Brian Shaw was a member of those three Laker championship teams earlier this decade, and is now an assistant coach under Jackson. Although he said his boss has remained steady and resolute over the years, he confirmed that people do change with age, and that Jackson is one of those people.

“I joke with him all the time that he’s gotten soft with these young new guys,” Shaw said. “When I played for him, he was more of a disciplinarian. Not necessarily a dictator, but he allows a lot more input from the guys now as opposed to how he did when we played.

“I think that’s just natural because 10 years later he’s in his young 60s now and doesn’t probably have the same amount of energy now in terms of getting after them for some of the things they do. But other than that, he’s pretty much the same.”

Jackson is under contract through next season, but that doesn’t mean much. He can walk, er, hobble away whenever he wants. He could probably also stay on for as long as he wants. He said Tuesday after practice that over the last 20 to 30 games he began experiencing pain and swelling in his lower right leg, a result of plantar fasciitis. He missed a preseason game in Anaheim in October because of the problem, and in April skipped a flight to Portland.

If the condition worsens, he could become a former coach, perhaps as early as this summer. “After the year, I’ll have the medical staff check that out,” he said. “As of now, I’m feeling pretty good.”

So these Finals magnify in importance for Jackson. The Pistons were hot and determined in ’04 and the Lakers were somewhat dysfunctional. Last year the Celtics were an overpowering defensive team led by three superstars, and the Lakers were clearly second best. But now, the Lakers are favored. They’re coming off two masterful victories over the feisty Denver Nuggets. They’re playing their best basketball at the right time.

No. 10 has never looked as attainable as it does right now.

“He’s pretty calm about it,” Bryant said. “He stresses execution and playing the right way. I’m sure it’s important to him, but Phil has never coached for the accolades. He has never coached for anything materialistic.”

As the 2009 Finals unfold, Jackson deals with the prospect of No. 10 by not dealing with it. When asked what it would mean to him, he held up his hands and replied:

“One for each finger. That’s about it. And two thumbs.”

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