<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Canzano: Jackson has other options for a return JACKSON He's available, and Blazers need him H ire Phil Jackson. Not because he won nine NBA championship rings as a coach. Not because he's the all-time coaching leader in playoff victories (175). Not even because he's an outdoors guy and this is an outdoors city. Hire Jackson to coach the Trail Blazers because he is the only coach capable of unifying what amounts to a disconnected and divided franchise by simply showing up for work. That said, he's the only way out of this mess. If they aren't already, the Blazers should be on the phone to Jackson in Montana today. And they should be talking seriously about why Portland is the perfect place for Jackson to reinvent himself. Don't hire some retread. Don't turn this into an experimental opportunity for a young coach, or even -- eek! -- a college coach. And don't just go after a big name for the sake of a big name. Hire Jackson. Because he persuaded Michael Jordan to be a team player. Because he got Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to play together long enough to win three NBA championships. Hire Jackson because he's Zen and this franchise could use some of that good mojo. Jackson was good enough for Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He was good enough for O'Neal and Bryant. He was good enough for Lakers owner Jerry Buss. So, is Jackson good enough for Paul Allen? </div> Source
