On a day when one of the league's once-dominant players arrived in Houston with the hope a miracle worker named John Lucas can find a way to make him a productive player once again, the Seattle SuperSonics set their coach search machine on "recycle" for the second time in the past six months.

Former Spurs' coach Bob Hill was given another crack at a head coaching job as good guy Bob Weiss, another one-time Spurs' coach, whom the Sonics had given yet another crack at a head coaching job, was sent off to practice sleight-of-hand tricks.

So Lucas, who once had his own shot at coaching the Spurs, awaited the arrival of Knicks guard Penny Hardaway at Houston's West Side Tennis Club, where he works his brand of magic, and wondered if he, too, may someday have another shot at first position on an NBA bench.

"Yes," Lucas said, in between conducting workout sessions for some of the athletes he helps to overcome problems often far greater than shaky jump shots or bad ball handling. "I'd love to coach again. It's one of the things I really love to do."

Don't feel sorry for Lucas. There aren't many former NBA coaches happier than he. T.J. Ford, his most recent rehabilitation project — a physical rehab job, rather than a mental one — is having a great season. His son, John Lucas III, just made his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets, wearing the same No. 15 Lucas wore when he played for the Rockets two decades before.

Ford, the Milwaukee Bucks' point guard and University of Texas star, grew up in Houston not far from new Rocket John Lucas III. The two played plenty of pickup ball together and high school ball against one another. Lucas, the elder, can't wait for Jan. 23, when the Rockets play at Milwaukee.

"It will seem just like their high school days," Lucas said.

Ford spent most of last summer with Lucas as he rehabbed from a well-documented spinal injury that cost him the 2004-05 season with Milwaukee. There were doubters who didn't believe Ford would ever play in the NBA again, but Lucas knew he could help him. Until Ford suffered a foot injury — he is expected back with the Bucks later this week — he was having an All-Star caliber season.

"He couldn't walk when he got here last summer," Lucas recalled. "He sort of walked sideways. We worked on his posture first, got all those things back. Then I went to work on his shot."

Lucas helped Ford correct a flaw in his shot, gave him some other moves he called "insurance policies," and made him work on the shots for hours at a time.

"We added some floaters and runners to his game, so he didn't feel like he had to dunk everything when he penetrated," Lucas said. "And we made him make over 50,000 shots all summer. He was at the gym at 6:30 every morning to start his physical rehab work, and then we'd start shooting."

Lucas has helped other athletes overcome all manner of addictions, so helping Ford overcome a physical limitation presented a unique challenge. Nobody was surprised when his work succeeded.

Now Hardaway is in Houston, eight years removed from his last All-Star appearance and having played only 259 games in the past six seasons. Since he had played only 18 minutes all season, the Knicks gave him permission to leave the team to work out with Lucas. Their intent seems clear: They hope Lucas can help Hardaway reach the point some team might be willing to trade for him, and what remains of the final year of his seven-year contract, which pays him $15.75 million this season.

Hardaway is 34, with bad knees. If Lucas can return him to being a productive player again, we will have to call him Dr. Frankenstein, for he will have injected life back into a nearly-dead body.

We might have to help him find another head coaching job, too.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA010406.6C.COL.BKNmonroe.lucas.127aa97d.html

screw penny, the only thing this article did is increase my desire for the knicks to sign john lucas III now that he has been cut from houston. but we wave to buy someone out first, I dont want to cut woods.

hmm on second thought, if he's that good why did houston cut? after all they are in need of a pg, ah screw the whole thing.

[Edited by - slimpack on 01-04-2006 8:05 PM]

[Edited by - slimpack on 01-04-2006 8:17 PM]

Posted by Killa4luv:

Maybe he can give Penny a jumper. I'd liek that and then penny would be useful again. He is a high IQ player.

he'd have to do it within a couple of months though, I dont think the knicks have any intentions of resigning him.

why doesn't penny have a jumper? He's got enough money to have a personal hospital & gym.

He knows he's hurt & not mobile.

Why not develop an outside shot like LJ did?

TJ ford shot 50000 shots over a summer?

I think that's what Penny should have down over the last two years he's been here.

Penny ain't worth a wooden nickel!. Let him stay in Houston while waiting for his contract to expire.