, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Heard this too yesterday on 710. I'm cool with it. Phil might go to the close road games like Phx, Sac,
Golden State, Portland.
If the problem is leg swelling while on long flights...then how about a specially designed chair/bed of some sort built into the plane that would prevent leg swelling by keeping PJ's legs up? The guys who made that anti-gravity treadmill could make it. haha. But then the Lakers would have to use that specific plane all the time, and that would be pretty costly. I can see it now: "Lakers go even deeper into luxury tax with Phil's new anit-swelling Jet."
Posted by: ajax | June 24, 2009 at 01:23 PM
i might be for it if phil takes a 50% paycut
Posted by: yellofever | June 24, 2009 at 01:28 PM
i voted for AK/BK as co coaches together with the live blog. LMAO, they got 6 other nuts voting too.
Condolence Hugo of Spain, a sports USA is not supposed to win got 2 - 0 upset on #1 team of the world. US suckers are good in head jobs. huh!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 24, 2009 at 01:31 PM
I am okay on the two big eastern road trips that is roughly 17 games. I think that Rambis calls timeouts quicker than PJ but then again who doesn't. There are plenty of solid voices on this team and with Kobe overriding what PJ wants to do by seeing something different on the court then it wouldn't be a big deal. The most important thing is to get everyone healthy (coach included) back to the playoffs
Posted by: CS | June 24, 2009 at 01:38 PM
I believe Bill Russel was a player-coach and it worked out for Boston. I think having Kurt Rambis share the duties would be great for both Phil and Kurt. This is considering that Kurt may be the new head coach in a few years.
Posted by: Stanley | June 24, 2009 at 01:41 PM
AK,
I love the polls. They give us a chance to vote and see what other bloggers are thinking. Here are some suggested poll questions that might be interesting?
Who would you like to be next Lakers coach?
- Kurt Rambis
- Brian Shaw
- Jim Cleamons
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Mike Krzyzewski
- Byron Scott
- None of the above
Who should sacrifice to keep team together?
- Kobe Bryant
- Phil Jackson
- Lamar Odom
- Trevor Ariza
- Shannon Brown
- Jerry Buss
-All of the above
- None of the above
Who do you think will be the Lakers next point guard?
- Jordan Farmar
- Sasha Vujacic
- Shannon Brown
- Sun Yue
- Kobe Bryant
- None of the above
What should the Lakers do with their first round pick?
- Trade it for lower or later picks
- Draft a Euro player and store him overseas
- Draft Darren Collison
- Draft Marcus Thornton
- Draft Patrick Mills
- Draft Tyler Hansbrough
- Draft DaJuan Summers
- None of the above
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 24, 2009 at 01:42 PM
I'm in the minority. I just don't see Rambis being a successful head coach. B-Shaw or even D-Fish have it over the porn stache in my book.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | June 24, 2009 at 01:44 PM
"Fisher can't lead a FAST BREAK, how can he coach a team."
Over 90% of current coaches in their prime couldn't lead a FAST BREAK yet they can coach VERY well.
RE-POST
"On Fox Sports Ohio they've mentioned multiple times that the Cavs are going to make a run for Trevor AND Lamar."
"Thus they are probably willing to go so deep into the luxury tax to pick up players that they will probably make inflated offers to players... and that could include Lamar and Trevor."
You won't have to worry Jon K. because the Cavs even if they lose Varejao to free agency and don't keep Joe Smith will still be over the cap. The Cavs payroll will still be roughly $70 million and thus over the cap so they cannot offer either Ariza or Odom more than the mid-level exception which the Lakers for sure will offer more than to both Trevor and Lamar. Only in KL's world would they be allowed to violate the salary cap and sign both.
Only possible threats to sign away Ariza and Odom are Memphis and Detroit.
Posted by: KB Blitz | June 24, 2009 at 01:55 PM
we beat spain? really? wow. If we keep playing like this I might actually start watching le futbol in ten years or so, at least if baseball stays this boring.
