LAKERS NOTEBOOK: NO WILD CARD LIKELY IN JACKSON'S HAND.Byline: Howard Beck Staff WriterCLEVELAND - 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. has openly pined for reinforcements in the Lakers' frontcourt front·court n. Basketball 1. The half of the court having the basket at which the offensive team shoots. 2. The forwards and center on a team. Also called frontline. , but he knows a trade before today's 3 p.m. deadline is highly unlikely. And he's at least a little disappointed. ``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 `resolved' is the word I would use,'' he said of his outlook. ``My constitution is prepared. My resolution is that I won't say anything. . . . The reality is that at this time, pretty much everything is backed off. Everybody's gone home an kind of closed shop, basically. There will probably be one more deal done (in the league) before it's over. But there's not a whole lot of movement right now.'' Of course, the Lakers' 43-11 record, tied for best in the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= , suggests Jackson can't be too concerned with the roster he has, even if it is lacking in bulk behind Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). . ``I'm the kind of person that says give me the cards and lets see what happens,'' Jackson said, ``and unfortunately, we got some cards that have been dealt us. . . . The opponents that sit ahead of us, or alongside us, in 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. and Portland's case, are big and long, lanky lank·y adj. lank·i·er, lank·i·est Tall, thin, and ungainly. See Synonyms at lean2. lank  i·ly adv. and multisized in the front. We're going to have to find a way.'' When 3 p.m. passes, it will also no doubt lift a burden from Glen Rice's shoulders, as he'll know he's here for the rest of the season. ``It will be a decisive moment for him,'' Jackson said. ``It will be a message that's been lingering for him for five months. But I hope it's one . . . he's ecstatic about. He's expressed that to me. But I hope in reality it is.'' Rice, perhaps wanting to avoid the issue, hasn't spoken with reporters for more than a week. --Grand opening: After months of delays, the Lakers' new practice facility in 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 is ready. So, ditching convention, Jackson will hold a practice there today, right after the Lakers land at LAX to conclude a six-game road trip. ``There's no stopping us right now,'' Jackson said, noting the Lakers have another five games over the next eight days. ``So it's pretty much the same old thing right now when we get back home.'' As of Wednesday, several areas of the training facility were not ready, though the court is down and the rims are up. Jackson has impatiently awaited this day but wouldn't say he's happy just yet. ``We'll just see what goes on there. I may be happy when I get there, I may not be,'' he said. ``They're telling me there's a lot of touches left.'' |
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