A LOSS MEANS AN END JACKSON'S PEP TALK FOCUSES ON FINALITY.Byline: Rich Hammond Rich Hammond Los Angeles Daily News sports writer. Instrumental in bringing the Los Angeles Kings hockey organization closer to the fans. He is the atypical "what a guy" to Kings fans everywhere. Rich Hammond on himself. Staff Writer EL SEGUNDO El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and - In case the Lakers couldn't figure out for themselves exactly what is at stake today, coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. presented it to them in shockingly explicit detail before practice Saturday. If the Lakers lose to San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. this afternoon, their expectations of a dream championship season will be all but dashed as no NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= team ever has come back from a 3-0 series deficit. That much is clear. But as Jackson gathered his players around him, he wanted them to think about more than today's game, or this series, or these entire playoffs. He wanted them to consider their future, and their legacy as Lakers, and the fact that a loss today could lead to the end of this team as we know it. So Jackson went around the huddle and recited each player's age and contract status, in essence driving home the point that if the Lakers don't win today, they might never get another chance together. ``We're putting in this energy, and there's no future (guaranteed) for this team beyond what the playoffs give to us, for all these players,'' Jackson said. ``We have a team with a nebulous future, and I went down the list of every single one of them, where they're at and how old they are and what direction they're going to go in and what their future is. We only have four or five guys whose future together here seems even possible.'' In a sense, this was Jackson's motivational trump card, the one he had resisted playing during a troubled regular season. But Jackson knows the facts. If the Lakers lose this series, given their preseason hype, they will be considered massive failures and might never have a chance to collectively redeem themselves. Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. , Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. , Karl Malone
Trades notwithstanding, the only players assured of returning next season are Shaquille O'Neal, Brian Cook, Devean George, Kareem Rush and Luke Walton. Jackson also has no contract for next season. With a victory today, the Lakers' dreams stay alive. With a loss, it's probably time to say goodbye. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if you can be over-dramatic about it,'' Fisher said. ``A lot of times there are questions about a game being must-win, and I think (today) represents that for us. Obviously a series is not over until a team wins four games, but when you're playing against good teams, which most of the time you're doing in the playoffs, to go down three games is tough to do. ``No matter what happens, we cannot lose this game. It's not even so much about where the series will be. Just from a team standpoint and a pride standpoint on our home court, (today) is a must-win for us.'' The Lakers continue to profess confidence and even Jackson said he was surprised at the lack of stress he feels heading into Game 3, but clearly the pressure of the moment hasn't escaped them. This team, which many expected to win up to 70 regular-season games and cruise to the championship, is on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of crumbling. The ``dream team'' is so close to living a nightmare few thought possible. ``We didn't know what was going to happen,'' Payton said. ``Some guys signed on to see what we could do (this season), and we don't know what's going to happen next season. That's the way it is. A lot of people might not be here. ... We would just have to look back and say 'What if, what if.' If it doesn't work out, we can't sit back and cry about it, but we'll realize that we missed a golden opportunity.'' Jackson said Medvedenko (sore Achilles' tendon) will be able to play as many minutes as necessary today. So the Lakers know their pride is on the line this afternoon, and O'Neal didn't back off when asked how much of the blame he would accept if the Lakers, this perceived team of destiny, fell short. ``All of it,'' O'Neal said. ``I get all the blame if (stuff) don't go right. But I accept that and I don't run from that. ``There's a lot at stake. That's why we've got to step up and win.'' Rich Hammond, (818) 713-3611 rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Phil Jackson played a trump card Saturday he likely was holding onto until the very end, which is what his team faces. Eric Gay/Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion