Look forward to it. :toast:

Hey BD...at least the Lakers will PROBABLY be better than the Clippers next year.....







:D

This is supposed to make me feel better right? I was just hoping Jackson could get his 10th and retire on top of Red. Hoping Kobe would get his 4th so he may reconsider leaving town. I was also hoping Malone would finally get a ring. He did a great job for us on KG and Duncan when his knee was working. Oh well, time to see what their going to build in LA now. They sure have supplied some unbelievable and stunning moments over the years. It was great to actually see Rush torch the Wolves to win that series and actually be there. I guess I should count my blessings.

Yep. And there's nothing wrong with supporting YOUR team through the good times and the bad. Even if said team is the Lakers. ;)

You know... If the Lakers actually rebuild, I could probably get behind them. The reason everyone hates them, is because they've been so damned good it's just silly. I'm a casual Pacers fan, I'm not that passionate about them, but that's who I pull for in the NBA. (Mainly because of my early NBA memories of Reggie Miller killing the Knicks with 3's, and then using Reggie on NBA Live '95 to humiliate my buddies)

I Kinda like the Pacers. I LOVE Mizzou. I wanna see Rush become a stud. If the Lakers rebuild, and Kareem's a part of it, I'll be pulling for them more often than not....

Rush is a talent and Phil has him playing D he just needs a little more floor time and he has the potential to be awesome. His release is picture perfect which always gives you hope that he will become something special. If they don't rebuild this next year they will the year after so we just have to see what's going to happen.

Yep. They need a Power Forward and some outside shooters. I don't know why they didn't make a play for Rasheed Walice when Malone went down? Maybe it had something to do with money. Also, I think Kobe will be back because the Lakers can pay him more than any other team can. He's lost MILLIONS because of his court case, and he's gonna want to recoup that money. LA affords him the best chance to do so. But if not, there is always Tracy Mcgrady (sp). That's who I'm hoping the Rockets will go after. :thumb: Anyway, it's time for Phill Jackson to ride off into the sunset on his Harley again IMO. Maybe replace him with Rudy T. The guy can coach the inside-outside game and that needs to be the basis for the Lakers offense next year. EVERYTHING needs to go through Shaq FIRST, then kick it outside. Rudy T can also coach defense as well. Now THAT would be a story... :hmmm:

They refuse to go over the cap making Rasheed impossible. That's why I detest the Yankmee's comparison so much.

Ok, in that respect you're right. Maybe it wasn't a fair comparison. As I've said before, I just don't like the way Shaq gets away with bangin' people all over the place. IMO, his game has improved tremendously over the past few years that he really doesn't need that help from the officiating. I know Lakers fans will disagree with this take but, that's just the way I see it.

That being said, I respect Kobe and Shaq. They are great players, no doubt. And there is no denying that Jackson is a great coach. That's why I said I was surprised Jackson got outcoached in this series. At least it appeared that way to me. I just have always disliked the Lakers. Mainly cause I have always liked teams like the Kings, Suns, and Jazz in their conference.

But I feel for ya, BD. Lord knows we have suffered more than enough letdowns as Chiefs fans.

Really? Curious as to how Shaq's game has improved? Does he dunk harder or something? I'm serious here. To me he still looks the same in that he has very limited skills away from the basket or at the free throw line. Just my take.

I agree...BD knows my 'love' for Shaq's BB abilities, but Shaq's game is the same as it was since his first day in the NBA. Back into the defender turn and thrust elbow into face/neck/chest of defender then dunk the ball. If he's 5 ft away from the basket he misses more than he makes.

HOw Shaq gets by with stuff. This lplayoffs was a joke when it came to one sided officiating. If you watched the last game Shaq gets and over the back call against him because his arm hit Ben Wallaces trap. Very next play down the court they literally jump on Shaq's back without a call. Shaq is a big, he is doing what everyone else is doing he is just bigger when he does it. They keep hanicapping him by changing the rules now they want to make the base of the key 19' to keep him out of it. To say he is getting the breaks isn't very realistic at all.

Lakers Hope to Resolve Coaching Situation Shortly
Jun 17, 9:13 PM (ET) Email this Story

By JOHN NADEL
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles Lakers plan to decide soon whether Phil Jackson will be their coach next season, perhaps as early as Friday.

"The No. 1 priority for us right now is to resolve the coaching situation," general manager Mitch Kupchak said Thursday. "We would hope to have that addressed in a short period of time."

