FanHouse Phil Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS -- Al Jefferson wasn't even born when the incident happened in 1984. But he's seen the old footage.

"The only thing I knew about Kurt (Rambis) from him playing is the highlight of Kevin McHale knocking him out,'' said the Minnesota forward.

Jonny Flynn wasn't born when Rambis won the last his four titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988. But Flynn has seen the highlights as well.

"I remember he had the high socks, the thick glasses and the short shorts,'' said the Timberwolves point guard. "That was my first impressions about him. I said that when we first talked on the phone, and we got a good laugh about it.''

LOS ANGELES -- One of the biggest questions for the Lakers coming into this season was how well Ron Artest would be able to fit in with a team that has already won one championship and has its sights set on at least one more.

After the first game of the regular season, it's too early to tell whether or not Artest is an improvement or a downgrade over the departed Trevor Ariza. But what is clear is that while Artest is on the floor, he's going to be involved, and he's going to be a factor.

When you get left hanging, there really isn't any way to play it off without looking ridiculous. You have basically two choices: pretend it didn't happen and try to look busy. Or (and this is your best option) acknowledge it, make a joke, and move on.

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson opted for the former, and then we all had to suffer through him pretending like his fist really was taking the long route to the side of his face.

Moving pictures evidence after the jump.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Saturday, there are 10 days remaining.

Is Phil Jackson really the best basketball coach in history? Or is he just the luckiest coach for all the great players he has had?

The correct answer might be somewhere in between. Or he might be both.

You can't dispute that his 10 championships rings -- breaking his tie with the legendary Red Auerbach -- gives him the most impressive resume of anyone who ever coached in this league.

Google and T-Mobile have a lot of work to do in terms of PR if they want to catch up with RIM and Apple for a share of the smart phone market. The BlackBerry -- in all its forms -- and the iPhone are, clearly, head and shoulders above anyone else. Which is why T-Mobile busted out the big dogs for their newest myTouch Android commercial.

Every Tuesday this offseason, two of our NBA experts will go at it on a topic. We came up with the catchy title, Debate in the Paint. This week: Which team has had the best offseason?

The Los Angeles Lakers started this decade with three consecutive NBA titles. They will finish it by winning the last two.

Anything less would be a surprise.

Although much was made of the summertime roster additions among the top three contenders in the Eastern Conference – Boston, Cleveland, Orlando -- it was the defending champion Lakers who orchestrated the most significant moves in the off-season.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Sunday, there are 72 days remaining.

The number 72 conjures up just one memory in the NBA: the marvelous Chicago Bulls of 1995-96, who racked up an unbelievable 72-10 record. No team has ever reached 70 wins, let alone 72. Not Russell's Celtics, not Magic's Lakers -- no one. Heck, even the Bulls couldn't match their own standard in the two title seasons that followed '96.

Years ago, this would have constituted franchise suicide. Years ago, when Ron Artest was attacking fans and and facing spousal-abuse charges and firing obscene gestures and qualifying as the NBA's scariest menace to society, you wouldn't wish him upon your most despised team. But even the unhinged grow up eventually, which is why I dare say the Los Angeles Lakers have made a monumental statement in signing the sort-of-reformed problem child.

Shortly after the Lakers' championship run, Phil Jackson admitted that he'd like to return to the sidelines for the final year of his contract but couldn't commit until doctors put him through a series of medical tests. He did so this week, and he was given the thumbs up.

"After consulting with Lakers team internist Dr. John Moe, I feel confident that I can gainfully pursue an NBA season with another long playoff postseason. All things point to go!" Jackson said in a statement posted on the Lakers official site.

Phil Jackson confirmed during a radio interview on Tuesday that he hopes to return to the sidelines for the final year of his contract in 2009-10, although a final determination won't be made until early next month when he undergoes a series of medical exams. Jackson's physical condition has been an ongoing storyline during his time with the Lakers; he's had both of his hips replaced since 2006, and he missed a road game last April due to swelling in
his legs.

But even if he's medically cleared for another season (perched atop his elevated chair) on the sidelines in 2009-10, there's a chance he might miss a few more games, telling ESPN Radio 710 that he's considered passing the clipboard to assistant coach Kurt Rambis while staying behind as the team embarks on several grueling road trips.