Possible Retirement Plans To Blame For Phil Jackson’s ‘Anti-Stan Van Gundy’ Demeanor?

May 16, 2009

By Jason Branch
JACK BAUER OF ALL SPORTS

“Are we embarrassed? No. We’re not embarrassed”- Phil Jackson after the Lakers’ Game 4 loss to the Rockets that evened the series at two games a piece.

“There’s nothing to worry about…”- Phil Jackson after the Lakers’ Game 6 loss to the Rockets to even the series at three games a piece.

Allow me to paraphrase the great John McEnroe, “You can’t be serious, Phil!”

Phil Jackson is a tough one to argue with when it comes to basketball. He has nine NBA Championship rings and has coached two of the best players to ever step on the hardwood in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. And he is the Zen Master, after all. But showing absolutely no regard for the reality that if the Lakers lose another game before they win one, Jackson’s quest for a 10th ring is over for this season? That’s definitely something out of the Zen world.

Now of course all possibilities must be considered by any rational sports fan. Maybe Jackson is just putting on a show for the media and he’s a lot more emotional and nervous in the locker room? Maybe Jackson really is not worried about Game 7, as it is at the Staples Center and he expects his team to put out an effort much more like Game 5? It’s a possibility, given Jackson was proven right after Game 4.

Or just maybe it’s a combination of both?

And then there’s the Jack “Bauer” of All Sports theory – which I’ll admit is a bit of a reach, but heck, so was my victory amongst the Taking Back Sports writers in the NFL Draft Challenge despite only offering picks for the first two-thirds of the first round.

Here’s what I think is brewing behind the scenes … I think Phil Jackson wants to retire after this season having captured his 10th NBA title. Sound crazy? Hear me out.

First, Jackson is closing in on 64 years of age, so he is approaching that time in his career where he probably is starting to think about retirement — if he hasn’t already, given the turmoil during the divorce of Shaq and Kobe. Second, winning a 10th title will move him out of a tie with the great Red Auerbach for most NBA championships as a head coach.

The timing is certainly prime for Jackson to walk off into the sunset if the Lakers are the last team standing at the end of this postseason. Logic suggests Jackson should be concerned more than ever about missing out on this opportunity, yet he remains relaxed, at least in front of the media.

(The reality is that this is probably the Lakers’ last chance to win a title for a really long time. Kobe isn’t getting any younger. Derek Fisher has lost several steps and is on his last breaths as an NBA player after a brilliant 13-year career, during which he was the force of stability and consistency on the Lakers’ championship teams. The Nuggets are a young and talented team that already is playing better than the Lakers right now. And LeBron James is simply a beast and still getting better. He will win multiple titles.)

The biggest factor in the relaxed attitude is that Phil Jackson trusts his team will get the job done, which is always a positive for a head coach. Heck, Jackson has a lot of talent to work with, and he is a seasoned coach who has experienced about everything a basketball coach can. Thus, he is more relaxed and functional under pressure than other coaches, such as Stan Van Gundy, who has done a brilliant job of proving Shaq’s claim that he is a “Master of Panic.”

However, I think there are some other factors at play inside the mind of the Zen Master. Jackson’s manner suggests, at least to me, “‘Jack the Sportsfan,” that Jackson simply believes it, as in a championship this season, will happen because it should and it makes sense given what I’ve outlined.

Jackson is the Zen Master, after all. Yes, I know I’ve said that already, but it’s a very important point to my case, just like The Dude had to keep reminding Walter that “they’re gonna kill that poor woman.” (The Big Lebowski is a must-see movie if you are lost on this reference.) Perhaps he has tapped into his inner Zen and has mystical forces working on the side of the Lakers to make sure they win the title this year.

Yes, I know this seems like a reach and very much lacking in actual facts. But it makes sense, at least to me, and I hope it does to you, even if you disagree.

I can’t see any other logical explanation for it. It is almost like Jackson knows something we don’t. He seems like the most relaxed person in the Lakers Nation right now heading into Game 7 against a team that has caused the Lakers fits on both sides of the ball and shown much more desire to win the series. Not to mention what I believe to be a breakdown in coaching by Phil Jackson in Game 6 by not capitalizing on the Lakers’ superior size (like he did in Game 5), and by apparently not motivating his players to put forth any effort whatsoever.

But the Zen Master must know, or believe he knows, something we don’t and that the Lakers will accomplish the ultimate goal for this season. As a Lakers fan, I hope this is the case, and will be interested to see if Jackson calls it quits if they win it all this year. If he does, Jack gave it to you first.

For the record, if the Lakers don’t win this year, I don’t expect to see Jackson walk away this season. He has too much pride to leave the game, having come so close in consecutive seasons. He’d certainly stick around to try and see Andrew Bynum play a full season healthy with Kobe, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol, along with a young bench another year older.

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