Phil Jackson:"Ben Wallace flopped, that's partly why they won the 'ship"

valet

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Phil Jackson was brought in by the Pistons to help consult during their coaching search, but apparently he can't let his Piston-inflicted wounds heal.

Jackson has 11 championship rings as a coach but suffered arguably the most embarrassing loss of his coaching career at the hands of the 2004 Pistons, who defeated the star-studded Lakers in five games.

Doing a radio interview with ESPN's Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo on Thursday, Jackson was asked how Shaquille O'Neal would fare if he were placed in Wilt Chamberlain's era.

Jackson proceeded to seemingly take a shot at the Pistons and former coach Larry Brown, insinuating the Pistons flopped against O'Neal during that series and that it led to the Lakers' demise.

"Larry Brown taught guys to go down (flop) on Shaq and that's one of the reasons they won in '04," Jackson said. "He had the center, (Ben) Wallace as the David in that matchup and those (plays) were called as charges."

The series wasn't even as close as the 4-1 ledger indicated, as the Lakers' only win came courtesy of Kobe Bryant saving them in Game 2 with a 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

The Pistons blew the Lakers out in two of their four wins, including the clincher, where they led by 27 in the fourth quarter, in big part due to flopping, according to Jackson.

"Shaq would put a shoulder into you and test how close he could get to the basket," said Jackson, who's on a tour promoting his book "Eleven Rings."

O'Neal was one of the few Lakers who had a good series against the Pistons, averaging 26.6 points and 10.8 rebounds on 63 percent shooting.

Bryant took nearly 30 more shots than O'Neal and shot just 38 percent as the Pistons steamrolled Jackson's Lakers, so his comments ring a bit hollow.

Jackson is friends with current Pistons owner Tom Gores, who purchased the team well after they beat the Lakers in 2004. Jackson is involved with the coaching search as an unpaid assistant
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From The Detroit News: Pistons consultant Phil Jackson jabs 2003-04 Detroit title team in radio interview | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
 
GreatestLaker

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He did flop.

They also got away with a lot of contact on the perimeter.

That and Malone going down with an injury are the main reasons why LA lost.
 
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kobe didnt play well, but that malone injury killed them. if malone had missed the timberwolves series the lakers likely wouldnt have even made it to the finals.
 
GreatestLaker

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Sunalmighty said:
Detroit ate them niccas food, period. They were dominated defensively and out played.
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No shyt. The Lakers without Malone were garbage.

Look how the regular season went. With Malone they started off 17-3. After he went down with a knee injury they played below .500 basketball until he came back in the middle of March. With him back in the lineup they won 14 of their last 18 games. Including a twelve game winning streak. It was night and day man.
 
prophecypro

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Man, Detroit kick their ass that year.

Even with the Malone injury they were down 3-1 when that happened.
 
Sunalmighty

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GreatestLaker said:
No shyt. The Lakers without Malone were garbage.

Look how the regular season went. With Malone they started off 17-3. After he went down with a knee injury they played below .500 basketball until he came back in the middle March. With him back in the lineup they won 14 of their last 18 games. Including a twelve game winning streak. It was night and day man.
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I was in jail when that series was played :sadbron:, remember watching it in the day room
 
threattonature

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prophecypro said:
Man, Detroit kick their ass that year.

Even with the Malone injury they were down 3-1 when that happened.
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Malone was hurt in the Minnesota series too. I remember knocking Garnett at the time for not destroying a one legged Malone in the WCF.
 
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