Phil Jackson Pulls A Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles isn’t exactly the guy that you want to be compared to headed into the NBA Finals, unless you’re actually playing in the game. Just as Skiles did with Charlie Villanueva following Twitter-gate earlier this year, Phil Jackson issued an edict that his players should put their cell phones down and not pick them back up until the Finals are over.
The difference here is that Phil is trying to give his guys a mental advantage. Skiles was punishing Charlie V, who had just found his competitive advantage.
“Coach Phil Jackson told us to turn our cellphones off for the next two weeks and not to talk to anybody,” center Andrew Bynum told the Los Angeles Times.
I love this. Jackson is setting the tone before Game 1 about the series. He’s barking out orders, and his guys are not only following them, but their referring to Phil as “Coach Phil Jackson” when repeating them to the media.
Ideally the cell phone ban will help Bynum prepare for his monstrous defensive assignment, bodying up Dwight Howard.
“You got to play him straight up,” Bynum said. “You got to be able to go against him. If he beats you down the court, you’re done. You got to run and get down the court before him so you can start holding him up at the free-throw line.”
Source: LA Times
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June 4th, 2009 at 9:36 am
PALakerFan says:
The Lakers match-up well in this series without Bynum. If he can play for stretches up to his potential, as he has when fully healthy, he should help the Lakers win it. He AND Odom are definitely wild cards – capable of greatness or completely invisible.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:43 am
dk says:
Phil Jackson – 9 Rings
Stan Captain Panic Van Gundy – 1 ring ( thats not plural )
Kobe silencing the haters in 5
Priceless!
June 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Rizwan says:
@dk
SVG doesnt have a ring. Pat Riley coached Miami. Jeez, before going on a basketball website you should at least know that.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:52 am
jzsmoove says:
SVG aint got no ring as a coach. Riley undermined him during the Heat championship season.
No worries, retribution!
Go Magics!!
June 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Lonman says:
Magic in 6
June 4th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Blue says:
SVG was still a ‘consultant’ with the team when Pat Riley took over as coach. He has a ring just like the trainers and other staff do.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Rare Air says:
This Lakers team and Jackson seem a great deal more poised and ready than they did last year. Last years team felt cobbled together with the aqquisition of Gasol and having Bynum and Ariza both not be factors like they are this year. I will not by any means take Orlando for granted, however Lakers in 6. Like Boston last year it just feels like the Lakers time.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:44 am
dk says:
@4 Take your mouth of your moms nipple, Einstein.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:49 am
dk says:
@8 I meant that more towards 3…
June 4th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Michorizo says:
Kobe’s lady is not going to let him turn his phone off.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:48 am
A$$Cube aka Orange County says:
@10: You meant that Colorado chick, right?
June 4th, 2009 at 11:58 am
? says:
magic in 6
June 4th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Guitar Hero says:
Magic in 4!
Ok, maybe not.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
David_Brandon says:
@micho,
the last time he turned his phone off was in colorado man.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Michorizo says:
I’m sure Vanessa monitors his sexting …
June 4th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
David_Brandon says:
no twitter for kb…
June 4th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
doc says:
He mean nobody except wife and moms…..and whoever else u think important enough to talk to.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Rizwan says:
@dk
suck some dick. Is it my fault you do not know your shit.