Lakers' Jackson not exactly lacking in confidence
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson met with reporters after Thursday's practice. A joke-telling session broke out.
With Ron Artest suspended for Game3 on Friday, will Jackson think about more playing time for Luke Walton?
"I think about him every day," Jackson said wistfully.
What about the "trust issues" that Andrew Bynum mentioned in the wake of Game 2?
“I thought he was speaking about trusses, and my dad wore a truss," Jackson said. "I thought that’s what he was speaking about. I don’t know the trust issue.”
He was told he seemed pretty jovial with the Lakers facing a 2-0 deficit to Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals.
"I’d like to cry but I can’t right now," he said. "It’s a game and we know it’s a game and we play it and we play it hard and we anticipate winning in Dallas."
He became serious for a bit, talking about the need to hone the Lakers' pick-and-roll defense.
As the interview session ended, he was asked if he had coached his last game at Staples Center.
"We'll be back Tuesday," he said.
This time he wasn't joking. That would be the day of Game 5.
--Mike Bresnahan
Photo: Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson watches during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center on March 18, 2011. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire
I want everyone to know that I've backed away from the ledge a bit.
This series could be 1-1 and these Lakers have the talent and experience to pull it off, even though I still think mathematically it means the Lakers must go on a 3 game win streak.
They can, especially if desperate (even though Kobe doesn't like that term)
Now... if the Lakers find themselves down by 20 in the 3rd quarter of game 3, no doubt about it, I'm taking the plunge. LOL
Let's go make history. Clutch City Los Angeles style
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 05, 2011 at 02:59 PM
Some Lakers pointing fingers
Some Lakers not giving 100%
Some Lakers not thinking straight
Some Lakers looking soft
Some Lakers throwing teammates under the bus
Some Lakers not coaching
Some Practice Seasons carry over to the Playoff Seasons
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Philip Philip Pirrip Philip Philip Pirrip ... this man sef nawaaa for you oo
Thanks
PSP Intern
Posted by: Practice Season Police | May 05, 2011 at 03:04 PM
Phil might not be lacking in confidence, but his all-star power forward and reserve point guard sure are. I'm not sure that I have ever seen two professional basketball players look as scared as those two guys did last night. Unless PJ is able to rub a little of his confidence off and onto those two, the Lakers are facing a sweep.
Posted by: God | May 05, 2011 at 03:08 PM
oh, okay, games 1 and 2 were just a joke
a really bad joke that I still don't get.....
Posted by: Patrick | May 05, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Damn straight.
See you at Staples on Tuesday, Lakers. The series will be tied 2-2, and Dallas will be quivering in their collective boots.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | May 05, 2011 at 03:09 PM
the lakers seem to need to take the hard way every time. i see lo is in the news, ron-ron celebrates his citizenship award by slugging a guy
Posted by: lance from da' bronx | May 05, 2011 at 03:11 PM
When the going gets tough, the tough give the world the Finger
Cee Lo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc0mxOXbWIU
Posted by: Mark G | May 05, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Don't Moderate me Bro!
Posted by: Mark G | May 05, 2011 at 03:17 PM
It's so hard to digest how poorly the Laker defense has been
the Mavs are doing anything they want to without disruption.
The Mavs defense is disrupting the Lakers offense.
It's like were in an alternate universe
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Seriously this is not the time for Laker players to start bickering.
THAT'S OUR JOB
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Remember how poorly the Lakers were playing before the All-Star break? And how after the break they suddenly turned things around? Well, they need to think of today as a second All-Star break. If they can go 17-and-1, they ought to be able to go 4-and-1.
Posted by: Allnet | May 05, 2011 at 03:19 PM
IT'S OVER! While the Lakers still have the better players and better overall talent, the Mavs have shown that they have the better "team", as in team basketball.
For far too long the Lakers have been relying on superiority of individual talents now they have finally met their match. The Mavs maynot be 100% as talented but they are close enough and with MUCH BETTER team play that will be enough to beat the Lakers.
The real problem is not with Gasol or Blake or Artest or whoever having a tough time, the real problem lies with the COACHING.
It's one thing that Nowitski was tough to contained because of his hot hand, it's another that the team looked downright PATHETIC in dealing with the Mavs' high-screen and penetration.
Bynum was 100% correct with the trust issue. Only thing he didn't mention the cause of this trust issue. And the cause is PISS POOR COACHING.
Thanks to PISS POOR COACHING the Lakers in spite of their talents, always look like an UNDISCIPLINE and UNMOTIVATED team that is utterly lacking in the FUNDAMENTALS of teamwork.
The Lakers must have the NBA's WORST defensive rotation scheme. They are totally CLUELESS on defense and their cavalier laissez-faire effort only makes it worse.
I can't wait for a new Laker coach!
Posted by: Psycorp | May 05, 2011 at 03:22 PM
@trollman.. Too late.. after playing behind dfish for 82 games I think blake is already scarred for life. (See farmar)
btw speaking of dfish we put up with him for 82 games for this???
Posted by: yellofever | May 05, 2011 at 03:24 PM
Win.
That is all.
DBDH!
Posted by: Don't Blame Del Harris! | May 05, 2011 at 03:31 PM
Since the Laker coaching staff has been a little slow to adjust to the Mavericks
I'll make some suggestion
1. Let Dirk do whatever he wants and stop everyone else
2. Play some zone to stop penetration and alley-oop dunks
3. Bynum spoke up, now let him back it up ( but I remember during the regular season he did the same thing and played one of the worst games of his career)
4. Watch Pau's body language it's a tell tale sign of his focus.
5. Start Lamar but Barnes makes sense too
6. Try and get to the basket even though their zone is specifically designed to stop that.
7. Rethink substitution pattern
8. Rethink timeout calling pattern
9. Play some Pick & Roll on offense
10. Be quick but don't hurry
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:33 PM
I don't know guys, I've seen these Lakers play up and down the past 3 years and they reached the Finals all 3 years, of course winning the last 2 Championships, but this team doesn't look the same. With the exception of Kobe, everything being said about tired, boredom, simply worn down seems to be playing a significant role this year. Also seems like we make an All Star out of at least one average opponent player and we don't get that in return. You know, like last night, "Blake scores 16 and Lakers win" or "Barnes hits for 14 and 8 boards and Lakers win." I'm not counting us out, but it just seems different?
Posted by: D(erek)J(eter) | May 05, 2011 at 03:35 PM
How's that go, if you keep the same lineup and rotation and defense time after time and expect a different result? PJ?
Posted by: D(erek)J(eter) | May 05, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Good to hear it, Tim-4-Show!
J.A. ADANDE writes, "They [the Mavericks] were outrebounded and lost the points in the paint and second-chance points categories in Game 1. The Lakers had the same number of field goals as them in Game 2, and had more rebounds and fewer turnovers."
Point is, we're not being dominated, NO WAY, NO HOW!!! This is not a case of being overmatched, we're just in a funk. We can snap out of it and over power this INFERIOR opponent.
The Mavs are a PHONY team. Sean Marrion? JJ Brea? Peja the former dancing queen? The euro centerfold, Dirk Diggler? Their coach, Jim Carrey? Who's not soft on this team? Chandler? Bynum has 60 pounds on this guy!
Just win game 3!!!
Posted by: Ludwig | May 05, 2011 at 03:44 PM
posted byLudwig
The Mavs are a PHONY team. Sean Marrion? JJ Brea? Peja the former dancing queen? The euro centerfold, Dirk Diggler? Their coach, Jim Carrey? Who's not soft on this team? Chandler? Bynum has 60 pounds on this guy!
_________________________
Usually the Lakers only make one player from the opposing team look like an All-Star but now it's the whole damn team looking like All-Stars against us.
Someone earlier said that the Lakers in the past have been winning with overwhelming talent and not Fundamental BB skills.
Is there a one-day cram course in The Fundamental of Basketball 101 that Phil can enroll his players in?
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:48 PM
I'M OUTTA HERE UNTIL MODERATION IS TURNED OFF
LIKE THE LAKERS,
YOU CAN'T GET INTO A RYTHYM WITH SUCH A RESTRICTED GAMEPLAN
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Jackson exudes arrogance. One of the reasons I could never cheer for this team. "They" when you lose and "WE" when you win................in his two coaching stints, he has not drafted and developed ONE player- remember he wanted Danny Granger over Bynum...............
Posted by: Giant Green Bald Headed Lunatic | May 05, 2011 at 03:53 PM
why are my comments the only ones getting moderate me man, cmon thats like being racist!!!
Posted by: LALakerz213 | May 05, 2011 at 03:56 PM
i havnt even said one bad word but here i am getting cut off because i say some good stuff once in a while, but meanwhile all the trolls who are not laker fans can come here and bash our team but i get the boot!! geez thanks for making a fan feel wanted at home!! wow this really blows!
Posted by: LALakerz213 | May 05, 2011 at 03:57 PM
I knew that Luke would be needed before these playoffs were finished...now is his time. He can cause some matchup problems for Dallas by the way...we are going to win game 3. It's simple...Lake Show just needs to win a game and stop the bleeding...go from there, we'll be fine. Lakers in 7
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Kobeayashimarue | May 05, 2011 at 03:58 PM
I think Phil is trying to make the players loose, they have been way too uptight from what Phil had been saying in game 1 and game 2
I hope they come back, their backs are LITERALLY against the wall, this is what they have wanted all year long... They got their wish, RIGHT NOW.
Posted by: hiphopcop | May 05, 2011 at 03:59 PM
The Lakers have been on top for a long time. As they struggle (and possibly fall) this year, there will be a lot of delighted fans from other towns gloating. Media types overstating the gloom. And bandwagon fans dropping off with a thud. Suddenly, Phil can't coach, Kobe can't play, Pau is worthless. Etc. all of it pure horse crap.
In fact, you don't get to win every year. The last team to go to the Finals four years in a row was back in the 80s. Why? Because it is damn tough. Teams age. Other teams figure out how to play them. Guys get hurt and worn out. Guys get tired of their roles. Complacency sets in.
The Lakers (and Celts) wentfor big and strong, and won a lot of games over the last 3 years. Both teams are vulnerable to quick, as they age, though, and there are a lot of good, quick teams out there.
The Lakers ain't dead. They may rise up in this series. If not, this team, somewhat reloaded, can still compete next year. We are spoiled. But the 80's Lakers fell short a number of times, and were written off as old (Kareem especially) and done for almost every year.
This may not be the Lakers' year. They need upgrades at the guard spots (Kobe excepted) and somebody off the bench who can just plain shoot. But it ain't the end of the world.
Now back to hoping they pull it together soon enough to win this one. Not likely, but not beyond possibility.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | May 05, 2011 at 04:05 PM
@Lakertruth.. You left LUKE off ur list... Have no fear lakernation the cavalry is coming and luke is on his way!! This may be phils best contingency plans.. Phils last line of hope!
(BIG GULP)
B-e-l-i-e-e-e-v-e?
Posted by: yellofever | May 05, 2011 at 04:05 PM
OK one more post
Psycorp
Don't know the Lakers would respond to a new coach.
Can you imagine the dialogue between coach and player?
Coach: Player, I need you to focus and play harder
Player: Sorry coach I'm really tired today and I can't give 100% because my reality show is very demanding and I need to study my lines.
Coach: Player, I'm sitting you down because your hurting the team with your one-on-one play
Player: I'm not full yet!
Coach: What's wrong with you today
Player: (crying) he won't pass me the ball
Coach: Timeout
Players: WHAT'S THAT?
Coach: Here's your new Playbook
Players: What's a playbook?
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 04:07 PM
the series isn't over yet! the mav's still have to win TWO more games. we all know about dallas's 2006 nba finals, choke debacle. mav's up 2 - 0, game 3, double digit lead against the heat with 4 minutes to go.......you know the rest!
Posted by: Lakeshowinphx | May 05, 2011 at 04:14 PM
MITCH KUPCHEK needs to take a lot of blame here. Not since Glen Rice in 2000 have the Lakers had a knock-down 3-point shooter (other than "the Machine" in 2008). This falls squarely on the GM. Isn't it utterly pathetic to go 10 long years and not come up with a 3-point shooter on this team? They have gotten away with it for years, with Horry, Fisher and Kobe stepping up with big shots to win games, but not last night. The Lakers were 0-18 from 3-point range until a couple of meanningless ones in the final minutes.
KUPCHEK is the same guy who gave Luke Walton a 6-year contract, the same guy who signed Devon George to a ridiculous contract when he could have worked out a sign and trade for Chauncy Billups that same year. Billups went on to become the Finals MVP in 2004 against the Lakers. With Billups, you'd have another Championship banner in 2004.
