Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson received the royal Lakers treatment when he had the rug pulled from under him to return as their coach when without him being advised they hired ex NY Knicks and Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni - NBA photo

Former Lakers coach Mike Brown was fired at after a poor start and zero wins during the start of the NBA and preseason games - NBA photo Former Lakers star Magic Johnson felt the Lakers showed no respect to Phil Jackson - Maxi Basket photo

SPORTS NOTES - LAKERS BUSS CRUSHED PHIL JACKSON

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

There is a new chapter in the Lakers Hollyweird shenanigans which is almost as shocking as the debacle when Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal had their winning relationship busted up over who was the man and the leader of the then Lakers team. Obviously Kobe won that battle as Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat where he won his fourth NBA title after three with the Lakers, Kobe, and Jackson. On his plane ride to Miami Shaq must have been singing Where Is The Love? Now he and Jackson can sing a duet.

Wednesday November 21, 2012

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

You can here the Black Eyed Peas singing their song now WERE IS THE LOVE following the shell game the Lakers played on their former coach and 11 NBA title winner and Basketball Hall of Fame member Phil Jackson. The now you see it now you don't shell game was the thanks Jackson received when following Mike Brown being dismissed as coach Jackson was in negotiations to return as the Lakers coach. During that time Jackson was in talks with former Chicago Bull Scotty Pippen to be one of his assistants and was reported to be excited ready to return to the city of (not so) Angels.

But ohhhhh! The rug was pulled out from under Jackson's feet when, as we here it, Jim Buss (Jerry's son) decided former Phoenix Suns and NY Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni would be a better fit. After the smoke cleared following a series of angry comments from fans and the media about the dirty job that was done on a good guy aka THE ZEN MAN the Lakers circled their wagons. General Manager Mitch Kupchak came forward and said that he and Jerry all agreed that D'Antoni would be the way to go.

Thus new Lakers guard Steve Nash is about to be under the direction his former Suns coach's fast break system and guidance. In the meantime the gossip is swirling around how they could do that dirty deal to Jackson the boyfriend of owner Jerry's DAUGHTER Jeannie. Hmmmm.

Kobe Bryant has come forward supporting the move as did Dwight Howard. So there is a new chapter in the Hollyweird shenanigans which is almost as shocking as when Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal had their winning relationship busted up over who was the man and the leader of the then Lakers team. Obviously Kobe won that battle as Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat where he won his fourth NBA title after three with the Lakers, Kobe, and Jackson. On his plane ride to Miami Shaq must have been singing Where Is The Love?

Former Lakers great Magic Johnson weighed in on the subject, "I love (owner) Dr. (Jerry) Buss. I don't believe in Jim Buss," (Jerry's son) Johnson said on ESPN's "NBA Countdown" last week. "He's made two critical mistakes already. To me, they made two critical mistakes. First, hiring Mike Brown -- he wasn't the right coach. He's a great coach but not the right coach for the Lakers. And I don't feel Mike D'Antoni is the right coach for the Lakers. Especially when you have Phil Jackson sitting out there, who wanted to be the Laker coach. Jim Buss decided he didn't want Phil Jackson, he wanted Mike D'Antoni. And that's OK, but why didn't you just say that? But the fans were cheering for Phil Jackson two nights in a row."

Further reports indicated that Jackson insisted on not traveling with the team on all of their road games as he's done in the past due to health concerns. His huge salary also was an issue. GM Kupchak also felt that it would take too much time for this Lakers squad to learn Jackson's triangle offense.

D'Antoni is recovering from a knee surgery and it will be weeks before he can be fully recovered and take his seat on the bench to direct the team. He's attended practice on crutches and coached the team last night to a victory over the Brooklyn Nets in a home game in LA at the Staples Center. In the meantime Jackson could join Shaq in singing a duet... "Where Is The Love.?"

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