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08:06 AM ET 11.13 | Before the decision had been made for him, Phil Jackson hadn't entirely warmed up to the idea of coaching the Lakers again. Nonetheless, he was surprised when they called him near midnight Sunday with news that Mike D'Antoni would be coach of the Lakers, not him. "I wish it would have been a little bit cleaner," a relaxed and chatty Jackson said in a phone interview Monday night with The Times. "It could have been much more circumspect and respectful of everybody that's involved. It seemed slimy to be awoken with this kind of news. It's just weird." ... [There] were drawbacks if he got the job, he reasoned. ... "I don't know if they have the mobility and agility to contend with the East. To call this a championship-bound team, that's a misnomer."

Phil Jackson, Getty Images

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November 13, 2012 08:25 AM ET

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Let's see how this goes

Luvher_501

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November 13, 2012 08:30 AM ET

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Sour grapes, PJ?

Kenny_Powers

New York , NY

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November 13, 2012 08:31 AM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:26 AM ET 11.13 by 33Birdman

I think if he had just given a direct "yes" or "no", Phil wouldve avoided the let down....

Exactly. And if the rumors are true, demanding an ownership interest and refusing to travel to certain road games didn't help his cause, either.

Kenny_Powers

New York , NY

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November 13, 2012 08:51 AM ET

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I agree with Phil. It is very weird to give the guy the impression he has the job and then pull the rug out. A suspicious person might think the Lakers never intended to give him the job.

Red Mamba

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November 13, 2012 08:52 AM ET

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This is why I like the Zen Master!

ClevelandGuy

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November 13, 2012 09:08 AM ET

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QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:34 AM ET 11.13 by 33Birdman

yeah... a sense of entitlement went a bit too far during his phone interview....

When you've coached UBER championships and you know they need you...I dont blame him. Phil will have the last laugh on this one...he's chillin somewhere fishing and getting high LOL

DR_Universal

Charlotte , NC

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November 13, 2012 09:24 AM ET

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Jimmy Buss Sucks, Bro.

I Love LA

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November 13, 2012 09:27 AM ET

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Everything Phil said is flat out, spot on, true.

They are not agile enough, nor deep enough to keep up with Miami and will not make it to the West Finals.