KUPCHEK got lucky ONCE, with the Gasol trade, but more and more even that trade doesn't look all that great as the younger Gasol improves. After all, how would a younger and more physical Marc Gasol look on the Lakers right now, lined up next to Andrew Bynum?
KUPCHEK, what ails this team is a lack of a pure 3-point shooter, FIRST AND FOREMOST. You know that, so why haven't you been able to secure such a player for the Lakers in TEN LONG FREAKING YEARS?????
Posted by: Ludwig | May 05, 2011 at 04:21 PM
@ Tom Daniels: you left out one if not the MOST important aspect of reloading: the COACHING.
I agree 100% that with minor personnel upgrades this Laker team can still be elite and compete for the championship again.
However they desperate need OLD SCHOOL FUNDAMENTAL coaching and to un-learn all that Zen crap.
Just imagine what a Jerry Sloan or Jeff Van Gundy can do with all these talents!
Posted by: Psycorp | May 05, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Who here remembers fishers .4 secons in San Antonio???
Did you guys belive in the Lakers at that moment? or where you crying and playing the blame game?? yea a lot of people did and guess what happend, we burned them with less than a second on the clock... so guys just BELEIVE in this team and well get this done
Lakers in 6!!!
Posted by: LALakerz2133 | May 05, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Tom Daniels,
Just curious - are you factoring the Cheat into your calculations? It seems to me that even if we make it out of this hole and even if we manage to three peat, that window is closing quickly - less because of the age, and more because of other teams loading up
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 05, 2011 at 04:32 PM
The Lakers should have done everything humanly possible to sign Kyle Korver in the off-season before he signed with the Bulls. He's exactly what the Lakers have needed for a decade.
Instead of splitting the mid-level exception between Barnes and Blake, KUPCHECK should've given the whole thing straight up to Korver (or Mike Miller) and resigned Farmer, or just gone with Trey Johnson as Fisher's backup.
KUPCHEK seems to routinely get fooled by opposing players who have ONE GOOD GAME against the Lakers... as in Steve Blake's triple-double against the Lakers in the last game of the season in 2010 when the Lakers had all but tuned out of the regular season, and Shannon Brown, who as a member of the Bobcats scored 23 points in 2009 against the Lakers. Two weeks later, Brown was a member of the Lakers in the Radmanovich trade!
Posted by: Ludwig | May 05, 2011 at 04:35 PM
"Did you guys belive in the Lakers at that moment?"
Actually yes. When Duncan hit that miracle, I decided to immediately start visualizing the Lakers celebrating and running off the court in pandemonium.
Now, I'm not exactly one to believe in stuff like "The Secret"... but I'll be damned if not but 60 seconds later, the Lakers were celebrating in pandemonium as they left the court.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 05, 2011 at 04:38 PM
The lights are out, the party's over. Give the O'Brian trophy to the Heat already. The Lakers should be ashamed of themselves for their poor play against Dallas. Wake up Phil, get Blake the [blank] out of there. You kept him in for his great defense? He and Brown are playing like deer in headlights. Can anyone please get the heart from the Tin Man and the courage from the Lion and give them to Gasol? The way the Lakers are playing now, my former high school team could kick their butts. I was so disappointed yesterday I couldn't watch the last half of the 4th quarter. Lakers - you better check yourself before you wreck yourself!
Posted by: paka | May 05, 2011 at 04:39 PM
Mark G,
"Don't Moderate me Bro!"
I laughed for about 10 seconds.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 05, 2011 at 04:40 PM
So, I guess this is the game Luke gets his 32 point 12 rebounds 14 assists 3 blocks 4 steals game we've been waiting for.
It's about time.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 05, 2011 at 04:42 PM
Apparently, that switch the Lakers turn off and on is broken. Better get to Home Depot and buy a new one asap. Seriously, they look confused on offense and defense and can't shoot. Being a realist, it is extremely difficult for a team in any sport to go the Finals, World Series, or Super Bowl 4 yrs in a row. Guys don't look hungry any more and they are older and more worn. The mind says yes, but the body says no. Time to revamp the team, Mitch, this Championship cycle has expired.
