Jackson’s Faith Is Being Tested

Tex Winter has been at Phil Jackson’s side for nearly 15 years, the two having shared nine NBA titles. Never, Winter said, had Jackson confided doubts concerning his ability to motivate a team.

On Friday night, before the Lakers’ 89-83 loss to the New Jersey Nets, Jackson admitted he was troubled by his inability to reach the Lakers, who are 19-23. Not only is a fourth consecutive championship in doubt, they are in danger of missing the playoffs altogether in what would be a dizzying fall from a Los Angeles victory parade to a Secaucus, N.J., lottery panel.

“We all have second thoughts,” Jackson had said.

“I hadn’t heard him express that to us,” Winter said. “If he’s feeling that way, and it’s something he expressed, well, I haven’t seen that in him ever before, because one thing he is is very optimistic about everything. He’s always felt like everything will turn out fine.”

Asked if Jackson were still optimistic, Winter said, “Well, I think maybe he’s starting to question it a little. Naturally.”

Jackson, of course, has had reason for his assumptions, for a trust in himself that borders on arrogance. Only Red Auerbach has won as many titles. Five teams have won at least three consecutive championships, and Jackson coached three of them. Michael Jordan did not win before Jackson. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant did not win before Jackson. His career winning percentage (.726) is the best in NBA history.

Winter said in light of that he is not yet concerned for his friend.

“I know him,” he said. “He’s sort of a fatalist. He sees the bright side of things. As I say, he’s positive. He’s an optimist. Much more so than I am. We’ve been sort of a balancing act for each other. When you face these kinds of situations, things have a way of changing. The main thing is, this group isn’t used to losing. When you lose like we’ve lost, it takes its toll on everybody, including the fans.

“So, we go back to work. We’ll be on the job and doing what we can do to prepare this team for a very difficult upcoming road trip.”

The Lakers play at Phoenix on Wednesday and at Sacramento on Friday. Jackson gave the players the weekend off, though the coaching staff met Saturday morning in El Segundo.

The trading deadline is four weeks away, making this a busy evaluation period. Scouts Gene Tormohlen, Irving Thomas and Kevin Grevey have been in town for most of the week meeting with General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Jackson’s focus, probably, is on his current 13.

“I think Phil is a very compassionate person,” Winter said, “and as much as anything else he’s concerned about these players, the fact that they’re losing and what it might be doing to them. I know he recognizes they certainly don’t like to lose. How they react to things is his biggest concern.”

Jackson’s run in Chicago lasted nine years. The final three ended in championships, after some of the most dominant regular seasons ever. Three-and-a-half seasons into a five-year contract, is it really Jackson, at 57, who has changed?

“I think he felt like with the group he had together there for those nine years he had a chance to win, and that makes a lot of difference,” Winter said. “I think one of the reasons he took this job is he felt like we had a chance to win, which, of course, we did for three years. Every year is a new beginning, you know. People don’t understand that. Those three years, championship years, weren’t that easy, when you analyze it.

“The years we had in Chicago weren’t that easy. I was amazed, oftentimes, when we’d come through and win games and win the thing. In this life, I think maybe things have a way of balancing out. Certainly, we’ve had, and Phil particularly, has had a tremendous run.”

Meantime, they have little choice but to attempt to extend the current one, daunting as it seems.

“Well, I don’t think it’s desperation,” Winter said. “We all feel like there’s still a chance we can make the playoffs. We’re certainly not out of it yet. Those two losses at home certainly don’t help. Put those on the other side of the ledger and we’re feeling pretty good about things.”

In two games that Jackson said could shape the rest of their season, the Lakers were lethargic and distracted. Bryant and O’Neal have copped to sore knees, which should improve with four days between games. But, a bout or two of tendinitis wouldn’t explain the Lakers’ alarming disregard for defense.

“I just don’t think they’re ready to play,” Winter said, and maybe that’s where Jackson gets his doubts.

“They’re professional athletes,” Winter said. “They’re getting paid awfully good money. I should think they would recognize the urgency of the situation and motivate themselves.”

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Rookie Kareem Rush strained his left hamstring Friday night when he slipped on a wet area of the floor. Rush, who was to receive treatment Saturday and today, said he did not believe the injury to be serious.