Bodog Beat

Phil Jackson hopes his second coaching stint with the Los Angeles Lakers is as productive as the first. The question is whether he has the talent to make that dream a reality.

Jackson guided the Lakers to three straight championships from 2000-02 with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant as the stars. However, Jackson left the team after the 2003-04 season when management insisted on keeping Bryant instead of O'Neal.

Coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Lakers lured Jackson out of retirement last summer. However, Jackson has made a career of turning good teams into championship contenders and this Lakers squad might not have the potential for greatness as it is currently assembled.

Bryant is joined in the starting lineup by versatile forward Lamar Odom and center Chris Mihm, each of whom are entering their second year with Los Angeles. The Lakers will start journeyman Smush Parker at point guard and Kwame Brown at power forward.

The top overall pick in the 2001 draft, Brown spent four years underachieving in Washington before he was dealt this past summer to the Lakers, who gave him a three-year, $25 million contract.

The Nuggets were one of eight teams in action Tuesday as they opened their season with a 102-91 loss to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Kenyon Martin added 19 points for Denver, which lost reserve forward Nene in the second quarter with a knee injury.

The Lakers and Nuggets split four meetings last season, with each team winning twice on its home court.

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