By Michael Kelley ’14 & Mick Kowaleski ’14

After firing Mike Brown, the Los Angeles Lakers opted to hire MikeD’Antoni over the legendary Phil Jackson. 

Kowaleski: D’Antoni was the best choice. Mike, I’m sure you’re going to cite Phil Jackson’s rings, but think about it.

D’Antoni’s scheme fits the team better. Jackson’s triangle offense really wouldn’t have meshed well with the roster currently in place in LA. D’Antoni’s revolutionary “Seven Seconds or Less” game plan is picture perfect for an offense run by a healthy Steve Nash, who worked with D’Antoni to create some of the best offenses in NBA during his stint in Phoenix.

The run-and-gun, high-paced play fits the aging Lakers much more than a bump-and-grind style. The brittle Nash and Kobe combination can be devastating if you don’t make them undergo strenuous amounts of contact, and let Nash drive to the hole and either kick it out to Kobe or Metta World Peace, or dish it to Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol.

Jackson’s salary demands and desire for overall organizational control might have been the reason for D’Antoni’s hire, but he’ll fit better for many other reasons. When Nash comes back 100 percent, expect fireworks.

Kelley: My close, sometimes obsessed, following of sports dates back long enough to understand that past accomplishments is not and should not be a deciding factor in management decisions.

So yes, the Lakers were correct in not bringing back Phil Jackson because of his ring filled fingers.

But they were so wrong in every other aspect.

You want to talk about offensive style? How is a “Seven Seconds or Less” offense picture perfect for a roster dominated by age? You honestly expect Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash to execute a run-and-gun offense for another 74 games and then an entire playoff run? Please, maybe ten years ago.

You can’t make a team avoid contact – basketball is a physical game and bumps and bruises will always happen, even to the quickest, most fast paced teams. To beat the class of the league (the Heat), the Lakers need to impose the strength of their big men. Jackson does that. D’Antoni does not.

Also, is it just me, or was there a reason that Kobe stormed out of practice without talking to the media the day D’Antoniwas hired? I think yes – the man is pissed.

Phil has dealt with Kobe’s whiny ways for years and could easily manage the explosive personalities of World Peace and Howard.

When this team unravels down the home stretch, I told you so. Unfortunately, my championship prediction (check two weeks ago) is turning out to be a joke. Not hiring Phil Jackson will haunt the Lakers for this season and beyond.

If the season ended today, there would be no SEC team in the national championship game for the first time since 2005. Crazy, we know. How will this season shake out? 

Kowaleski: Mike, George W. Bush was one year into his second term the last time an SEC team didn’t make it to theBCS National Championship. Texas beat USC in 2005, but ever since then, the SEC has owned college football, winning the last seven championships.

Some could say that it’s not a possibility still. No. 2 Oregon should and will finish undefeated. But current No. 1 Kansas State has a possible trap game against No. 15 Texas, and No. 3 Notre Dame’s incredibly close/lucky wins against teams like Pittsburgh give me reason to believe that No. 18 USC could bump them off in the final regular-season game. If two teams lose, Alabama could get bumped up for the Championship game. But they won’t. Here’s why: Do you think the powers that be are going to ignore a possible return for Notre Dame to the national stage? An Oregon-ND championship is ratings gold. No, ratings platinum.

If the current top three teams stay undefeated, it’s Oregon-ND. If they all lose one game, it’s Oregon-ND. The only way Kansas State makes its way into the championship is if Notre Dame loses a game and they go undefeated. Is it unfair? Probably. But that’s why we’re moving towards a four-team playoff next year.

Kelley: Oh boy. I hate to do this in front of all of our readers, but I have to. You forced me.

You say that if all teams win out, Oregon would jump over Kansas State, who would then somehow be overruled by Notre Dame? Have you bothered to check the latest BCS rankings? Kansas State has a comfortable cushion. If they win out, especially by beating No. 15 Texas, they are all but guaranteed a spot in the championship game.

I won’t even get into those logistics. Four days ago in The Denver Post, an article about BCS rankings was titled, “Kansas State, Oregon to meet for national title if they keep winning.” In the article, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and collegebcs.com was quoted, “The only way that order changes is if somebody gets beat.”

It sounds like Jerry has a bit more insight than your news source, which I’m guessing might have been GoIrish.com.

Come on, Mick.