<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">His deal to become Lakers head coach still not complete, Rudy Tomjanovich is already working to stop the damage from the Lakers' tumultuous offseason. Tomjanovich is to meet Thursday with Lakers free-agent Derek Fisher in Los Angeles, the guard's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN's David Aldridge. Fisher, 29, opted out of the remaining two years of his contract after the NBA Finals and became an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign with any team without Los Angeles having an opportunity to match.</div> Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836272 Even though Rudy T isn't officially our coach, looks like he's going to do everything he can to bring back some of our main pieces of the Los Angeles Lakers. Looks like a good sign.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836272 Even though Rudy T isn't officially our coach, looks like he's going to do everything he can to bring back some of our main pieces of the Los Angeles Lakers. Looks like a good sign.</div> Yeah, he'll prolly reunite Shaq and Kobe No, seriously, I can't understand the fact that he knows he was their second or third choice and still is able to accept that fact that he is their option when the other 2 wouldn't sign... And he's already talking with players of his team where he even didn't sign a contract? Please, Rudy forgot about the punch and now he forgets about being a third option... He's really desperate to find a new team, he should think twice before going to the Lakers... Look what they did to poor Phil
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chucksta:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, he'll prolly reunite Shaq and Kobe No, seriously, I can't understand the fact that he knows he was their second or third choice and still is able to accept that fact that he is their option when the other 2 wouldn't sign... And he's already talking with players of his team where he even didn't sign a contract? Please, Rudy forgot about the punch and now he forgets about being a third option... He's really desperate to find a new team, he should think twice before going to the Lakers... Look what they did to poor Phil </div> I don't think Rudy T would mind about being a second or third option. I'm sure he understood that Mitch Kupchak was obviously out of his mind when he tried to lure two of the best collegiate coaches in the country in Coach K and Roy Williams into the NBA, Rudy T knows he was still one of their coaching candidates regardless of the fact whether he was their 2nd or 3rd option. And I'm sure it's not affecting him at all since he's talking Derek Fisher into staying with the Lakers. Now with this situation going on, it's just a matter of days when Rudy will sign that contract to coach the best storied franchise in the NBA with the news conference on top of that as well. And lastly, the Laker organization didn't do anything to Phil Jackson. Phil Jackson stepped down on his own terms and wanting nothing more than a little vacation back in Montana.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think Rudy T would mind about being a second or third option. I'm sure he understood that Mitch Kupchak was obviously out of his mind when he tried to lure two of the best collegiate coaches in the country in Coach K and Roy Williams into the NBA, Rudy T knows he was still one of their coaching candidates regardless of the fact whether he was their 2nd or 3rd option. And I'm sure it's not affecting him at all since he's talking Derek Fisher into staying with the Lakers. Now with this situation going on, it's just a matter of days when Rudy will sign that contract to coach the best storied franchise in the NBA with the news conference on top of that as well. And lastly, the Laker organization didn't do anything to Phil Jackson. Phil Jackson stepped down on his own terms and wanting nothing more than a little vacation back in Montana.</div> In my opinion, he was forced by all the Kobe lovers in the organization... I don't have a problem with Kobe, neither with you but I don't like the way they got rid of Phil... Hell, the guy brought them 3 titels and the only thing they did was : Give a Press Conference, Kupchak : thanks for everything and goodbye... That just doesn't work for me you know... He's the greatest coach in history(arguably) and he doesn't get a decent goodbye... And why is that? Because Kobe hates him and the management wants to keep Kobe happy by behaving in that way against Philander( man, that's a cool name )
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chucksta:</div><div class="quote_post">In my opinion, he was forced by all the Kobe lovers in the organization... I don't have a problem with Kobe, neither with you but I don't like the way they got rid of Phil... Hell, the guy brought them 3 titels and the only thing they did was : Give a Press Conference, Kupchak : thanks for everything and goodbye... That just doesn't work for me you know... He's the greatest coach in history(arguably) and he doesn't get a decent goodbye... And why is that? Because Kobe hates him and the management wants to keep Kobe happy by behaving in that way against Philander( man, that's a cool name )</div> Excellent point. The way I see it though, with the way our season unfolded with the continous cycle of Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, and Kobe Bryant writing roller-coaster chapters of soap operas, Phil Jackson knew that his coaching career with the Lakers was hanging by a slim thread and that he had to find a way out of it. We all know Shaq would've loved to see Phil back as his coach, but when players can't come together as a unit and play quality basketball, one guy had to step down and Jackson made the right decision. We all know this isn't the end for Phil Jackson, and I'm positively sure he'll be back in a number of years, but I really hope he can continue his legacy with players that'll love and appreciate the man for his efforts. Another reason that you pointed out were the Kobe lovers in our organization i.e. Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak. Right now the way I see it, this organization is like a bunch of servants eager to kiss Kobe's feet and do whatever neccessary to keep him as a Laker even if it meant luring Coach K from Duke, firing the people he didn't want as his staff on that Laker bench especially Phil Jackson, and of course getting rid of his nemesis in Shaquille O'Neal. I love Kobe Bryant and the years that he provided as one of our own, but I just hate how he's holding this organization with the palm of his hand without giving us any sort of evidence about his whereabouts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">Excellent point. The way I see it though, with the way our season unfolded with the continous cycle of Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, and Kobe Bryant writing roller-coaster chapters of soap operas, Phil Jackson knew that his coaching career with the Lakers was hanging by a slim thread and that he had to find a way out of it. We all know Shaq would've loved to see Phil back as his coach, but when players can't come together as a unit and play quality basketball, one guy had to step down and Jackson made the right decision. We all know this isn't the end for Phil Jackson, and I'm positively sure he'll be back in a number of years, but I really hope he can continue his legacy with players that'll love and appreciate the man for his efforts. Another reason that you pointed out were the Kobe lovers in our organization i.e. Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak. Right now the way I see it, this organization is like a bunch of servants eager to kiss Kobe's feet and do whatever neccessary to keep him as a Laker even if it meant luring Coach K from Duke, firing the people he didn't want as his staff on that Laker bench especially Phil Jackson, and of course getting rid of his nemesis in Shaquille O'Neal. I love Kobe Bryant and the years that he provided as one of our own, but I just hate how he's holding this organization with the palm of his hand without giving us any sort of evidence about his whereabouts.</div> And sadly, the thing is you don't even know WHETHER he'll play anywhere next season... With all the Colorado stuff... It's harsh, but it's true... Also, I hate how Gary & Karl didn't said anything about the change of the head coach... I don't mean the step-down of Phil('cause we both know Gary hated him and his triangle) but the signing of a new coach... It's like there's only one person in the entire organization who can decide whose the Lakers head coach next season : Good Old Kobe... Don't get me wrong, Kobe's a great player and I still believe he can win without Shaq and he can win the MVP, but I don't like the way the management trusts on him like it's their last hope and say to Shaq : Well, Big Fella, find yourself another team 'cause Kobe has decided that you can't stay in our beloved LA... Not only do they forget what Phil did for them, but they also forget wath Shaq did for them... Hell, he brought them 3 titles... Yes, he got help from Kobe, but he was their leader, the one who took a game over when he needed to... About the soap opera's, I admit it might be partly Jackson's fault by not changing the playing style to something where GP could fit in more... But in the beginning from the season he said he liked the Triangle very much and was hoping to get a great season... Than GP started to get bad games and he started go get pissed... And the reason of that was HIMSELF... Jackson could've changed the way of playing, but them the entire team chemistry(well, their wasn't chemistry anyway ) would've been messed up... Phil knew that, and thaught that GP's form would come back... Well, it didn't, Payton thaught Phil abandoned him and wanted him out of the team in favor of Derek Fisher and the soap began... Another soap opera : Shaq-Kobe Though I won't put anyone in favor I'm sure most people agree that Shaq just was telling the thruth : that Kobe was a ballhog... More than once... Kobe was just trying to hurt Shaq with those lame comments he made : fat, slow, lazy etc. If I would been Shaq, Kobe was already dead Well, Shaq tried to forget those comments they played together and even talked together, and that was it... Everyone mentioned again though when beloved Gary needed to make a scene in the press... This fued is blown up by the press... But Shaq and Kobe involved themselves and now you have the biggest beef in the leauge...
Phil Jackson was not forced out of the Laker's organization. He was not offered the head coaching position, but he was offered a position with the "higher ups" in the organization. Phil Jackson declined because he has been set on retiring the last few years and taking a break from basketball. He's not very healthy and I'm sure his stress from dealing with the constant Laker drama was at an all time high. Let's face it, Phil Jackson is burnt out and needs to recooperate. People are quick to blame Kobe for pushing PJ out of the Lakers, it might have had a little to do with the situation, but it's not entirely Kobe's call.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Phil Jackson was not forced out of the Laker's organization. He was not offered the head coaching position, but he was offered a position with the "higher ups" in the organization. Phil Jackson declined because he has been set on retiring the last few years and taking a break from basketball. He's not very healthy and I'm sure his stress from dealing with the constant Laker drama was at an all time high. Let's face it, Phil Jackson is burnt out and needs to recooperate. People are quick to blame Kobe for pushing PJ out of the Lakers, it might have had a little to do with the situation, but it's not entirely Kobe's call.</div> Not entirely, but not little either... If Shaq AND Kobe clearly said : we want PJ back, I'm sure he would've returned... Shaq did that and said he'd leave when Phil would leave... Well, he held his promise and wants to be traded... The Lakers have almost lost the 2 cornerstones of their organization... I don't care whether Shaq is on the downfall of his career, he's still the MDE and arguably top three of all-time... That can't be said from Kobe... And if he doesn't put up great stats every night such as 30-6-6 he won't even be considered a top ten player... Now, who would you rather have... I think Shaq's now fired up and will work himself into shape in the offseason, will weigh 315 pounds pure muscle, run the 40yards faster than AI and jump higher than Fred Jones... Well, we can dream right? No, seriously he will be in a better form than he ever would've been and I think he will guide his new team ( if Kupchak trades him... Haha,just imagine he won't... After the first practice Kobe's just dead ) to the finals and if he has good role players to a championship... It might be a long stretch, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that way...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chucksta:</div><div class="quote_post">Not entirely, but not little either... If Shaq AND Kobe clearly said : we want PJ back, I'm sure he would've returned... Shaq did that and said he'd leave when Phil would leave... Well, he held his promise and wants to be traded...</div> Shaq wanting to be traded has nothing to do with Phil leaving, if it was he would have said so. This is all about him not getting the extension he wanted and was supposedly "promised." He feels the Laker organization lied to him, and because of that he is demanding a trade. I'm sure it didn't help the chances of Shaq returning when Phil was let go, but it's not why. Even if he was traded to one of the teams he's said he wants to go to, there is no Phil there either. Leaving the Lakers doesn't solve the problem of him not having Phil.
