ESPN: Mike Brown Fired

[TucsonClip]

Like I said...

@ramonashelburne

A meeting with Jackson could happen by the end of the weekend #lakers

[TucsonClip]

Originally Posted by Ballscientist

Before Brown was hired, I was the one who completely disagree with the hiring.

I highly doubt that.

[Knicks4life]

Report: “Strong” chance Jackson returns to Lakers… if Jim Buss gives up power

It comes down to power.

There is a chance Phil Jackson might be walking through those Lakers’ doors. He might be what Lakers fans see as the cavalry coming over the hill (even though in his last season he took the Lakers exactly as far as Mike Brown did in his first one).

But this time Jackson doesn’t want to just be an employee, he wants Jim Buss’ power. And that prince may be too high. Here is the story from Ric Bucher of CSNBayArea.com.

Remember that Jackson and the Lakers didn’t part ways on the best of terms. Jackson and Jim Buss had their power struggles, and when Jackson left Buss purged traces of him from the organization — long-time assistant GM Ronnie Lester and much of the scouting staff was fired, for example. It went deeper than that. Brown was brought in by Jim Buss to put his stamp on the organization — he didn’t want Brian Shaw and continuity, he wanted to show he could run this team.

With that background, it always seemed unlikely to me Jackson would return. It is about power and ego (not to mention an 8-figure salary). Yet, Phil Jackson to the Lakers seems to have momentum. First, came the reports he was high on the Lakers list and Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said with Jackson “not coaching you’d be negligent not to be aware” and at least consider it. There is a report from Rotoworld about Jackson meeting with the Lakers last week (he was often around Lakers offices to visit Jeannie Buss). Dwight Howard reportedly wants Jackson and Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and others spoke highly of him at the Lakers game Friday night (a win).

Now he might be willing to take it, but the price is power. And that power, if Jim Buss gives it up, could shift more to Jeannie Buss — Jackson’s girlfriend and the business-savvy daughter of Jerry Buss who runs the Lakers business side of the operations (Jim has the basketball side).

It’s a Shakespearian drama playing out around the Lakers. But Jackson to the Lakers could happen.

The Lakers also are reportedly going to talk to Mike D’Antoni, the former Suns and Knicks coach. This also seems an odd fit despite Steve Nash being on the team because this roster does not fit his seven-seconds-or-less style. Plus, he just had knee replacement surgery in the last three weeks and is not exactly going to be up and around for at least another month.

[Basel]

Do it. Jim Buss sucks, anyway.

[Cris]

Lakers say they're 95% sure Phil Jackson will return as coach

The Lakers are moving quickly toward hiring Phil Jackson as their next coach, with one person in the organization calling it a "95%" chance he will return for a third tour with the team.

The Lakers plan on meeting with Jackson on Saturday morning to make sure he is interested in the job. The unknown 5% in their equation is the chance Jackson doesn't want to fill the vacancy created by the Friday firing of Mike Brown, either because of health reasons or other unknown issues.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers...,6329436.story

...

[Dre]

The unknown 5% in their equation is the chance Jackson doesn't want to fill the vacancy created by the Friday firing of Mike Brown, either because of health reasons or other unknown issues.

Wouldn't that be the unknown 100%? What is the known 95% if that's the case...oh there's a 95% chance just because but an unknown 5% he doesn't take it because he doesn't want it.

Whenever something big happens these "source" articles really show their ass and throw all logic out the window just to beat the rush.

[Knicks4life]

@HowardBeckNYT
Idle speculation on where Mike Brown lands next: Atlanta. Buds w/GM Danny Ferry. Larry Drew is in last year of contract.

...

[Dre]

People were speculating Brown to ATL even before Brown got fired. That seems like it's destined to happen this offseason

I read on Hoopshype that a "Lakers Vet" texted this reporter "are you kidding me? why?" last year when Brown to LA was announced...it could have only been Kobe, Bynum, Pau or Steve Blake. I bet it was Kobe, doesn't seem in the other 3s character.

