With the Lakers having been away from their El Segundo training facility for the better part of two weeks, Phil Jackson took the opportunity to have an extended sit down with the LA media that didn’t trek across the country with the team over the past 7-days. (Click here to watch the full video)
Here’s some quick bullets:
Phil described the Lakers 5-2 roadie as a good trip: “Unfortunately we didn’t finish as strong as I’d like to finish, but it was a good trip.” Historically the first home game back after a long trip provides some challenges. This will be compounded by a quality opponent. The Rockets are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff shuffle and still have plenty to play for down the stretch.
Jackson had only good things to say about Andrew Bynum’s progress since the team left. “He’s much improved in two weeks. The progress has been steady… I can’t project but there is a chance that he could play in a game before the season’s over.” Bynum played full contact 3-on-3. Jackson targeted next week as the likely time when Andrew will get back to doing full 5-on-5 work with the team.
Listen to the audio below or watch the video for more details. In case you’re wondering, yes he does refer to Pau Gasol as “Pablo”… “He’s affectionately called that by his teammates,” clarified Jackson.
When Phil Jackson was asked his opinion of a photo of Andrew Bynum, he came to the defense of his young center:
“You know what, I think there’s a lot being made out of that that’s unnecessary … Andrew’s a 21-year-old guy who’s been out of basketball for six weeks, and he’s got to have some energy and have some fun. I don’t know if putting a girl on your shoulders or not is (the way to go) … But the fact that people are beating him up about it, I think that’s crazy. Andrew’s doing fine and he’s going to be fine.”
Jackson was much more concerned - for the better - with Bynum’s claim on his official website that he’d been playing 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 under Mitch Kupchak’s watchful eye.
“I think the best news out of his blog that he sent out is the fact that he said he thinks he’s going to play in a regular season game,” he said. “That shows me some confidence. The last time I talked to him before we left on this road trip, Andrew said he was ‘Hopeful.’ But this time he sounded confident.”
Here’s the pregame audio of Jackson’s comments not just on Bynum, but on Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats.
Following Monday’s practice in Los Angeles, we turned the camera on while Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant answered questions from assembled media. HERE’S THE VIDEO
Phil
Phil Jackson explained why it’s sometimes natural for players to lose focus while protecting a lead, expressed no concern that teams might use a zone defense on L.A., addressed the second unit’s struggles in the half court and talked about coaching a team that’s favored to win a title.
Kobe
Kobe Bryant said that it’s still too early to think about the playoffs, dealt with the usual few questions that come if the Lakers let a team back into a game and talked about dealing with a zone defense that Dallas used and Philadelphia’s expected to feature at times.
Philly In Town
At 33-31, the Philadelphia 76ers are sitting in the sixth spot of the Eastern Conference, 5.5 games behind Atlanta for the fourth spot and 2.5 games ahead of 9th place Chicago. The 76ers have actually been better without free agent acquisition Elton Brand (out for the season), in part because they’re now able to play to their strength - running. With three straight wins against Toronto, Chicago and Miami, Philly’s game at STAPLES sets off a five game trip out West that should produce a better understanding of their playoff position. Philadelphia first met L.A. back in early December, resulting in a 114-102 Lakers win.
Phil Jackson made it quite clear prior to Monday evening’s tip in Portland that he won’t have anything to add when it comes to Andrew Bynum until April.
Phil’s exact quote: “We’ll find out when we get back (to L.A.) whether or not (Bynum) will start running or not. We’re just allowing this part of his body to heal and come back at the appropriate time. I think I said last week, “Don’t ask me again until April.” … There’s nothing that’s going to go on here until April.”
Following Sunday’s practice, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talked about playing on the road, why his team has struggled to win in Portland (winless since Feb. 2005) and addressed L.A.’s generally terrific support on the road.
When asked about L.A.’s struggles in Portland - who has the league’s third-best home record at 26-5 - Jackson first declined to talk about it, then chose to blame the rain: “It’s depressing,” he quipped.
Jackson compared L.A.’s road support to that which his Chicago Bulls received on the road (Michael and Kobe don’t hurt), and also responded to an inquiry regarding Trevor Ariza’s potential post-concussion symptoms by suggesting that it was a non issue.
