The legendary coach also approves of the ‘motion based’ Princeton Offense set to be used by the Lakers next season...
Phil Jackson might have retired from coaching, but he certainly hasn’t lost interest in the game, especially when it comes to Los Angeles Lakers.
The biggest question facing the Lakers in the coming season is whether the team will be able to gel together effectively, provided that now there are four superstars – Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol - on the
same roster.
Phil Jackson thinks that it can be done, but the key for it will be Gasol, the veteran power forward, who future finally seems secure after nearly two years of trade rumours;
"The oil that's going to make everything kind of work, that's Pau Gasol," Jackson said on the "Waddle and Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Friday. "He's the guy that can kind of make it easier for Howard to be a player inside.
Pau can move around in the post and move up to the high post and he can be an outside defender that can help out in a variety of screen roll activities.”
He however added that to ensure each superstar feels comfortable on the court, an innovative offensive plan needs to be devised;
"You have to find an offense that is going to work and include everybody because Kobe dominates the ball. Steve Nash dominates the ball, and then you've got players that need to get the ball in good spots to work for their offense."
And in that regard, he gave the ‘Princeton Offense’ thumbs up. This system resembles the famous triangle offense, which Jackson so successfully employed at the Lakers. Rather than relying on pre meditated set plays, this offense
is motion based i.e. it allows the player to react according to a particular situation and adds an element of unpredictability.
With pick and roll an essential part of the system, the role of the big men is also very vital for its success and given that the Lakers have now two of the best and vastly experienced players at 4 and 5, the implementation of
the offense really makes sense.
Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have already expressed excitement about this new system, and to make sure that the Lakers do it properly, Mike Brown has hired assistant coach Eddie Jordan to coordinate.
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