Posted by: Laron the Prophet of Doom | May 05, 2011 at 04:42 PM
I remember .04
I also remember not winning the Championship that year
Posted by: Troll Man | May 05, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Psy,
When was the last time someone other than PJ went on a monstrous run of rings?
While I can't really disagree with you, and especially the coaching in THIS series... PJ is hands down the best there is.
If Sloan was so good, why didn't Stockton & Malone win at least one on PJ back in the 90s?
The only other guy to coach a team to successive titles was Rudy T, and well... I think we're all glad those days are over. What a disaster that was.
And I don't see us getting Pat Riley anytime soon.
Best bet is to keep Shaw, IMO. If they totally shift gears now, it will bring up a new host of problems to resolve
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 05, 2011 at 04:50 PM
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!
"You just play the next game. It's not that big of a deal to win two games in a row," said Bryant. "Stop acting like we've never won two games in a row. It's silly."
And as for what's sure to be a raucous American Airlines Arena home crowd for Friday's Game 3?
"Like noise is going to block a jump shot," Bryant said. "It's just noise."
[Remember, this Lakers team is a tremendous road team!!!]
"We'll be back on Tuesday night," Phil Jackson said, swatting away the notion of a sweep..."
JUST WIN GAME 3!
Posted by: Ludwig | May 05, 2011 at 04:51 PM
@ Tim-4-Show: Jerry Sloan had Stockton and Malone but that's it. There was no supporting cast. Can you name even one good player out of the supporting cast? Moreover, Jerry had the misfortune of going up years after years against a machine from Chicago led by a guy named Jordan with a much more superior supporting cast.
Shaw? Puuuulllleeeze, no, no, no... you really want to entrust an elite championship-caliber team to a guy who had ZERO head-coaching experience? even if by miracle he turns out to be a terrific coach, by that time Andrew Bynum would have started on the downside of his career!
What the Lakers need next year is a BRAND NAME, proven coach with lot and lot of prestige and credibility. Surely if Buss can afford to pay Jackson $10+/yr he can easily find such a coach for less...
A good coach makes adjustments between games. A great coach can do so within the game. OTH the Lakers had been playing (against the pick n roll or screen) with the EXACT same old strategy years in years out. It took at least three games for LAL to adjust to Chris Paul. So far they haven't made any adjustment to Mavs... that shows you how "great" LA coaching staff is... NOT!
Posted by: Psycorp | May 05, 2011 at 05:39 PM
Do you honestly think our team is going to win this series. If we win with this group the fix is on can you believe that Pau is this bad or is the guy wondering about touches. When he touch the ball he seem to know nothing about post basketball. He must think that he is our small forward. Never have I seen a player in two to three weeks look so bad playing on the floor. Our front office should be replaced with Phil, Fisher,and Luke moving up front. The players they let go and those they brought in man a three year old could have done better. Re-singing Brown to display his globetrotting skills must be really inspiring to the next point guard we sign. What's the guy name who played the last three games is it Johnson that would be a better play at this time. Anyway just as I said let's turn that switch on and really play some ball now. Losing interest in this team will return in a few years when Howard arrive with Chris Paul.
Posted by: Anthony Scott | May 05, 2011 at 05:42 PM
Exactly what I've been saying Ludwig...it's as simple as Kobe has been saying. Just win the next game and go from there. He also said the hostile environment might be good for the team...why not, they have failed at home. We win next game and crawl back into this series, Kobe will see to that! So will Pau, and Luke Walton(he is big for a small forward and can be a problem for Dallas) will have his best game of the season!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Kobeayashimarue | May 05, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Tim-4-Show,
"Now... if the Lakers find themselves down by 20 in the 3rd quarter of game 3, no doubt about it, I'm taking the plunge."
My thoughts exactly.
Posted by: laker hopeful | May 05, 2011 at 08:12 PM
time to wake up.
friday is this team's last stand.
WAKE UP DAMMIT
Posted by: L.M. | May 05, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Your Lakers are done period, Mavs will win this series in game 5 or 6. Lakers are already half-out and about to go home. Lakers arrogance is contributing factor for their misery. They're a f@ckin joke, they had a problems with NO and Dallas is way better than NO just do the math.
Posted by: Alfonso | May 05, 2011 at 09:47 PM