[Dee-Zy]

Poor Hawks, they will Never get out of mediocrity. That really sucks for them, they were a fun young team to watch.

[Knicks4life]

‏@KBergCBS
A "couple more steps" to be addressed before agreement can be reached on Phil Jackson's return to Lakers, league source tells @CBSSports.

One issue believed to be Jackson's disdain for circus-like NBA travel. He and team had discussed unorthodox remedies in the past.

...

[seifer0406]

Everytime something like this happens I can't help but laugh at those people who claimed that the Cavs won as a team and that it was Lebron's fault that he couldn't win in Cleveland. So where are you guys now?

I think this might be the final piece of the puzzle that shows that everything related to those 60+ win Cavs team besides Lebron was a failure. The Cavs became a NBDL team and now the coach gets humiliated 2 weeks into a supposedly championship caliber season. It's ironic that they blame Lebron for going to a super team yet when his old coach gets a super team of his own he has no idea what to do with it, craps the bed and gets the boot after 5 games.

[Mr. Hobbes]

Originally Posted by Dre

What does "during the season" have to do with anything

Who knows what Phil is thinking, and D'Antoni would definitely take it but I think they'd go after Shaw before him the way people love him.

But Sloan is just not going to happen. I just don't see him coexisting with the Buss' or being able to instill his style on that roster. He strikes me as a prick (in a good way) and that's what they don't need because if it doesn't work it'll go waaay south.

And I used to think the same thing Jace re: the triangle/point guards but after reading Phil Jackson's book and his explanation of the triangle there's no reason Steve Nash wouldn't be able to thrive in the triangle. It's predicated on motion, ball movement and quick shooting, all things Nash can excel at. That's a myth only because the Bulls/Lakers never happened to come across an all-star PG.

Gary Payton had trouble with the triangle but he was a) toast anyway and b) set in his ways. I bet if they traded him for Pippen at like 24 they'd still have 6 rings.

Phil himself proposed trading for Jason Kidd at one point..to initiate the offense better than he perceived Kobe was...he wouldn't think of something that drastic and Kidd in particular if he didn't think a dominant point guard could thrive in the triangle.


What they need to do is bring Phil back, put Shaw on his staff and give Phil two more years and just move on with Shaw.

I heard all that power struggle bullshit in Phil's final year but the Buss' are desperate and willing to admit where their bread is buttered...they're probably not enjoying having to kiss Phil's ass.

Payton was a drive and kick guy who was a crappy 3 pt shooter. As a Laker he didn't have a chance to drive, so he basically was a spot up 3pt shooter who sucked at it.

In the triangle, Nash doesn't get to control the ball. He'd be relegated to a spot up guy who drives occasionally. It just wouldn't be the Nash you know.

[Luke]

Considering we barely ran the triangle in Phil's last couple seasons I'm not worried about it.

[Jace]

Originally Posted by Dre

People were speculating Brown to ATL even before Brown got fired. That seems like it's destined to happen this offseason

I read on Hoopshype that a "Lakers Vet" texted this reporter "are you kidding me? why?" last year when Brown to LA was announced...it could have only been Kobe, Bynum, Pau or Steve Blake. I bet it was Kobe, doesn't seem in the other 3s character.

Artest? Barnes? ...other guys? Why just those four? If you thought it to mean "Long-standing Laker," why include Blake?

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by Mr. Hobbes

Payton was a drive and kick guy who was a crappy 3 pt shooter. As a Laker he didn't have a chance to drive, so he basically was a spot up 3pt shooter who sucked at it.

In the triangle, Nash doesn't get to control the ball. He'd be relegated to a spot up guy who drives occasionally. It just wouldn't be the Nash you know.

In the first two games Nash played fully, he wasn't the Nash that we knew. His assists numbers...I mean wow.