Sore Losers? Lakers' 2-Year Reign Comes To An End
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The fun is over for Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers after an ugly blowout loss Sunday in Dallas.
The Mavericks completed a four-game sweep of the series with a 122-86 win that ended the Lakers' run toward a third-straight NBA championship.
A Hall of Famer since 2007, Phil Jackson is now expected to retire.
"I wasn't happy with the way our players exited the game on Lamar and Andrew's part," he said after the game. "It was unnecessary, but I know they were frustrated."
The 65-year-old Zen master would leave with 11 titles, five of which were with the Lakers.
Instead of the familiar victory parade through downtown, the Lakers will be taking a long, hard look in the mirror this summer — and are unlikely to come back this fall without some major personnel changes, according to KNX 1070 sports anchor Randy Kerdoon.
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Despite the loss, Jackson was optimistic about the future for the Lakers, who had won the last two NBA championships.
"The Lakers are going to survive and do well," Jackson said.
Lakers executive vice president of business operations Jeanie Buss wrote on her Twitter page, "We will be back. Dr. Buss knows how to fix things," referring to her father, team owner Jerry Buss.
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