With all the headlines and reactions the Los Angeles Lakers have made this off-season it was only a matter of time before we heard from the "Zen Master" Phil Jackson about what he feels will be the keys to the Lakers success this year.
In a radio appearance Friday on ESPN Chicago's Waddle and Silvy, Jackson keyed in on some of the biggest challenges Mike Brown will face handling such a star-studded roster featuring Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.
"It's finding a role that each player can move towards and be comfortable in," Jackson said. "I think that's how you want to feel. You want Steve to have the ability to have the ball with confidence that he is doing the right thing and feeling like he can run the team and getting the ball to Kobe in critical situations is important because that's what his best role is standing out in the moments of crisis or the moments that are critical. And the inclusion that you have to have to make Howard feel a part of it. So all those guys have to find a little role. "
Jackson also shared concerns about the Lakers age and how it will affect them during the season.
"They gotta watch the wear and tear that goes on because the end result is what counts," Jackson said. "It's not the first 100 yards of the season so to speak."
Jackson later went on to say how he felt that Nash would be the important piece to the success during the implement of the Princeton system since it's ball movement and passing is similar to his triangle offense.
"He is a guy that can kinda make it easier for Howard to be a player inside," Jackson said. "As Pau can move around in the post and move up to the high post and he can be an outside defender that can help out in a variety of screen-roll activities that maybe Howard might get himself in foul trouble having to defend all the time. So they'll be able to do a lot of things with a more mobile and quicker Pau Gasol. This is a team that you have to find an offense that is going to work and include everybody because Kobe dominates the ball and Steve Nash dominates the ball.
"Then you've got player that need to get the ball in good spots to work for their offense. That's Gasol obviously in a couple spots, low and high post. Howard really is a low post player, he needs that ball in the post."
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