Phil Jackson: Master of disaster?

Intrigued by the idea, shocked at its audacity, folks around town are whispering it.

Adjusting their Tivos, rubbing their eyes, NBA fans around the country are wondering it.

So, what the Zen, we might as well say it.

Was it Phil Jackson's fault?

Does the blame for the greatest collapse in recorded NBA Finals history lie with the greatest coach?

Could this memorable, macabre wounding of Lakers tradition have been prevented by the man paid $10 million a year to carry the Band-Aids?

It was Boston Celtics 97, Lakers 91 . . . and how much Phil Jackson?

The answer is, enough.

Enough that it's worth questioning.

Enough that it's worth wondering how a man with nine championship rings can allow his team to blow a 24-point lead at a championship moment in a championship series.

A day later, a drained-looking Jackson said everyone on the team felt blame for the collapse.

"Everybody . . . from Rudy Garciduenas, who's our equipment manager and probably thought he put the wrong Tide in the uniforms," Jackson said.

But Jackson admitted that he may have even lost a little more sleep over it.

"Everybody that feels like they did something they could have done to help the team and weren't able to help the team has to consider that," Jackson said. "That's what you mull as a coach over in your mind at 1 or 5 in the morning."

It has been written here that Jackson is the greatest NBA coach by the length of several cigars, and that opinion hasn't changed.

But Thursday night, and for much of these NBA Finals, he hasn't even been the greatest coach in the gym.

Two games ago, the aggressive Doc Rivers kept his team from blowing a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter.

On Thursday night, the avuncular Jackson couldn't inspire his team to do the same.

For a week, Doc Rivers has kept his team flowing despite injuries to starters Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo.

On Thursday night, Jackson struggled to find the right mix even with everyone sound.