Posted by: phred | June 24, 2009 at 01:57 PM
or they could make pfunk coach. For a whole quarter or so anyway. it might be worth it in humor potential, and we wouldn't have to read his posts for a whole quarter of one game.
Posted by: phred | June 24, 2009 at 01:58 PM
I want this jersey.
http://tinyurl.com/nftww3
Posted by: ChicNstu | June 24, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Well, I for one don't trust Phil with being able to do this. The Lakers would have done so much better this season if someone else had been coaching!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 24, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Laker Tom,
Who would you like to be next Lakers coach?
- Kurt Rambis
Who should sacrifice to keep team together?
-All of the above
Who do you think will be the Lakers next point guard?
- None of the above
What should the Lakers do with their first round pick?
- Draft Darren Collison
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 24, 2009 at 02:15 PM
When Rambis was last put in as head coach, it was a totally different (and unfair) situation.
Shaq made a mess of it (as he is prone to do) and Kurt has matured a lot since then.
I think Kurt Rambis would make a fine head coach, especially due to his focus on the defensive end.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 24, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Hugo of Spain,
GO TEAM USA!!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 24, 2009 at 02:18 PM
how does jerry buss feel about this? he would be paying phil the same amount but for less work.
how would the players feel about this? they may work less hard on the road since even their coach is not there and that can be the excuse for losing.
how will it affect the wins/loses? if we don't do as well, then it's not really worth it...
i have a feeling egos and conflict will get in the way.. i don't see how it wouldn't since they are different people and have different styles and techniques.. rambis is not a clone of jackson. so there will be conflict..
Posted by: pinkalink | June 24, 2009 at 02:20 PM
The Governor of So. Carolina is available to coach.
Posted by: hopalong | June 24, 2009 at 02:23 PM
also if leg swelling is the problem....
Why doesn't PJ just coach the road games....upside down?
CHAMPIONS AGAIN IN 2010!!!
Posted by: ajax | June 24, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Hugo, my friend
USA 2
ESP 0
Ole!
Fatty - I agree, you are correct, we are improving.
Posted by: Fatty | June 24, 2009 at 02:30 PM
How did Jim Cleamons(a former Laker, too!) be left out of this converstation?
He has far more bench time under his belt than Rambis...
Posted by: notabovethegame | June 24, 2009 at 02:36 PM
If the guy isn't healthy he should just resign. Let's go out and get an a-star coach ... personally I'd like to see us make a serious run at pat riley even if it requires giving him an ownership stake but idk what the history with the buss family is as in why he went to miami to begin with
Given Riley is an extremely long shot ... I'd suggest jeff vangundy, avery johnson and byron scott as next set of candidates ...
As for Rambis ... let him get a head coaching gig elsewhere first, prove himself there and come back home ... i think going from assistant coach to the most coveted head coaching job in the league reeks of favoritism ... if PJ leaves we need to go out there and get the best available coach ... and oh yeah we get to ditch the triangle to
I know I know ... if it ain't broke don't fix it ... but if PJ's legs are broke then it is broke ... let's embrace change and let's go out there and get an A-List coach ... Rambis can go coach a milwaukee bucks or some other small time team
Posted by: Taliq | June 24, 2009 at 02:38 PM
"Who would you like to be next Lakers coach?"
Kurt Rambis.
"Who should sacrifice to keep team together?"
None of the above. (That means Jerry Buss has to pay even more)
Who do you think will be the Lakers next point guard?
Shannon Brown
What should the Lakers do with their first round pick?
None of the above (Taj Gibson)
Posted by: KB Blitz | June 24, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Supposedly, PJ is not so famous for in game calls. He prepares them so well ahead of time, thats what they say?
Time outs he doesn't like but this playoffs, he called them plenty.
Hey, these guys know what to do. He has them trained so well that even Edwin could coach them from Barcelona while on vacation.
Posted by: Fatty | June 24, 2009 at 02:42 PM
what's Chuck Nevitt doing? He's tall, he sucked, what else do you want from a coach?
