Durant Falls Victim to Phil Jackson Zen Master

Welcome to the NBA Playoffs Kevin Durant— deluxe edition with the 'Zen Master' Phil Jackson included.

The on-court play begins on Sunday, but the games have already begun in Los Angeles. Phil Jackson took one for the team, being fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials. In true Zen Master form, Jackson only used the referees as an outlet to harass Durant.

"As far as the calls that he gets on the floor, I think a lot of the referees are treating him like a superstar; he gets to the line easy and often,"

Jackson made the comments prior to Tuesday night's game against Sacramento. Lakers played the Kings, not the Thunder, our first clue that Phil might believe he can rattle Durant before the series. It might work.

Kevin Durant replied to Phil Jackson's criticism of the referees, "That's part of my game, getting to the free throw line and being aggressive. If you say that I get superstar calls or I get babied by the refs, that's just taking away from how I play. That's disrespectful to me." 

Some where in the depths of the Lakers basketball offices, Phil Jackson must have smiled and said, “Mission Accomplished.”

Durant will be taking an inexperienced team, up against the defending NBA Champions. Experience matters in the playoffs. The Orlando Magic marched through the Eastern Conference, with scrappy defense and hot 3-point shooting. The Lakers changed all of that, only dropping one game to the Magic to win the series on Dwight Howard's home court.

Experience tells Phil Jackson that calls come a little harder in the playoffs. The referees allow for more contact, and give defenders more wiggle room. Durant probably was going to see that difference without Phil Jackson's comments.

Fans on sports talk shows across the country have been discussing Durant's response. I've actually seen a headline that includes the words, "... Kevin Durant wrong to criticize Phil Jackson". Kevin Durant— really, wrong for responding?

Now though, Durant feels disrespected. Now apparently missed calls become Phil Jackson's fault. Suddenly all the news surrounding the series focuses on Kevin Durant. A super star player— playing in his first playoffs, with a very young team.

The Zen Master strikes again.