Jackson: Lakers Can Win 50 Games

MILWAUKEE —  Phil Jackson, who guided the Lakers to three championships in five seasons as coach, has stayed away from basketball since he and the team parted ways in June, so much so that he hasn’t watched a Laker game this season.

But he still has thoughts on how they’ll do.

“I’ve kind of followed them by association with friends and people involved I’m close to,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “They want to run and gun and up-tempo their game, but I don’t see it happening. They’re going to end up being pretty much a half-court team. But with Kobe [Bryant] there they have a chance to be in games.

“The big key with the Lakers will be them getting Lamar Odom involved and making him an important part of the team. You need two really strong weapons, if not a third. They’re going to be an exterior team, occasionally flashing guys in the post. If Kobe has to take it upon himself to finish every game out or every game they get in trouble and be reliant in his scoring, it could be tough for them. But I think they can win close to 50 games, somewhere in that range.”

Jackson, who has spent most of his free time fixing up his lakefront home in Montana, has caught some Miami Heat games on TV.

“I was curious about them,” he said. “I’ve seen a couple of quarters. They have a good guard corps around Shaq [O’Neal]. But I’m still looking for some support inside. Shaq is more a finesse player now than the power player I first coached in 1999. But he’s still very capable and I believe he can play six, seven more years -- probably five at a high level.”

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X-rays revealed a slight fracture in the right hand of rookie Sasha Vujacic, who was injured Monday in practice. Vujacic was put on the injured list last week because of tendinitis in his knees.

TONIGHT

at Chicago, 5:30 PST, Ch. 9

Site -- United Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 9-6, Bulls 1-10.

Record vs. Bulls -- 1-0.

Update -- Kobe Bryant had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers’ 102-93 victory over the Bulls on Nov. 21.