Phil Jackson's First Game 7 Finals

[pioneer]

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

Like a lot of folks, albeit ones making millions less than he does, Phil Jackson rises every morning and swears it’s the last season he’s going to coach the Los Angeles Lakers.

So far, he’s kept coming back for more. Jackson wraps up his 10th year with the team on Thursday night, when the Lakers and Boston Celtics play a deciding Game 7 of the NBA finals.

A victory by the Lakers would help Jackson extend his record to 11 titles.

It will be Jackson’s first Game 7 in the finals.

“I can’t imagine myself going through this again,” he said Wednesday. “It’s not only a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of stress and pain and anxiety, etc. But it’s something you get acclimated to.”