The Lakers face off against the Trail Blazers on Monday, then fly to Houston for a Wednesday night tilt with the Rockets before completing the trip with a Thursday night showdown in San Antonio.
L.A. will then return home for games against Dallas, Philadelphia and Golden State before embarking on a seven-game road trip through the Eastern Conference (plus Oklahoma City).
Lakers.com will be there throughout to make sure you don’t miss a bounce of the basketball.
After Thursday’s practice, Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant respectively addressed local media members, delving into varying topics that had nothing to do with Friday’s game against Minnesota (apparently L.A. already won).
Jackson talked about giving his team Wednesday off, what was accomplished at practice, the myriad March road games and gave his take on last week’s round of buyouts and related signings around the league.
Kobe talked about hanging out with his daughters on Wednesday, praised his team’s chemistry, expressed confidence heading into the road stretch and even addressed the workout techniques and habits of some of his teammates.
So, what do the Lakers think of Boston’s likely signing of Stephon Marbury and already completed deal with Mikki Moore to shore up a bench that was clearly lacking despite the team’s lofty 46-12 record?
Phil Jackson thinks that the Celtics helped themselves with both; he likes Starbury’s athleticism, shooting skill and ability to get shots on his own, and noted that Boston needed more length with the undersized Glen Davis and Leon Powe getting all the backup minutes in the frontcourt. L.A.’s head coach also mentioned that he didn’t expect Boston’s team chemistry to be affected due to its current strength in the locker room.
Phil Jackson spoke to assembled media at length on Wednesday evening, after the team returned unblemished from a trip through Minneapolis and Oklahoma City to improve to 47-10 on the season.
Here’s what the head coach had to say about games versus Denver and Phoenix, Shaq’s running game, and the play of Lamar Odom and Sasha Vujacic.
On Denver and Phoenix: “If you don’t play defense and just try to outscore teams like that, you’re going to get caught in a bind.”
He went on to explain that Phoenix has had great success scoring since their coaching change (Alvin Gentry replacing Terry Porter), with the exception of their loss to Boston, because they’re “exactly like” the old D’Antoni running teams in Phoenix.
On how Shaquille O’Neal’s fitting in to the running game: “It looked like he was going the opposite direction for the first five or six minutes of that Boston game, but he seems to be running very well … It doesn’t fit his style of play, obviously, but he’s a great outlet passer.” Jackson said Phoenix will run and then wait to get O’Neal involved once he makes it down the floor.
On Lamar Odom: “He’s done really well until last night. He was awful last night … No, he’s played really well. We know Lamar is an exceptional ball player, and players thrive on minutes in this game.” Jackson said that stats can be misleading sometimes, but what they really need from Odom is his rebounding and passing, and in particular his board work on the offensive glass.
It’s funny that Jackson said Odom was “awful,” because while he certainly wasn’t as aggressive as he’s been in recent games, he still managed to lead the Lakers in +/- at +21.
A reporter asked Jackson if he were concerned about Vujacic’s lack of scoring of late. Phil wasn’t: “He doesn’t have to force shots or score for us to be successful, so as long as he flushes out that role and plays his 12 to 16 minutes and gives Kobe the rest he needs, that’s great. Now if he has extended minutes and is playing 24 minutes and isn’t in rhythm with his shot and we need those shots, than we are concerned. But I don’t worry about Sasha. He’s over here shooting two hours a day almost every day and is neurotic almost about his shooting.”
Before L.A. took the floor in Oakland’s ORACLE Arena, Phil Jackson addressed assembled media regarding the Chris Mihm trade.
“Hopefully it’s a chance for him to play,” said Jackson. “He’s in a free agent year, and it kind of settles our roster down a little bit too.
Jackson also talked about how much the coaching staff and players liked Mihm, explained that in this particular contest a backup center wouldn’t be an issue with Golden State’s small lineup and gave his thoughts on former Laker Ronny Turiaf.
With the Lakers having been away from their El Segundo training facility for the better part of two weeks, Phil Jackson took the opportunity to have an extended sit down with the LA media that didn’t trek across the country with the team over the past 7-days. (Click here to watch the full video)
When Phil Jackson was asked his opinion of a photo of Andrew Bynum, he came to the defense of his young center:
