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Thursday, May 15
Updated:
May 16, 11:21 AM ET
Jackson expects to be back healthy next season
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Phil Jackson's most difficult season as an
NBA head coach will not be his last -- health permitting.
Arguably the most successful coach in NBA history, Jackson
finished a season with a loss Thursday night for the first time
since 1995.
"We've had a great run,'' Jackson said after the San Antonio
Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-82 Thursday night to win
their Western Conference semifinal series 4-2. "We're happy to say
we tried our best. It wasn't good enough.''
Barring the unforeseen, the 57-year-old Jackson said he'll
return to coach the Lakers next season.
"I have to be optimistic with my own personal health and the
direction I'm going,'' said Jackson, who had an angioplasty last
Saturday to unblock an artery to his heart.
Jackson has one year remaining on the five-year, $30 million
contract he signed in June 1999. He said earlier this week he'd
make a final decision on next season over the summer and not think
about his future beyond that any time soon.
Jackson's personal problems began in late February when he had a
kidney stone removed, causing him to miss three games.
"It felt like that just really knocked me back,'' he said. "I
didn't feel like I was at the top of my game again until this
week.''
Another blow came Wednesday when Dave DeBusschere, a former
teammate with the New York Knicks, died of a heart attack at age
62.
Jackson's teams won a record 25 straight playoff series -- 12
with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-98, and 13 with the Los Angeles
Lakers from 2000 to the present.
The Spurs ended those streaks decisively.
The three-time defending champion Lakers were attempting to
become the second team in NBA history to win four or more
consecutive titles, joining the Boston Celtics, who won eight
straight starting in 1959.
And Jackson was trying to win his 10th title, putting him one
ahead of former Boston coach Red Auerbach for the most ever.
"I can't put it into perspective until I watch these next
rounds go on,'' Jackson said when asked how he feels about bowing
out of the playoffs so early -- at least for him.
Regarding next season, he said: "We're excited about replacing
players who are moving on. I anticipate being back and coaching
this team.
"We have a knowledge of winning. The fans have every reason to
be optimistic that we'll come back with a revitalized team.''
Jackson congratulated the Spurs, saying they left no doubt they
were the best team in this series.
"We couldn't make the correct steps,'' Jackson said. "We
stumbled, we fell, we had inconsistencies, we lacked some
discipline as a basketball club and we paid the price.''
Jackson has 162 playoff victories and his teams have won 41
postseason series -- both NBA records.
Now, it's time for him to head to his summer home in Montana.
"We need that time, that extra month, to rest up,'' Jackson
said.
He was talking about his players. Perhaps he also meant himself.
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