This is fate. This is how its supposed to be. Phil Jackson… currently tied with Red Auerbach with 9 NBA championships… must beat Red's Celtics to claim the top spot on the list.
And here's a memo to the players: This matters to us.
I'd rather watch '2 girls 1 cup' with my mom than watch Phil Jackson beat the Celtics and pass Red to become the most successful NBA coach of all time. Phil can't win #10 this way. Not against the Celtics. Not after this season. No way.
The coaches and the players have to put the focus in the right place:
Rivers distanced himself from the issue Monday and Pierce followed suit yesterday.
“It’s not about Red and Phil,” said Pierce. “It’s about the Celtics and the Lakers.”
But they should know… Celtics fans want this prevented at all costs… and Lakers fans want this to happen here more than anywhere else.
Speaking of coaching… Doc Rivers might have an interesting choice to make in these Finals. Will Tony Allen come in to guard Kobe Bryant? TA made some kind of miraculous recovery from an ankle injury (which went like this: Tony hurt his ankle… said he can't play… doctors say he's fine… and suddenly he realizes he's fine. Tony doesn't need doctors… he needs the Jedi mind trick). So he could be considered an option on the defensive end. In my opinion, the only way he sees time is if he's their last hope. He's too much of a liability on offense right now.
Herald: The stuff of legends | Lakers loyalty gone to Pierce | Rondo unfazed by questions | Larry Bird not buying KG conspiracy theory | Perk eyes battle with Pau | Cassell puts championship experience to good use | Defense won't rest when stars collide | Kobe: Ray Allen feud a non-issue | Globe: Red Zone | Thibodeau: C's defensive guru | Test of strength | Tony Allen looks healthier | Mike Gorman notes 1-sided picks | KG's new NBA Finals sneaker | Moving pieces make for a chess game | Bird-Magic old rivals, friends | SI: Who wins in all-time C's versus all-time Lakers?
(photo: AP)
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