t to Lakers,
. . . ... - ... & .. ' .
(AP) - David Stem is apparently
busy plotting how to broadcast NBA
games on the backs of fans’ eyelids. In
the meantime, someone has to say-a
few good words about the upcoming
playoffs.
So here are seven of them: Come
for the basketball, stay for Phil Jackson.
For one thing, Jackson figures to be
around at the end. For another, he will
have the league’s most entertaining
team in tow. Need a 3-point play?
Watch Phil teach Jack Nicholson how
that rather-be-lucky-than-good grin is
supposed to look.
Jackson is easy to underestimate.
He almost seems to prefer it. He will be
the first to say the Lakers aren’t the
Bulls, just like Los Angeles isn’t
Chicago.
Sure, there are comparisons. The
Lakers play defense, they score fast
Vi, ^ • v yVK V
enough to bury opponents and they’ve
learned to like winning - tearing off
consecutive streaks of 16, 19 and 11
games on the way to 67 regular-season
wins.
But Jackson never forgets the dif
ference between this team and that one,
either. That’s what makes this such a
good story. The Lakers could stumble
anywhere along the way, and next sea
son half of L.A.’s celebrity row will be
looking at Jackson and swear it’s Del
Harris with a supply of “Just for Men.”
Or the Lakers could win it all. And then
this time, when Jackson has his picture
taken with the NBA trophy, Michael
Jordan won’tbe anywhere in the frame.
Jackson’s genius is not inspirational
leadership. He doesn’t yell at (or choke).
players to get their attention. He whis
tles. But if his own ballplayers ever
caught Jackson on ESPN Classic or
. i . i.
were qld enough to have seen him play,
they’d'know why he talks so much
about “energy.” • ..
Jackson learned to respect talent by
respecting the best. That quality cuts to
the heart of his credibility with kids the
same age as his own. He can watch
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal do
their best and honestly say he’s seen
better. Because he has. He learned how
to coax that effort out of others.
HIM A ^ 1 MU
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