Don't look now, but Phil Jackson may not get to smoke that eleventh victory cigar.  After losing last night in Phoenix, the Lakers are officially on the ropes and hanging on for dear life. 

Instead of crying about taking a pay cut and putting out feelers for his next job, Suns head coach Alvin Gentry is actually working hard to win the Western Conference championship series.  The same can't be said for The Zen Master.  

After taking a 2-0 lead, Jackson couldn't be bothered with putting together a game plan to finish off the Suns.  Instead, he and his representatives started floating stories about either coaching the New Jersey Nets or returning to the Bulls next season.  Why?  Because no human being could possibly survive on the paltry annual sum of $6 million. 

You see, Jackson currently makes $12 million and owner Jerry Buss reportedly has the audacity to want Jackson to take home a little less next season.  How much less is uncertain, but Jackson will still be the NBA's highest paid coach even if his salary is cut in half next year. 

Jackson is a very good head coach.  However, he has been VERY fortunate to have players like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on his championship teams.  When two of these guys haven't been on the team at the same time, Jackson has won exactly as many NBA titles as me.  Yes, if you're scoring at home, that would be ZERO.

The heavily favored Lakers should be able to find a way to hang on and beat the Suns.  If they don't, Jackson shouldn't earn $12,000 next season let alone $12 million