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"His system doesn't fit the talent that the Lakers have," Johnson told reporters at Dodger Stadium. "You can't run with this team. Where are the runners? You got one dude who can get up and down the court and that's Kobe (Bryant). Ron (Metta World Peace), love him, but he's slow. Both of our big men, not fast guys. (D'Antoni) has got to say, `Maybe I should scale it back."' Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Metta World Peace 

Bryant respectfully disagreed. “I value Magic's opinion, as we all do,” Bryant told Rome. “He's been the face of this franchise for so many years. I mean, he's the Laker legend. … But I can only speak from personal experience and my dealings with Jim; he's been great with me outside of the Mike Brown hiring which I didn't know anything about. You know everything else we have just kind of been in constant communications, constant dialogue about it. "He's made some incredible moves this offseason and hasn't been afraid to pull the trigger on some trades that at first initially might raise an eyebrow but he believes in doing the right thing by the organization and so far it seems to be working.” Sporting News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson, Jim Buss 

After spending the past week criticizing Mike D'Antoni's hire as Lakers coach both on Twitter and on ESPN, Magic Johnson wants to stop lamenting Phil Jackson getting passed over for the position. "You have to let D'Antoni get in there and wait and see what's going to happen," Johnson said in an interview with this newspaper. "It's too bad it's not Phil. That's who I wanted. But Jim Buss and Mitch made a decision. We as Lakers fans just have to see how it works out." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Magic Johnson, Jim Buss 

Rondo, back in the lineup after sitting out Thursday's loss in Brooklyn with a sprained right ankle, handed out 20 helpers while adding six points over 32:12 against the Raptors. Ironically, it's the first time this season he's failed to register a double-double, but he did stretch his double-digit assist streak to 33 games, with eyes on John Stockton (37) and Magic Johnson (46). Apprised of Terry's MVP chatter, Rondo didn't shy away from it. "Well, you know, JT's on my side, so he's a little biased, but the MVP is in the picture," said Rondo. "I would like to be one day. But, we've just got to keep winning." Pressed on the topic, Rondo added: "I mean, who wouldn't [want to be MVP]? That's a dream." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Magic Johnson, John Stockton 

A day after expressing disappointment over the Lakers' decision to hire Mike D'Antoni as head coach, Magic Johnson changed his tune. "The decision's been made that D'Antoni is the coach so we must support him. I appreciate him reaching out to me & look forward to speaking," Johnson tweeted Thursday. "We also have to remember that not everything is up to the coach, the players also must do their part." Johnson had been feeling much more negative the day before. "The reason I haven't tweeted in 2 days is because I've been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach," he tweeted. "My mother always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Magic Johnson 

D'Antoni wants to emulate the offense that Johnson made click during what was called the Showtime era, an up-tempo, high-octane style. "I've reached out to him and I will reach out to him," D'Antoni said."No better person to talk to and pick his brain and see where we're going than him." Though D'Antoni claimed he wasn't aware of Johnson's disapproving tweets, he knows he was not the popular choice to succeed Mike Brown. D'Antoni joked that even some of his close friends who are Laker fans were disappointed that he was hired over Phil Jackson, who has won 11 championships with the Lakers and the Bulls. "Phil was a great coach, is a great coach, will be a great coach with all he's done, but the reality today is that I have a great group of guys," D'Antoni said. "I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Magic Johnson 

Johnson is presuming that the call was left to Jim Buss and not Jerry Buss, which might be more of an accurate reflection of how the decision was made. "Obviously he's entitled to his opinion. I'm disappointed he feels that way," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "I respect his opinion but I don't agree." So how exactly did the Lakers go from nearly 95% sure Jackson was their man to D'Antoni? "When we relieved Mike [Brown] of his duties, clearly what we anticipated took place, which was a groundswell of support for Phil Jackson," Kupchak said. "To be honest with you, by late Friday night after the game and early Saturday morning, if we had to make a decision at that point ... statistically there was a real good chance that Phil Jackson would be our coach. We just felt there was so much public support, it might be difficult not to hire him." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss 

During the NBA Countdown broadcast, which also featured Michael Wilbon, Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons, Johnson said D'Antoni called him and wants to meet with him. On Thursday, Johnson backpedaled a bit, dishing out a series of supportive tweets for D'Antoni. "@LakerNation let's hope & pray that D'Antoni leads the @Lakers to a championship." "The decision's been made that D'Antoni is the coach so we must support him. I appreciate him reaching out to me & look forward to speaking." "We also have to remember that not everything is up to the coach, the players also must do their part." USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Magic Johnson 

