While the Spurs “epitomize managerial stability, togetherness and focus,” the Lakers have for years been a "rudderless ship," according to ESPN.com’s Baxter Holmes, who wrote under the header, “To Mimic Spurs, New-Look Lakers Should Start With Front-Office Stability.” The Spurs are an “ideal example that market size matters less and less” in the NBA. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of how front-office consistency has impacted his job, “I've always thought it starts with ownership. I think owners who let people do their jobs end up being more successful in our business. And obviously, if someone has made a lot of bucks doing something else, the pitfall is always to think that you can do that no matter what business you might be in, and some organizations get into trouble because of that. We haven't had that problem.” He added, “So ownership has allowed us to just run the program and keep them informed as we should. After that piece of the puzzle is in place, then it becomes a synergy between management, coaches and players. At that point, it's about people. It's about people that have hopefully gotten over themselves, that are comfortable in their own skins and know how to maturely and objectively agree and disagree. That's totally dependent on people” (ESPN.com, 2/27).
MAGIC SHOW: In L.A., Mark Heisler wrote Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson is "night and day" compared to former GM Mitch Kupchak in terms of being the face of the franchise. The real question is Johnson's "learning curve" and what his "cachet will mean in free agency" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/26). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote by putting Johnson in charge, the Lakers made the kind of "big splashy fix" that the Knicks made when they hired Phil Jackson three years ago. Lupica: "You can see how well that is working out." But maybe Johnson can be as much of a "success in the basketball business as he has been in the business world" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/26). Heat President Pat Riley said of Johnson, "There couldn't be a better person and worker, I think, to be the sort of face and also to spearhead. He'll get the job done out there" (AP, 2/27).