Speaking less than 48 hours after the Lakers were beaten by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, Kupchak also said the team will do whatever it takes to keep Kobe Bryant, and trading Shaquille O'Neal is a possibility if the star center demands it.

Kupchak said he spoke with Jackson on Thursday, but only about the current season - not about the coach's future. The GM said Lakers owner Jerry Buss will meet with Jackson "within the next several days."

Jackson's agent, Todd Musberger, said it was his understanding that Jackson and Buss will try to meet Friday. Musberger said he didn't know any other details about the meeting.


The 58-year-old Jackson is finishing the five-year, $30 million contract he signed with the Lakers in 1999. He coached the team to championships in his first three seasons, giving him nine to tie former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history.

In 14 seasons as a head coach, Jackson is 832-316 for a .725 winning percentage - best in NBA history. His 175 playoff wins are the most ever and his .717 postseason winning percentage is also tops. His teams in Chicago and Los Angeles had a 9-0 record in the NBA Finals until this year.

Jackson was discussing a contract extension, but the Lakers ended talks in February until after the season.

"Phil has never said that he has no interest in coming back," Musberger, said from his Chicago office.

Jackson said following the Lakers' loss Tuesday night that there was "a pretty slim chance" he'll coach the team next season.


"No coach coaches forever," Kupchak said. "We're going to have to work in tandem with him and decide how to move forward. He's going to have his side and we're going to have our side of it. I would say he's been the best coach in the NBA over the last five years."

That being said, all indications are Jackson's future with the Lakers will be decided by the team - not Jackson.

Several other changes are expected before next season. Only five of the 14 players on the current roster - O'Neal, Devean George, Rick Fox, Kareem Rush and Brian Cook - are under contract. The Lakers have club options on Luke Walton and Jamal Sampson.

Karl Malone, Horace Grant, Slava Medvedenko and Bryon Russell are free agents, with Malone becoming one Wednesday when he opted out of the contract that would have paid him $1.65 million.

Bryant, Gary Payton and Derek Fisher can opt out of their contracts, making them free agents.

Bryant has said he'll opt out, and Kupchak said that makes the best business sense since the Lakers could then sign him for seven years for over $140 million. That's one year longer than any other team could sign him and for substantially more money.

"I think we're going to keep Kobe," Kupchak said. "Part of that is based on conversations I've had with him. I've talked to his representatives. I think this is the place where he started his career and this is the place where he should end his career. I don't think any other city appreciates him as much as this one does."

Bryant faces a sexual assault charge in Colorado, with no trial date set. He could spend time in prison if convicted.

"We're willing to take that chance," Kupchak said.

Kupchak said the Lakers will offer Bryant the maximum contract allowable, and wouldn't make a sign-and-trade deal even if he plans to leave.

"Kobe is just going to have to just go, because we're not going to trade him," Kupchak said. "I don't anticipate that changing. We're going to do everything we can to keep him."

O'Neal said following the finals that he was going to "take care of me," and didn't elaborate.

O'Neal has made clear his desire for a contract extension, which hasn't happened. He has two seasons left on his contract - for $27.7 million next year and $30.6 million the following year. He can opt out after next season.

"He can dominate this game for years to come," Kupchak said.

About possibly trading O'Neal, Kupchak said: "He has a lot to do with that as well. That would not be a good day in this club's history. We do plan to talk to him. Players do have that option (to demand a trade). We'll see what happens."

Kupchak said he expects Payton will exercise his $5.4 million option to play with the Lakers next season. Payton has until next Wednesday to decide, his agent, Aaron Goodwin, said Thursday.

Kupchak also said he hopes Malone will return.

Malone, who turns 41 next month, said he has to be completely healthy to play next season. He sustained a possible torn right knee ligament in Game 2 of the finals, which slowed him considerably in the next two games and caused him to sit out the finale.

You're wrong about that. I've watched Shaq from the first few years with Orlando until now. He has developed a lot of moves that he didn't used to have. He can hit shots from further out than 5 feet. Admittedly, he's never had an outside game. But he does have some good moves inside. It's just that you don't notice those as much as when he just backs into his defender.

Well we'll just agree to disagree, as I have not seen much improvement in his game. Physically he has added more weight and strength and if anything the added weight has slowed him down in that it's a factor in his lack of conditioning.

Titus said it bast in post # 643.