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Jay-Z: I Have A Message For The Lakers

Written by on 04/16/2010 in Editorials - 17 Comments

Phil Jackson

Song: Run This Town

Lyrical Message:

“Victory’s within the mile/Almost there, don’t give up now/Only thing that’s on my mind/Is who’s gonna run this town tonight”

No home court advantage in the NBA Finals? No problem. This is an old hat for Coach Phil Jackson. So while Lakers Nation and the local media are clearly worried about the Lakers chances this postseason, Phil doesn’t seem the least bit bothered. Of his 10 NBA Championship teams, only half of them finished the season with the best overall record in the league.

Phil knows this, which is why I think he’s more concerned about his team’s recent downward spiral than he has let on.  With a 3-4 record in the month of April, the Lakers aren’t exactly riding a wave of momentum into the Playoffs. To make matters worse the tailspin started long before the calendar turned to April, as their meager 16-12 record since the All Star Break attests. The Western Conference Playoffs will be no cakewalk for the champs, as Dallas, Denver, Utah and even Oklahoma City smell blood. Now it’s up to Phil Jackson to pull his team out of this funk.

Often criticized for his relaxed demeanor during games, pundits scream that Phil’s reticent behavior will cost the Lakers a victory. Sometimes even the most ardent Phil Jackson supporter has to wonder if the Lakers have replaced him on the sidelines with a wax sculpture from Ripley’s. To be honest, I wouldn’t doubt if this was a part of their contract negotiations this off season.

In his defense, Phil prides himself on doing most of his coaching at practice and allowing players to execute his plans during games. The way this team has struggled, Coach Jackson needs to grab his team by the reigns and take control right now. If ever there was a team in need of a leader on the sideline, it’s this listless version of the Lakers. In the past two decades I have never seen a Defending Championship squad display less urgency at a critical time of year. If the Lakers are turn things around, Phil needs to hammer home three points: (1) Get the ball to Pau, (2) Reign in Kobe’s shot selection, and (3) Get productive minutes from the bench. If Phil can deliver that message to his team and get them to execute on the floor, he’ll be running the town of Los Angeles in June.

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Comments

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  • Alyssa Hufana

    You have just combined THE BEST RAPPER AND BEST BASKETBALL TEAM together, who happen to be my favorites. Thank you. I have not read an article this meaningful and deep as well as moving and inspiring about the boys in a long time. Let’s go Lakers. We can do this!

  • Alyssa Hufana

    You have just combined THE BEST RAPPER AND BEST BASKETBALL TEAM together, who happen to be my favorites. Thank you. I have not read an article this meaningful and deep as well as moving and inspiring about the boys in a long time. Let’s go Lakers. We can do this!

  • http://hometheathersystems.info/ Debbie W. Pellham

    Do you mind if I use the information I got reading from this website on the project that I’m working? I will properly cite you.

  • http://hometheathersystems.info/ Debbie W. Pellham

    Do you mind if I use the information I got reading from this website on the project that I’m working? I will properly cite you.

  • omgsushi

    Jay Z is weak. Spittin’ an album by listening to a beat for a few minutes and going in to a booth doesn’t produce a quality album, and there are many MC’s who can do it better. On top of it all, dude is a free mason. This article is trash, you came to talk about your favorite rapper and on top of that you put Jay in Pac’s realm? Weak.

  • omgsushi

    Jay Z is weak. Spittin’ an album by listening to a beat for a few minutes and going in to a booth doesn’t produce a quality album, and there are many MC’s who can do it better. On top of it all, dude is a free mason. This article is trash, you came to talk about your favorite rapper and on top of that you put Jay in Pac’s realm? Weak.

  • Jeff Lambert

    omgsushi,

    Regardless of what you feel about Jay-Z and his standing in the pantheon of rap history, I think you should take a second to re-read the beginning of my article again before you pass judgment. I never wrote Jay-Z was my favorite rapper, in fact he’s not even in my Top 3. I do appreciate you putting words in my mouth, though.

