nbaculture

Phil Jackson is serious.  How can we tell?  In a recent press conference, he appeared with his recently infamous soul patch shaven.

But seriously, Phil seemed pretty eager during his press conference.  He was giddy about rotations, and seemed pretty excited about seeing how Bynum and Gasol would mesh in the paint.  There was also talk about how he might bring Ariza into the starting lineup and use Odom as a Sixth Man.  Above all, he expressed his anger and disappointment from last years finish, and that is good news for all Laker fans.  The Lakers will need all the drive and motivation they can muster in an increasingly powerful Western Conference.  Portland will have their number 1 draft pick from a year ago in their lineup, Chris Paul will run around and do his thing on a slightly improved Hornets squad, Houston will start the season with new life after their addition of Ron Artest (which could be good or bad), reports of San Antonio’s aging has been greatly exaggerated, and Utah will be a force to reckon with as long as Jerry Sloan is running the show (having Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer doesn’t hurt either).  It’s hard to believe that the Western Conference could be as competitive as last years historic race, but its not exactly fiction either.

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