Height 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
Weight 250 lb (113 kg)
Although playing for nine years, Nevitt appeared in only 155 games, playing a total of 826 minutes, which equates to fewer than 18 complete NBA games. After a return to the Rockets, he also appeared for the Michael Jordan-led Bulls (during a 1991-92 10-day contract), and had 1 game with the Spurs - the 1993 season opener, on November 5, in which he made 3-of-6 free throws in less than a minute against the Golden State Warriors, being released shortly after.
Posted by: Dallas Raines' Hair | June 24, 2009 at 02:48 PM
Hugo my friend, where are you?
Please don't go the way of Butler.
There is no shame in losing to a lousy USA Team,
Spain was just looking ahead to the Brazil match and forgot to play today. It could happen to any team that's rated #1 in the World.
Posted by: Fatty | June 24, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Mitch in his press conference today said it would be all games or Phil going to retire.
Posted by: Paul | June 24, 2009 at 03:16 PM
"i voted for AK/BK as co coaches together with the live blog. LMAO, they got 6 other nuts voting too.
Add me to the nut house.
Posted by: Arizona Laker Fan | June 24, 2009 at 03:19 PM
ex- funny. I agree with Fatty, though. taliq- huh? so do we need to completely change everything, or since it isn't broke we don't have to fix it?
Posted by: phred | June 24, 2009 at 03:38 PM
A quick shout out to the US Men's Soccer Team who played absolutely magnificently today. I can't say how satisfying it is to root for a team that puts out that kind of effort.
On a different note, the Lakers should pick Nick Calathes or Danny Green if they're still available. Highly underrated guys who can really have an impact.
Posted by: puddle | June 24, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Why not hire a coach who might actually be able to get the Lakers to play well for extended periods of time?
Why think that any of the assistant coaches has what it takes to be the head coach of the most talented team in basketball?
Would any one of them have what it takes to match wits with Greg Popovich in a playoff series? (You cannot be serious.)
Why think that any of the assistant coaches would have the respect of the players?
Does Kurt Rambis have any qualifications for this job other than kissing PJ's butt? Was anyone happy with the job he did coaching the "defense."
Why think that Byron Scott would be any less of a failure than he turned out to be in New Jersey or New Orleans? (Losing the respect of the players after a year or two, then taking a nose-dive in the standings.)
Yes, any of these jokers would cost Jerry Buss a LOT less money. And they would at first be popular with the fans, since most of the in-house candidates played for the franchise. But it really does matter who the head coach is, and this job is too important to trust to any of them.
(As I and others on this board believe, the job is too important to trust even to PJ: He certainly has not been able to get the team to perform consistently up to its capability. He had the most talented team in the league, and they consistently underperformed, but they're so talented that they still won the title. But that's another argument.)
Posted by: jimjoyce | June 24, 2009 at 04:00 PM
what about Derek Hough? That would be rad. Shannon Brown scores on an unbelievable reverse dunk, Derek moonwalks out to half court and taunts the other team and stays on the other side of the court. Then at the other end, Bynum blocks a shot, Derek does a cartwheel just as the players run past, Kobe dishes to Ariza for a slam and Hough does the splits and finger shoots down the other team...
There would be actual fights breaking out, on the court, in the stands... everybody taunting everybody else... totally rad...
Posted by: Dallas Raines' Hair | June 24, 2009 at 04:20 PM
No Phil no repeat. No one can replace him. Phil has more titles then Riley + Pop. He has the highest winning pct in playoffs reg season plus he has the most 60 wins best record for a season, etc etc etc. Your all morons.
Posted by: dr len | June 24, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Your all morons.
Posted by: dr len | June 24, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Posted by: #4 | June 24, 2009 at 04:58 PM
I want this jersey.
http://tinyurl.com/nftww3
Posted by: ChicNstu | June 24, 2009 at 02:05 PM
======================
ME TOOO!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 25, 2009 at 02:13 PM