Lakers Lethargy

Thursday night, the Anaheim Ducks showed as much grit as the Lakers showed quit.

But one question. While the players roast under the whithering heat of national scorn...why does the Zen Master get a free pass?

Most sports fans think motivation comes entirely from fired up halftime speeches and the like. But players are motivated when they are prepared. When they know what another team is going to do and how to counter it. Or when the other team does something unexpected... the coach figures it out...CALLS A TIMEOUT...and make the proper adjustment.

Phil Jackson deservedly ranks with the great coaches in NBA history. You don't win 9 championships if you're just along for the ride. But different coaches have different strengths. Many coaches and managers (like Billy Martin or Larry Brown) are at their best with teams that are somewhat undermanned and they compensatve by strategy. But historically have struggled and been accused of over-coaching or over-managing when they have great talent. Conversely, a coach that just "lets the guys play" sparkles on a team with a lot of talent. But isn't as strong in the strategy department. This is not a new criticism of Jackson. It's always been there even at the height of his glory years. And his supporters rightly point out that getting ultimate talents like Kobe and Shaq or Michael Jordan and...anybody...to play together is a great talent.

Now back to the adjustments or lack of same. Last year the Lakers blew one of the biggest leads (24 points) in a finals game (4) in NBA history. Followed in two games by the biggest blowout in a finals clinching game ever (39 points). All season long the Lakers have blown big leads though usually (but not always) hanging on to win. The games against the under manned Rockets add to the body of evidence... that Phil simply can't adjust during a game. His exuse when teams are building up big leads is he wants the players to figure out what it is for themselves. A learning experience. Like when your dad didn't know how to spell a word but pretended he did; telling you to look it up so you'll remember it better. What's Phil using these "learning experiences" for? The summer rec league?

Players can look sluggish and loafing when they don't know what do to to counteract an offense or defense. A player standing flat footed can look really bad but unless he anticipated the play, he can't catch up.

And there may be one final problem. People create a mystique that helps them in their jobs beause those under them have a confidence the boss will find a way. It's not unusual for people to start, as Al Pacino said in "Scarface"...to start snorting their own...uh, stuff. For years players bought into the Phil Jackson "I'm smarter than anybody else and way ahead of them" mystique and it motivated them. It could be that Phil started to believe it himself. Forgetting the famous quote from Thomas Edison; "Genius is 10% inspiration. 90% perspiration."

Win or lose game 7...this will remain a problem.

Bret

“Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a great battle.”
Philo of Alexandria. 1AD