LAKERS NOTEBOOK: JACKSON SAYS CHARLOTTE'S RELEASE OF RUSH `VINDICTIVE'.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer Lakers See Lake poets 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. had strong feelings on the Charlotte Bobcats' decision to release guard Kareem Rush Kareem Lamar Rush (born October 30, 1980 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American professional basketball player positioned at shooting guard currently under contract with the Indiana Pacers. on Saturday with nine games left in the season and heading nowhere with a 20-53 record. ``I thought it was vindictive,'' Jackson said. ``I don't like to see it because he's one of the guys that we nurtured here. He was contributing to us a lot in the championship (run) two years ago. After making six 3-pointers for the Lakers to close out their 2004 Western Conference finals series with Minnesota, Rush found himself out of Rudy Tomjanovich's rotation and was traded to Charlotte that December for two future second-round draft picks. Rush started 47 games in two seasons with the Bobcats but battled injuries and fell out of favor. He was dumped dump v. dumped, dump·ing, dumps v.tr. 1. To release or throw down in a large mass. 2. a. Saturday with Charlotte coach/general manager Bernie Bickerstaff Bernard Tyrone "Bernie" Bickerstaff (born November 2, 1944 in Benham, Kentucky) is the current General Manager of the Charlotte Bobcats. He also coached the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets and Washington Bullets/Wizards. Bickerstaff has a career record of 414-512. issuing a stinging statement in a team press release. ``The Bobcats are about two things - hard work and maximum effort,'' Bickerstaff said. ``With that in mind, we think that it is best to go in a different direction with Kareem.'' Jackson questioned why the Bobcats couldn't leave Rush on the inactive in·ac·tive adj. 1. Not active or tending to be active. 2. a. Not functioning or operating; out of use: inactive machinery. b. list and waive To intentionally or voluntarily relinquish a known right or engage in conduct warranting an inference that a right has been surrendered. For example, an individual is said to waive the right to bring a tort action when he or she renounces the remedy provided by law for such him as soon as the season ended. He didn't hide his interest in acquiring Rush - both when he returned as coach last summer and possibly again this summer. ``When I came back, one of my first considerations was can we get Kareem Rush back here to play on this basketball club,'' Jackson said. ``I do value his game and hope that he has a good career.'' Rush, who signed a one-year, $3 million with the Bobcats last summer, averaged 10.1 points on 38.6 percent shooting this season in Charlotte and was playing 24 minutes a game. He won't turn 26 until the end of October. --Sunday woes: Maybe it's the white uniforms that Jackson again joked make the Lakers look like ``elves Elves A slang term for guests appearing on the PBS television show "Wall Street Week." Notes: These technical analysts attempt to predict the direction of the market in the coming months. and fairies.'' Maybe it has something to do with their body clocks and playing at an hour many of them would be in bed. But the Lakers have struggled all season with Sunday afternoon and early-evening games, losing to Boston, Seattle and Cleveland since the All-Star break. They are 5-9 on Sunday this season, the only day of the week they do not have a winning record. It was enough for Jackson to take a trip down memory lane before Sunday's game. ``With Shaq, you used to know he was up until 3 in the morning or whatever,'' Jackson said, ``and his habits were such that it was really tough for him to adjust. ``These are young players. They do better, they do a lot better, with the time changes for us. But we're still a little anxious about this game. |
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