[naught33]

April 27, 2005 -- With Phil Jackson's secret Monday meeting with the Knicks out of the way, indications are growing that Isiah Thomas is reaching out to Flip Saunders for the next interview, perhaps this week.
Saunders coached Stephon Marbury in Minnesota and the Knicks' point guard appears to back his candidacy, calling him "a great coach" last February.

Even with the Lakers emerging as the favorite with Kobe Bryant extending an olive branch to the Zen Master, the Knicks are still in the ball game, a source familiar with Jackson meeting said. "Absolutely, yes," the source said, adding the Lakers, Knicks and Cavaliers are the top three candidates.

How clandestine was Jackson's pow-wow with Thomas and his agents, Todd and Brian Musburger, reported in the late editions of yesterday's Post? Jackson had lunch with his girlfriend, Lakers VP Jeanie Buss Monday afternoon at the Laker offices. Then the Zen Master took off, not telling Buss where he was going, and was out of pocket for more than six hours.

The meeting didn't break up until after 11:30 p.m. (EDT) and it appears Thomas did enough of a sales job to have the Knicks still on Jackson's short list.

However, with Jackson and Kobe Bryant potentially meeting any day now, the prevailing feeling is the Lakers are frontrunners.

The Lakers consider an ESPN report that Jackson and Bryant could meet this week as a good sign that Bryant wants the Zen Master back as coach. The Lakers believe the report was floated by Bryant's camp. Jackson and Bryant had a testy relationship and the nine-time champion coach ripped Bryant in his recent book.



Bryant is on a publicity campaign to clean up his image, as last week he renewed vows with his wife and may join TNT on playoff broadcasts shortly. If Jackson and Bryant can come together, the Knicks' chances are doomed.

Meanwhile, Lakers spokesman John Black said Jackson and owner Jerry Buss may have had dinner last night.

The Cavaliers are still on Jackson's list, though he would not want to do both GM and coaching jobs. The Knicks believe they will meet again with Jackson, who has made it known to Thomas he would want a say in personnel decisions.

Meanwhile, Jeanie Buss, leading the drive to bring Jackson back, said the search has strained their relationship. Jackson has left Buss in the dark, feeling it's a conflict of interest. "It's a little strange between us," she said yesterday. "I'm a little bit rattled by it."

Meanwhile, if the Lakers or Cavs grab Jackson, the Knicks would be stuck, as Nate McMillan appears headed back to Seattle, Larry Brown could be coaching into mid-June and Saunders' resume isn't a thing of beauty. Thomas called interim coach Herb Williams "the frontrunner" last Thursday


-Marc Berman of The New York Post

[Tommy]

I think it doesnt matter if Jackson coaches the Lakers next year, they will still suck, well maybe be a little better. Phil has had some great teams to coach in the past which made for an easier success. If he does come back and coach, lets see how he does without Jordan or Shaq :wink: