That's pretty good work if Philip can get it

Now that Phil Jackson has proven himself arguably the best coaching mind ever, he's turning heads by saying he needs a break.

But the amazing thing is, he isn't retiring.

The owner of 12 NBA titles -- 10 coaching and two playing -- has asked the Lakers if he can still coach the team, but only during home games.

What? That's like applying for a job but during the interview requesting that you get Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays off.

Of course, if anyone has earned the right to even ask for something so off-the-wall, it's the Zen Master but even this is a stretch. I mean, what's the Lakers road coach going to do at halftime, prop up a Mac on a stool and click iChat and wait for thoughts of genius to come streaming through? And who are the players going to respect, someone who's there for the long flights and time zone changes or the guy that shows up 41 times only having to worry about his commute?

The 63-year-old has cited health concerns the past few years and frankly who wouldn't? After dealing with Dennis Rodman he has also caressed the enormous ego of Kobe Bryant while juggling everyone else's minutes and scoring opportunities.

If the Lakers decide to do this, it could split the team. Who's to say that players like Bryant and perhaps even Pau Gasol won't be inclined to ask for a five-game East Coast road swing off if their legendary coach can't be there. Heck, they might ask the Lakers brass for one week off a month. This could potentially set a bad precedent and prove costly to a team that is primed to win another NBA title next summer.

What the Lakers have to decide right now is not who's going to coach the Lakers on the road next year but who's going to coach them the next two to four years. The fact that Jackson is even asking for something so out of the ordinary almost assures everyone else that next year will be his swan song.

This year could be attributed to how well of a coach Jackson really is. The Lakers only won eight more regular season games than last year and even tied last year's number of playoff losses with seven. But it was Jackson who enabled the Lakers to get past a feisty Rockets team in the second round and power them past the Nuggets and the Magic for the championship.

No one will ever be able to replace his presence. So the obvious question is, why is Jackson making the Lakers do so when it's already very difficult to win on the road in the NBA?