Phil Jackson takes jabs at Spoelstra & Van Gundy

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Phil Jackson sorry for Heat comments

By Dave McMenamin
ESPNLosAngeles.com

SALT LAKE CITY -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson offered an apology Friday for his comments made earlier in the week about the Miami Heat and their coaching situation.

Only he just might have mixed in another jab in his next breath.

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who was replaced by Pat Riley on Miami's bench during the 2005-06 season in the same fashion Jackson speculated could befall current Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, decried Jackson's comments as "inappropriate" and "ignorant."

When the Heat fell to 8-6 this week, Jackson said: "The scenario that sits kind of behind the scene, is that eventually these guys that were recruited -- Bosh and James -- by Pat Riley and Micky Arison, the owner, are going to come in and say, 'We feel you [Riley] can do a better job coaching the team. We came here on the hopes that this would work,' and whatever, I don't know. That's kind of my take on it, is that eventually if things don't straighten out here soon, it could be the Van Gundy thing all over again."

Jackson backed off Friday.

"It was an off-handed remark about if things continue to go poorly for Miami, what might happen," Jackson said after his team's morning shootaround in preparation for the Utah Jazz. "But, obviously Stan felt that he had to say something. Unfortunately he got defensive about it. I didn't mean to do that. I should apologize because I do not know about his situation."

That was the apology. Now for the jab.

"Stan was going home to be with his family and that was his reason for leaving," Jackson said. "I have no idea about the rest of it; why he came back out [to a head coaching job] after retiring and being with his family. But, that's his decision and fine."

The 65-year old Hall of Famer sounded more contrite when considering how his comments could have been perceived by Spoelstra.

"I'm not throwing any aspersions on Spoelstra," Jackson said. "He's a very fine young coach."

Ultimately, Jackson stood by his speculation about what could occur if the ultra-talented Heat don't stop their three-game losing streak and turn around their 8-7 record.

"We've been in this game long enough to know what it's like," Jackson said.

[OG Hack Wilson]

so embarassing  - Red must be spinning in his grave @ this prick

[M Dogg™]

so embarassing  - Red must be spinning in his grave @ this prick

Red was one of the biggest pricks in NBA history. Lets not forget he use to smoke cigars to celebrate, well the game was still going on! MJ, prick, Phil Jackson, prick, Kobe, prick, Red, prick, you can't be that successful and not have some prick in you.

[wcsoldier]

Phil usual mind games ... and it worked once again

[Tha A]

so embarassing  - Red must be spinning in his grave @ this prick

Red was one of the biggest pricks in NBA history. Lets not forget he use to smoke cigars to celebrate, well the game was still going on! MJ, prick, Phil Jackson, prick, Kobe, prick, Red, prick, you can't be that successful and not have some prick in you.

no doubt

[OG Hack Wilson]

so embarassing  - Red must be spinning in his grave @ this prick

Red was one of the biggest pricks in NBA history. Lets not forget he use to smoke cigars to celebrate, well the game was still going on! MJ, prick, Phil Jackson, prick, Kobe, prick, Red, prick, you can't be that successful and not have some prick in you.

smoking a cigar is a LOT different than saying someone will get fired from their job "just because"

now if you can find me a case of Red saying someone in the league on another team is going to be fired (for ANY reason) then I'll take it back lol

[OG Hack Wilson]

Phil usual mind games ... and it worked once again

the last thing Phil wants is to face Pat Riley in the finals lol

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Phil usual mind games ... and it worked once again

the last thing Phil wants is to face Pat Riley in the finals lol

Which is exactly why I think he made the comments. A little bit of the ol' reverse psychology. Everyone already knows that's what Riley wants to do. By calling him out on it, he's hoping Riley will go on the defensive and not do it to prove people wrong.

[OG Hack Wilson]

lol i dont think riles is gonna care 1 way or another      but i do think if the heat are barely above .500 in January he needs to take over.

[M Dogg™]

so embarassing  - Red must be spinning in his grave @ this prick

Red was one of the biggest pricks in NBA history. Lets not forget he use to smoke cigars to celebrate, well the game was still going on! MJ, prick, Phil Jackson, prick, Kobe, prick, Red, prick, you can't be that successful and not have some prick in you.

smoking a cigar is a LOT different than saying someone will get fired from their job "just because"

now if you can find me a case of Red saying someone in the league on another team is going to be fired (for ANY reason) then I'll take it back lol

Dude, Red was in the 1960's, it was a different time, and at that time Red was acting like the biggest asshole in sports. Now it's 2010, a different time.

[OG Hack Wilson]

you failed to find me an example

[theremedy360]

Yeah it was a douche comment but the zen master has earned the right. Two three peats (and most likely a third) earns you the right to say what you want lol

[wcsoldier]

Phil usual mind games ... and it worked once again

the last thing Phil wants is to face Pat Riley in the finals lol

there are much stronger teams this year than in 06.... this he won't face a choked team ala Mavs ... anyways Heat won't make it to the Finals

[OG Hack Wilson]

Phil usual mind games ... and it worked once again

the last thing Phil wants is to face Pat Riley in the finals lol

there are much stronger teams this year than in 06.... this he won't face a choked team ala Mavs ... anyways Heat won't make it to the Finals

at this hilarious pace they won't but Riles is 100x better at coaching than E.S.

[jeromechickenbone]

Phil's playin chess, nothin new. These fools play right into his hand. Phil prolly lols watchin these dudes stumbling over their responses.