Asked by ESPNLosAngeles.com if he'd heard about Johnson's on-air comments, Jim Buss said, "But I believe in Magic as I always have." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Jim Buss 

Arash Markazi: Magic Johnson: "I love Dr. Buss but I don't believe in Jim Buss." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss 

Magic Johnson: My mother always taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: The reason I haven't tweeted in 2 days is because I've been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Magic Johnson 

Q: It certainly seems like the deal (with Jackson) is going to get done, but are you pretty confident he'll be the guy soon? Magic Johnson: I feel it's going to get done. They have some things,of course, to work out. I know that Phil wants to bring his staff in, which is good, because - again - most guys like (former Lakers assistants) Kurt Rambis and (Jim) Cleamons, they know the guys. Kurt has worked with Kobe almost since he came into the league. He knows him, they respect Kurt, Kurt respects them,and Kurt knows how to get the most out of these guys. He did a wonderful job with Bynum and the rest of the guys. They love Kurt, because he's won championships. Cleamons, same thing. Of course he wants his guys, and that's good because that's what makes Phil comfortable coaching, so I think they'll get it done. USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Magic Johnson 

Q: You've made it pretty clear who you want to coach this team, Magic, but break it down for me. Why do you feel like Phil is the only choice? Magic Johnson: When you get Dwight Howard and you get a Steve Nash, and you bring them to the Lakers, Phil would be a perfect coach of this team because of his recent success with Shaq (O'Neal), his recent success with (former Lakers center Andrew) Bynum and (Lakers forward Pau) Gasol. So he knows how to utilize both big men, put them in a position that they can be successful and that the team can be successful as well. So he already has this incredible history with Kobe, winning five championships with him. He would definitely, I think, from Day One, be able to take over this team. He'll have the respect of the guys, because he's won championships. He would have a knowledge of them, they would have a knowledge of him, they know how to run the triangle. The only two people who have to catch up are (Steve) Nash and Howard. With Dwight, that'd be easy, and I think that'd be easy for Steve Nash as well. If the Lakers want to win now, he's the perfect coach. USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: That's the reason why Mike is out, because the Lakers are about winning championships. They're not about waiting. Some people have complained, and said different things - no, he didn't get a fair shake. The Lakers don't give people fair shakes. It's not about fair shakes. It's about whether you can produce or not. Other organizations, they have time and patience because they're not about winning the championships. The Lakers are about winning championships. They've had championships already, when you think about 16 of them. This team was put together and they want to win this year.That's why Dr. Buss and Jim and Mitch made the call. USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson 

Q: Not sure if you feel like addressing this, but it's been written that you played a part here (in the firing of Brown), that you told Dr. Buss to do it. Any response there? A: It's so stupid. They're so misinformed. I have never talked to Dr. Buss about firing Mike Brown. I've seen Dr. Buss one time. I visited with Dr. Buss three months ago. I had a great visit with him. We were just reminiscing. That (claim about Brown) was coming from Mike Brown's camp, that they thought I played a role in this. But let me tell you something about Dr. Buss. First of all, I didn't do it. Second of all, if I had a role in it, I'd tell the world. I don't have no problem telling people (laughs). That's easy. If I went to tell (Dr. Buss) that , 'Hey Mike Brown should be out,' and they fired him, and then somebody said, 'Well Magic had a hand in it,' I'd say' Yeah, I had a hand in it.' (laughs). USA Today

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson 

The abruptness and timing of the decision – five games into Brown’s first full season – was credited by one source to Lakers legend and former part-owner Magic Johnson finally winning “a turf war” with the younger Buss and convincing Lakers’ patriarch, Jerry Buss, that Brown must go. Johnson, the source said, would like to see former Laker and current Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw succeed Brown. CSNBayArea.com

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss 

A source close to Johnson, meanwhile, said talk of him being involved in Brown’s ouster now was “categorically untrue.” CSNBayArea.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: I'd love to see Phil Jackson or Brian Shaw. Wish Pat Riley was available. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: Feel bad for Coach Mike Brown, who's a great guy, but don't think he was the right guy for the job in the first place. Jim Buss has another big decision. The @Lakers need a championship caliber coach. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson, Jim Buss