    As for how Jay-Z records his albums… I don’t know about you, but spitting entire albums and performing them live without ever writing down a single lyric is pretty impressive to me.

    Come in a bit more open minded next time and perhaps you won’t miss the point of the articles you read.

    Thanks for reading.

    JL

  • Jeff Lambert

    omgsushi,

    Regardless of what you feel about Jay-Z and his standing in the pantheon of rap history, I think you should take a second to re-read the beginning of my article again before you pass judgment. I never wrote Jay-Z was my favorite rapper, in fact he’s not even in my Top 3. I do appreciate you putting words in my mouth, though.

    As for how Jay-Z records his albums… I don’t know about you, but spitting entire albums and performing them live without ever writing down a single lyric is pretty impressive to me.

    Come in a bit more open minded next time and perhaps you won’t miss the point of the articles you read.

    Thanks for reading.

    JL

  • http://twitter.com/w_ruffin2 Will Ruffin II

    Unlike omgsushi, I actually liked the article. I too have Pac as the greatest rapper because of his passion and love for his art, which is what hip hop is about. EVERYONE in the rap game was influenced by Pac i one way or another, no lie. I thought JL’s matching of the song titles with the Laker players ad coach was extremely creative and appropriate. Quality work man, keep the articles coming…especially if you’re fusing my Lakers and Hip Hop.

  • http://twitter.com/w_ruffin2 Will Ruffin II

    Unlike omgsushi, I actually liked the article. I too have Pac as the greatest rapper because of his passion and love for his art, which is what hip hop is about. EVERYONE in the rap game was influenced by Pac i one way or another, no lie. I thought JL’s matching of the song titles with the Laker players ad coach was extremely creative and appropriate. Quality work man, keep the articles coming…especially if you’re fusing my Lakers and Hip Hop.

  • Jesus

    Talent is one thing “Jay Z” has. Secrecy amongst devils is the ultimate form of cowardice and that person is one of them. 2pac died because he knew he could not back down from the threat these ssecret devils pose…kill uminati, that’s what he meant. Read about pac and the nwo and see the truth Jeff. Hitler was a talented artist too, actions speak louder than talent though…throw up your diamond if you indeed worship their order OR, AWAKE FROM MITOTE.

  • Jesus

    Talent is one thing “Jay Z” has. Secrecy amongst devils is the ultimate form of cowardice and that person is one of them. 2pac died because he knew he could not back down from the threat these ssecret devils pose…kill uminati, that’s what he meant. Read about pac and the nwo and see the truth Jeff. Hitler was a talented artist too, actions speak louder than talent though…throw up your diamond if you indeed worship their order OR, AWAKE FROM MITOTE.

  • Jeff Lambert

    Dear Jesus,

    Best. Comment. Ever.

    Honored to have you as a reader.

    JL

  • Jeff Lambert

    Dear Jesus,

    Best. Comment. Ever.

    Honored to have you as a reader.

    JL

  • Bolo

    Jay Z is one of many…many rappers that record songs without writing them down and doing it in one take. If you know anything about Pac, you should know that he would go crazy if anybody messed up a take in the booth. Snoop even waited to record his verse of Two of Americas Most Wanted until the next day s he could get his verses down with out messing up, so he would not be kicked out of the booth. There is no comparison to what Pac accomplished before he was twenty five and what Jay-Z is doing at forty. Just imagine a Pac a forty there probably wouldn’t be a Jay-Z.

  • Bolo

    Jay Z is one of many…many rappers that record songs without writing them down and doing it in one take. If you know anything about Pac, you should know that he would go crazy if anybody messed up a take in the booth. Snoop even waited to record his verse of Two of Americas Most Wanted until the next day s he could get his verses down with out messing up, so he would not be kicked out of the booth. There is no comparison to what Pac accomplished before he was twenty five and what Jay-Z is doing at forty. Just imagine a Pac a forty there probably wouldn’t be a Jay-Z.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_A7Q7UPT5ER2TKP625223L6YKGE heh8me&1

    On To The Next One (Explicit) – Lakers 2010 Remix.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oz0_0-Pw-g