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http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/n ... id=5600813



Way back in June, Phil Jackson agreed to come back for one more season with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his sights was another opportunity for an NBA championship and another shot at a three-peat.

Seems an eternity ago. So much has changed -- namely the rise of a certain formidable foe in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat's mega free-agent acquisitions of LeBron James and Chris Bosh -- teaming with Dwyane Wade -- have all the markings of an instant championship contender.

"They got great talent," Jackson said in an interview with ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "There's no question about their talent they have. But, talent doesn't always win. The team that shows the best teamwork will win it. We think that [the Lakers] have established something. But, if [the Heat] can unite -- and build quickly -- they might be able to do it."

Jackson teams have won 11 of the past 20 NBA title and the coach is always able to add a little historical perspective.

"I always refer to when Wilt Chamberlain was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and that put [Elgin] Baylor, [Jerry] West and Chamberlain together -- three of the top scorers in NBA history -- and they never won a championship together the four years they were together," Jackson said.

"It's not always scorers and talent that wins it. But it's teamwork that does it."

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wow, 11 of the past 20 championships...thats more than 1 every 2 seasons!
also, nice reference with wilt/baylor/west about never winning a championship together. its all about the teamwork and chemistry, and the lakers have that more than any other team right now.

i wonder what woulda happened if lakers won the championship in 2004...we most likely never would have artest, lamar, pau bynum.

i'd trade one championship for two any day

we probably would have....it was a one n done thing for payton n malone back then.

I feel what Phil is saying. I don't think he's throwing a diss towards the Heat, but I think he just saying because they all were the # 1 option on their teams before, they have to have the mindset of team if they are going to accomplish anything. Someone on the Heat board posted a great statement saying Phil is trying to stress team ball has to be played. Also that Jordan wasn't a winner until he coached him and he stressed to his talented players that all the ego ish has to be thrown away. I have no issue with what he said.

Barring some sort of catastrophic injury, I give the Heat about zero chance of failing to win multiple championships. It might not happen this year, but it will pretty quickly after that. You can pretty much take that to the bank. There's talent, and then there's having probably the best two players in the game and another All-Star to build around. Considering all three of those guys were in their 30s, not even the Wilt/West/Baylor Lakers could say that.

AceFresh wrote: No interior presence though.
Until they rectify that, I wouldn't jump on the Heat and guarantee titles for them

If/when they do it, it'll probably be after some kind of drop in the Lakers and Celtics as contenders coupled w/ more improvement to the Heat.

Jordan and others on the 91 Bulls were convinced they weren't going to win a title that year, believe it or not. They still had problems w/ the Pistons. Then the floodgates opened all of a sudden when Boston, Detroit, and LA all got gimpy.

AceFresh wrote: No interior presence though.
Until they rectify that, I wouldn't jump on the Heat and guarantee titles for them

The MLE will fix that next year

I agree with Phil but its not like the Lakers haven't been the most talented team for the last 2-3 years.

Uh oh, Lebron is going to take mentally notes about Jackson's doubt!

That true is not all about talent is about team work but let see how much team work they have this season

lol look at the Heat board they're so sensitive the minute someone mentions there team it's hey Phil umad?

If someone mentioned the same thing about the Lakers, you'd see this board get pretty sensitive. I'm waiting for another Doc Rivers thread.

I'm not sweating the Heat board, if they're going to blow their cap over a moot comment like that then I don't know what to say for them cats. Saw one comment from one poster saying, "I can't wait to beat them at their place". Yeah right keep dream'in to that chump.

DEEP3CL wrote:I'm not sweating the Heat board, if they're going to blow their cap over a moot comment like that then I don't know what to say for them cats. Saw one comment from one poster saying, "I can't wait to beat them at their place". Yeah right keep dream'in to that chump.

is he playing?

i'd take the '04 Pistons than the 10-11 Miami Heat.

you can use that as sig Heat lovahs! (jk, not flaming anyone. new to the green font)

I cant wait until the season starts. This is going to be so fun.

Can't argue with what Phil said, that talent has to mesh.

telekenisis24 wrote:Can't argue with what Phil said, that talent has to mesh.

they have 82 games to mesh...how long did it take boston's 3 to mesh?

hang in there fellas almost there!

Bosh, especially LBJ, couldn't make it on their own so, they come to Miami to have Wade take off all the pressure. Pussy move, but I think they have enough to compete not only this year but for a long time even if they don't mesh well. There's just way to much talent and leadership in the part of Wade for that team not to contend.