I sure hope this is for real and not more media blabble! I really think Phil is considering the Knicks just as much as the Lakers and Cleveland because of his link to the Knicks and the repect he has for them. For guys like Red, Clyde etc

APPLE OF JAX' EYE?

By MARC BERMAN

March 30, 2005 -- LOS ANGELES — Jeanie Buss, Phil Jackson's girlfriend, Lakers VP and daughter of owner Jerry Buss, said last night she "absolutely, yes" sees the Zen Master landing with the Knicks next season.

In an interview by the Staples Center court before the Lakers hosted the Knicks, Buss spoke of the passion that Jackson — a member of the Knicks' two championship teams — still has for the Big Apple.

"It was such a great time of his life," Buss told The Post. "I totally see him back in New York. We were talking about Bill Bradley a couple of hours ago."

Buss joined Jackson on his book-signing tour through New York in the fall.

"When he was in New York in October, he wanted to take me places, wanted to show me everything," Buss said. "He's got a love of the city. A friend of a friend sent to me a New York Knicks team picture when he was on the team. It had all the signatures but they needed Phil's. We sat down. Told me all the stories."

Asked if Jackson and Jeanie could be a package deal for the Knicks, she giggled and said, "Well, maybe if he gave me a ring I'd think of something like that. But I don't think our relationship will be like that. I don't think I can leave my family business."

The Lakers executive admitted, though, that Jackson still could turn down all the jobs available because he seems unsure he wants to coach again.

"As close as I am to Phil, I still don't know if he wants to coach," she said, echoing the Tuesday comments of Jackson's friend and biographer, Charley Rosen.

"What's important to me is he's healthy and feels good. . . . I can't get a read one way or another [if he'll coach]. If he does, I want to make sure wherever he goes he has the support we gave him here."

Buss said she once feared him leaving for the Knicks next season, thinking it was the end of their relationship. Now she's fine with the idea, even if his returning to the Lakers would be her first choice.

She goes to New York twice a season for the NBA's Board of Governor's meetings.

"At the end of last season, when he wasn't coming back, I didn't know where our relationship would go," she said. "I felt a lot of panic keeping him here. Now that we've gone though this year, our relationship is as strong as ever. Do I worry about him going to New York? I don't have that concern anymore."

Jackson had lunch with Jeanie in her Staples Center office Tuesday.

"A bunch of the staff heard he was there, they came up and said hi," she said. "I could see Phil engage with them. I think he misses that interaction with the staff."

Jeanie still can see him back on the Laker bench next season, despite Kobe Bryant's presence.

"Kobe is not the reason Phil is not the Laker coach," she said. "The reason he's not the Laker coach is he had the opportunity to sign the extension and he waited. My father was coming to the conclusion he was going to trade Shaq. Kobe was a free agent and he had a coach who was noncommittal. He had to make a decision. Phil has always said Kobe is one of the best players, and any team with him can compete for a championship. I don't see it being a problem."

Let Herb go for another year. He pushes them to play D, benches him when they dont and the players know whats expected from them.

Its up to Isiah to get a group that fits one style of play. He's been a disaster in that regard. I'm not even saying go get stars, but get players that fit some kind of mold. We have some guys that are only good in the half court, some that are only good in the uptempo game and some that are only good in practice.

Posted by fishmike:

Let Herb go for another year. He pushes them to play D, benches him when they dont and the players know whats expected from them.

Its up to Isiah to get a group that fits one style of play. He's been a disaster in that regard. I'm not even saying go get stars, but get players that fit some kind of mold. We have some guys that are only good in the half court, some that are only good in the uptempo game and some that are only good in practice.

& some that are only good in some people's wildest imaginations.

Jackson over Marbury anyday of the week, or marbury could play the off guard

Posted by Bonn1997:

How would Marbury do in the triangle offense? I remember Payton hated it.

Crawford didn't have much success in it either under Bill Cartwright in Chicago for that matter...i don't think the triangle is right for this team...i would much rather implement a Princeton style offense that runs alot of motion & back cuts off screens, much like what the Nets run.

Nothing but a guess, but if the Knicks hire Jackson, my sense is that Isiah is on shaky ground.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by Rich:

Nothing but a guess, but if the Knicks hire Jackson, my sense is that Isiah is on shaky ground.

That doesn't make sense. Isiah wouldn't hire someone who would put him on shaky ground. No GM would.

My point is that the hire would be made from above, i.e., forced on Isiah.

i'd rather have Pat Riley back to be honest...i just don't see Phil as being the master coach that everyone believes him to be...he's just been fortunate enough to have the best players in the game playing on his teams...he's a great coach, no doubt, but i think Riley is more of a teacher & can get these guys to play better defense on a whole.

of course, Riley would only come here if he was taking Isiah's place as well as taking on the coaching duties, so that's not realistic.

look as soon as Phil Jackson becomes Knicks coach..marbury, crawford, tt and co will start busting their butts for him because his his resume demands respect. SIMPLE AS THAT!

Only one reason why I would love a guy like Phil or Brown as our coach is because we all know that they would be very demanding from players and GM. Phil wouldn't sit around and allow Isiah to trade or bring in guys that are not worthy....Right now, Isiah makes all of the calls. That can be dangerous.

who is Rick????