Phil Jackson Offers His Thoughts on This Year’s Lakers


It was only a matter of time until the media cornered Phil Jackson, to ask him about this year’s star-studded Laker team. The former coach, who is happily retired, took an analytical look at the squad and envisioned the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for Mike Brown. From the LA Times (via ESPN Radio): “It’s finding a role that each player can move towards and be comfortable in,’ Jackson said. ‘I think that’s how you want to feel. You want Steve to have the ability to have the ball with confidence that he is doing the right thing and feeling like he can run the team and getting the ball to Kobe in critical situations is important because that’s what his best role is standing out in the moments of crisis or the moments that are critical. And the inclusion that you have to have to make Howard feel a part of it. So all those guys have to find a little role.’ […] Jackson also shared concerns on the Lakers’ veteran-laden roster. ‘They gotta watch the wear and tear that goes on because the end result is what counts’ Jackson said. ‘It’s not the first 100 yards of the season so to speak.’ […] Jackson believed Steve Nash would be key in ensuring the system runs well. ‘He is a guy that can kinda make it easier for Howard to be a player inside,’ Jackson said. ‘As Pau can move around in the post and move up to the high post and he can be an outside defender that can help out in a variety of screen-roll activities that maybe Howard might get himself in foul trouble having to defend all the time. So they’ll be able to do a lot of things with a more mobile and quicker Pau Gasol. This is a team that you have to find an offense that is going to work and include everybody because Kobe dominates the ball and Steve Nash dominates the ball. Then you’ve got player that need to get the ball in good spots to work for their offense. That’s Gasol obviously in a couple spots, low and high post. Howard really is a low post player, he needs that ball in the post.'”