Buss Isn’t in Rush to Name Coach

Laker owner Jerry Buss threw another curveball late Thursday, saying he thought it was “unlikely� that the team would name an interim coach today, even though other officials had indicated hours earlier that there probably would be a news conference today to announce the choice.

After the Lakers’ 15-point victory over the Clippers, Buss congratulated Bill Bertka, who coached the game, and stopped for a 10-minute interview with reporters, saying that he saw no hurry in naming either Kurt Rambis or Larry Drew the interim coach.

“We’re not under any time pressure,� said Buss, who added that he might wait until Sunday or Monday. “We’re playing pretty well right now.�

Laker executives Jerry West and Mitch Kupchak met with Buss on Thursday, and apparently gave Buss a recommendation after interviewing Drew and Rambis.

But Buss said he decided he would take some time to make up his mind.

“Let’s face it, there’s just no rush,� Buss said. “We have a very competent guy in Bill Bertka. He was, I think, a head coach 27 years ago. I’ve got a little experience going here. I’m not frightened to leave the team in his hands.�

Asked if former Chicago Bulls’ coach Phil Jackson could be a candidate at the end of the season, Buss shrugged.

“All possibilities are open,� Buss said. “I would talk to everybody. I want to win. And we’ll have a lot of talks and whoever seems to be the candidate that has the best chance to lead us to glory will be the coach, period.

“Over the summer, we will decide who has the best chance to lead us to the promised land, and that’s who we will choose. All things are open during the summer.�

Does he think the Lakers can win the title this season with an interim coach?

“What do you think? We’re a contender, that’s for sure,� Buss said. “We’re obviously a contender. If everybody stays healthy, we’ve got a very, very good chance to win.�

Buss said he wasn’t concerned that the recent controversies surrounding the team, including the signing of Dennis Rodman, had distracted the team.

“Turmoil’s a word that the media uses,� Buss said. “My word is love. I love this team. You guys see it maybe as turmoil. I see it as a lot of love.�

Buss was not clear about the reasons Del Harris was fired Wednesday, but said it was agreed upon by all of the Laker hierarchy.

“I felt there was a definite need for a change. I think everybody agreed, we made that change. It’s that simple,� Buss said. “Del gave us a great five yeas, we’re very happy about that. And he will be a personal friend.

“What we’re looking for to replace him, I’m not sure, I don’t know whether it’s energy or as you said a disciplinarian. . . . I don’t know what it is. Honestly.

“You guys follow it much more closely than I do. I just felt that there was a need for a change. And I think we’ve made that change and quite honestly I’m very happy with what I saw. . . .

“What can I say? Bill Bertka coached a hell of a game.