Coming into Tuesday night’s game, the Boston Celtics were 11-0 when up 3-2 in the NBA Finals. But Kobe and Co. weren’t ready to give up the ghost just yet. They smoked the Celtics 89-67 to force a championship deciding Game 7. The showdown will be at the flag pole after school Thursday night at the Staples Center. The game will be the first time Phil Jackson has coached a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. That’s not really surprising. You should never lose when you have Steve Kerr and Toni Kukoc on the same team. The zen master spoke about how his team dominated Game 6, and what to expect in Game 7.

“Our defense was good, our rebounding was better,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

“It’s really a high-tension situation,” added Jackson, a 10-time champion who has never coached a Game 7 in the Finals. “Players have come down to putting a lot on the line at this particular point. It’s not about the coaching at that point. They’ve already got it in them. It’s about who comes out and provides the energy on the floor.” –ESPN

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As the Boston Celtics closed out their Game 2 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul Pierce boldly predicted that the NBA Finals would not return to LA, as he of sparse facial hair implied that Boston would win the next three games at home. Unfortunately, as the Lakers won Game 3, Pierce’s prediction can still come true with LA needing only two more victories, including tonight’s Game 4, to secure a second consecutive NBA championship. And if yesterday’s comments by Doc Rivers and zaftig Alfonso Ribeiro Glen Davis about poor officiating are any indicator, then Phil Jackson needs to start growing an 11th finger.

Rivers complained of inconsistent officiating yesterday, adding that Lakers guard Derek Fisher’s excellent defense on Ray Allen is actually just a lot of flopping. Jackson, on the other hand, said that he just thought Fisher couldn’t ever get set on defense. See? It’s all a matter of perspective. Like, Derek Fisher seemed like he made a layup with three Boston bodies flying at him, but what really happened was that three Celtics bodies allowed a basket while causing a foul. Eye of the beholder, friends.

Throw your hands in the air like you do indeed care, Boston.com Celtics Blog:

Celtics coach Doc Rivers certainly thought the officials were favoring the Lakers last night, calling out the referees for their treatment of Pierce.

“He’d play five minutes, have to go back down, four minutes, have to sit,” said Rivers. “I mean, he wasn’t allowed to play. They didn’t allow him to play tonight.”

Jackson was asked today if he had approached the league about the officiating in this series.

“No, I haven’t,” said Jackson. “To say that in respect, the league also elicits us to itemize things that we wish to be discussed or to be reviewed, be it like that play that happened with Rondo last night where he pulled Lamar’s hand off the ball…”

Zzzzzzzzz… huh? Wha? Sorry, I was taking a nap and didn’t realize the babies woke up. To Davis’ defense, he seems to actually admonish the referees for the difficulty in making split second decisions, admitting that he wouldn’t ever want their job. However, Davis told reporters he was up until 4 a.m. watching game footage and the officiating was so frustrating that he could barely remember to chew between swallowing.

Ray Allen, who failed to make any field goals during all of Game 3, stayed up late to watch game footage as well, adding: “Refs? Oh yeah, all refs. Totally the refs’ fault. Boo those refs!”

Despite being linked to nearly every vacant coaching gig in the NBA, Lakers coach Phil Jackson told Fanhouse in an exclusive interview that he plans to stay with the team he has coached for the past 10 years. Jackson previously declined the possibility of returning to the Chicago Bulls, where he coached from 1989 to 1998 and won his first six NBA titles. The New Jersey Nets and now the Cleveland Cavaliers have been suggested as landing spots for Jackson, but he insists that if he doesn’t retire, he’ll let Kobe keep making his job so easy.

The 10-time NBA champion coach has not completely denied the possibility of coaching in New Jersey or Cleveland, but he really hasn’t said that he’s interested, either. Jackson finds the Cleveland situation unique because the Cavaliers are essentially letting Lebron James determine who they hire, even though LeBron could sign with another team in a few weeks. But Jackson seems perfectly content with the possibility of a new contract with the Lakers, despite the rumored pay cut he’d have to take off of his current $12 million salary. Poor guy, he may have to pawn some jewelry.

Remain loyal to us, Fanhouse:

Asked if he anticipates returning to the Lakers, Jackson said, “Yeah.” But when asked if this was any revelation Jackson was providing, he reverted back to what he has said previously, saying, “No. Like I’ve said, 90 percent chance that, if I’m coaching, I’ll be back here.”

Jackson already has shot down a report linking him to the opening in Chicago, which Jackson led to six titles in the 1990s. But he now has not completely closed the door on jobs in Cleveland and New Jersey.

Jackson also weighed in on recent comments by Dwayne Wade, after the free agent Miami Heat superstar questioned the loyalty of the Chicago Bulls ownership to its former players. Wade said that Miami is incredibly loyal to former players, but he wonders why Michael Jordan is in Charlotte and Scottie Pippen hasn’t returned to the team in any management role. Jackson pointed out that there are plenty of players from his Bulls teams that are working in Chicago now, including John Paxson and Bill Wennington.

Somewhere Cliff Levingston and Dennis Hopson are wondering if anyone remembers them. And the answer is no.

Only days after the Chicago Bulls used super ultra secret back alley black market telepathic methods to beg Phil Jackson to return and save the franchise, the Zen Master has declined, telling reporters before last night’s Game 5 loss to Phoenix that he will not, under any circumstance, return to coaching the Bulls. Added everyone on the planet with an IQ above 6: “Unless they find a way to clone Michael Jordan circa 1990.”

And the news doesn’t get better for the Bulls, as their other top choice, Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, has been offered the New Orleans Hornets head coaching gig. Thibodeau will wait to hear the Bulls’ offer, but as long as the Celtics are still putting on their athletic diapers he’s a little tough for Bulls GM Gar Forman to get a hold of. Gar… seriously, Gar? *shakes head* Gar and Bulls VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson have also met with Lawrence “Fart Noise” Frank, Maurice “Dismissive Wank” Cheeks and Elston “Huh?” Turner.

Light a scented candle and play the Benedictine Monks, Chicago Tribune:

All season, Jackson has been consistent that he would finish his Lakers’ contract and then gauge his health and desire to return before plotting his future. Lakers owner Jerry Buss has said Jackson would be asked to reduce his $12 million salary.

“I just can’t imagine (coaching another team),” Jackson said. “Not to say it’s beyond your wildest dreams, or that it never would happen because the strangest things do. But it’s just not part of my conscious thought. Right now we’re down this path against Phoenix. Let’s go down that.”

Responded Andrew Bynum: “Phoneix? Aw, Coach, you so silly! We’re playing Boston in the Finals right now. Lil Bow Wow just dunked on Sandy Koufax!” But seriously, I’m not letting that joke die.

Jackson did not, however, deny his interest in the vacant New Jersey Nets gig. He told the reporters that he’d at least like to sit down with Nets billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and share a glass of vodka. Then they discuss Glasnost, teach a bear how to ride a bicycle, sell some counterfeit blue jeans, throw up the metal sign at a Scorpions concert, and, if there’s time, supply arms to Iranian rebels.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made it clear that they’ll do everything it takes to keep LeBron in the Mistake By the Lake, including firing the deceptively successful Mike Brown, despite open criticism of the front office from other Cavs stars like the tall guy and the one who passes the ball. Brown was the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2008-09 season and won more than 60 games in each of the last two seasons. However, the Cavs were upset in the playoffs this year and last, mostly due to Brown’s inability to coach beyond his theory: 1. Give it to LeBron. 2. ??? 3. Win a title!

The list of potential new coaches for Cleveland is short but prominent, with Phil Jackson and Mike Krzyzewski at the top, and John Calipari still lingering amidst rumors that he’s kissing William Wesley’s powerful butt. Coach K has already turned down the advances of the Russian Mafia New Jersey Nets, and representatives of Duke have said he’s not going anywhere. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has vowed to open his wallet for the right coach, but there’s a better chance of Coach K giving birth to Asian triplets than leaving ultimate 100 percent job security and man-of-legend status at Duke.

Poke that hornet nest with a stick, Yahoo! Sports:

Calipari also says he’s not leaving Kentucky but, as of June 1, his representation is about to change to be William Wesley, who is a pal of LeBron’s. The word is that Wesley has been trying to sell teams on taking Calipari and James as a package.

Whoever it is, a new coach isn’t likely to be named until after July 1 when the free-agent window flies open. And if one is, it’s likely LeBron has given his affirmation and is planning to return to the Cavs.

The Chicago Bulls have also upped their ante for LeBron as they’ve reportedly used back channels to contact Jackson about returning to the coaching gig that made him famous. Cold War tactics aside, Jackson has given no indication as to his coaching future, other than a brief mention of retirement last week. Andrew Bynum certainly doesn’t appreciate the distraction while he’s playing in the Finals against the Celtics. On the moon. In front of the galactic emperor.

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"Good God, where did you eat? Arby's?"

If Family Fued were to do a survey on ‘Most Common Things Said During the NBA Playoffs,’ number one would be “one game at a time.” Apparently, Andrew Bynum wasn’t aware of this, because he’s already anticipating a Finals rematch with the Boston Celtics.

Man, it’s going to be amazing to play against those guys again. Especially having lost. We’re going to have a lot of fuel, a lot of ammo to throw at those guys. They’re definitely a great team. They’ve got great veterans on their squad. We know that. So we already are getting prepared. The first step is closing out Game 3. And after that we’ll be focusing on Boston, looking at them play, watching how they’re playing Orlando, and try and pick up as much as we can. –Orange County Register

Phil Jackson, zen master extrodinare, is less than amused. Bynum has totally harshed his mellow, bro. Read the rest of this entry »