The Lakers organization made the fateful decision to give absolute power to Kobe. Instead of using it to spread joy and prosperity, he proved he is not worthy by hogging the ball, alienating teammates (Lamar Odom and Chucky Atkins, to name two) and turning a team concept into the pursuit of individual glory.

Kobe’s intent hasn’t changed just because Shaq has embraced an Eastern (Conference) way of life. Bryant wants to win, but still thinks the best way is by offering up 30 shots a game to the heavens while being double-teamed. In a battle of wills between a stubborn young warrior and a weary general, the former will always win, even though it ultimately is a Pyrrhic victory.

Then there is the rest of the team. Granted, it really doesn’t matter who plays in Kobe’s shadow, because if any of his teammates ever gets to touch the basketball, it will truly be a miracle. But Phil, in a rare break from his long-standing personal dogma that a coach must seek the truth in basketball only when he has a roster brimming with talent, has signed on to a team that finished with a worse record than the Clippers. This is a sign of Phil’s great inner turmoil, and thus the smell of incense gives way to the smell of burning playoff tickets.

Lamar Odom is a gifted young man, but it’s obvious he can’t play with Kobe, and it’s doubtful a new way of thinking will change that. Caron Butler is surprisingly productive and valuable, but he’s a complementary player who might just be traded around draft day for a golden child from the high school ranks. Brian Grant’s knees are as shaky as a rotted Bodi tree. Chucky Atkins seems to be a point guard, but he is not what he seems. Devean George was a waste of riches. The rest of the team is occupied by journeymen who will probably journey elsewhere when their current contracts are up. And by the way, the team is capped out until the great beyond.

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Phil comes to a team limited in what it can do to improve. This isn’t the promised land anymore. NBA free agents aren’t yearning to don purple and gold finery, because they can usually make more in their current finery. Since Jerry West sojourned to Memphis, this team is no longer illustrious. And the return of a man full of thought but bereft of good players will not turn back time.

Inspiration comes in many forms. For Lakers fans, it’s the return of Phil Jackson. And they will revel in this. They will quaff ale and eat hot dogs. They will cheer on their heroes, infused with the spirit of the past.

Then June will roll around again and their devotion will be shaken. Phil’s words will ring hollow and his presence will be scorned, and sages from all corners of the world will pose the same question:

Why didn’t he just wait a year for a better job?

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