PHILADELPHIA — There’s no doubt that Phil Jackson believes the Lakers’ West Coast location impairs their road performance. Kobe Bryant noted that Jackson brought this up to him in conversation years ago.
The question is whether Jackson truly believes there’s no chance the Lakers can win at least 70 games this season or he’s just throwing out the negative comment as a goal to motivate his team. Jackson will throw out those sorts of things even before, say, a six-game road trip, when he tells the team he doesn’t think they can go 4-2. The players then are predictably motivated to go 5-1 or 6-0 and stick it to the skeptic coach.
Here’s what Jackson said before the victory in Philadelphia (and before Andrew Bynum questioned Jackson benching him again late in the fourth quarter): “I don’t think there’s any chance that we’re going to get anywhere close to 70 wins. I’m not going to say that we can’t win 60, but I don’t think that there’s a chance (at 70).”
I predicted a 66-win Lakers regular season early in training camp, and obviously many people thought I was wacko back then. In a casual poll of Lakers media and some Lakers staffers during training camp, no one picked more than I did. I still think 66 is about right, even with what Jackson said … but then again, 66 isn’t 70 … or the record 72.
I think Jackson truly doesn’t think the Lakers will win 70 — it’s hard to believe anyone could do that well, especially as young as his team is — but I also think he’s saying it because it will work as motivation, too.
Now that you’ve seen the Lakers’ 15-2 start to the season, how good do you say the Lakers will be?
Recent headlines …
I don’t think it matters if they win 60, 70 or 80 games. What matters is will they win the NBA championship? You can have the best record in the league and fail miserably in the play-offs.
Just ask the Angels….
80 wins is possible.
The ‘Chasing Greatness’ chart above is helpful but it would be better to look at all of the Lakers squads that started out 15-2 (or better) and how they finished, both in the standings and at the end of the playoffs. Better yet, look at the entire league for a true gauge. In the end, you’ll notice that 15-2 has happened many times before and the 72-10 only once. Thus, I’m not getting overly excited yet.
It takes a lot of good fortune to put up 60+ wins in the NBA. The biggest impediment is always staying healthy.
Note to Drew… When you and Lamar can only manage 6 rebounds between you, playing 29 minutes plus, do you think Jackson might have a reason to sit you down? I’ll admit Delaney had a quick whistle for you and Kobe all night but you can’t let a ref dictate your game to you. But truth be told that was a small part of the lack of rebounding on you and Lamar’s part. Jackson probably also got tired of seeing Philadelphia blow past you for uncontested points in the paint. Philadelphia must have scored 80 of their 102 points in the paint. Your a good player, who may well be great someday, but you need to shut up and read the messages your coach is sending you.