This reaction confirms what we've known all along—this hiring was all about ego.
Jackson recently spoke on ESPN's Mike & Mike in the morning, where his quotes were recorded on the issue. The Zen Master kept his cool, but he held nothing back when speaking on the controversial issue that helped shape L.A.'s season.
A season that saw the Lakers make a first-round exit for the first time since 2007.
"I laughed," Jackson told ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show Wednesday. "It was humorous to me when [Lakers general manager] Mitch [Kupchak] said that we think that Mike [D'Antoni] is a better coach for this group of guys."
"In the process of thinking about how they could best use the team I think they thought first and foremost about Steve Nash and how Steve Nash was going to fit inside of an offensive system that I coach. ... I think that was a concern for them."
A rational concern, but not one that determines the coaching change.
Not only is Jackson a significantly more decorated coach than D'Antoni, but the comparison isn't even fair. One coach is one of the most decorated to ever live, while the other is a veteran that has nothing to show for his strong system.
This isn't knocking D'Antoni, as his system would work well with a young team, but instead an acknowledgement of the facts.
Passing Over Greatness
Phil Jackson is one, if not the most, decorated coaches in NBA history. He's fifth all time in regular-season wins, but ranks first in regular-season win percentage and in postseason wins accumulated.
Did we mention that Jackson has...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
