Say this much for Phil Jackson’s Hollywood sensibilities: he knows, in the end, you have to get the girl.

How unlikely did it seem, in the wreckage of the Lakers’ stunning Finals loss to the Pistons in June 2004, that Jackson would ever deign to return to L.A. (or be invited back by owner Jerry Buss), dealing with “that kid” (Kobe Bryant) again and a depleted supporting cast?

Why, this was Phil Jackson, Coach To The Stars, a guy about as interested in reclamation projects as George Steinbrenner. Who would pass on tidying up a spacious Montana ranch for the sake of making Devean George - or, worse yet, Chris Mihm - a viable NBA entity?

Yet, the Zenmaster did just that, ending his year-long sabbatical from the NBA to resume control of a Laker team that was no threat to anyone in particular (not even anyone in their own building, as it turned out).

There were a number of reasons, of course. Jeanie Buss, the boss’s daughter and Jackson’s longtime girlfriend, is the most obvious (well, $10 million a year couldn’t have hurt, either), but there were also several less obvious motivations he himself mentioned.

The glamour of Hollywood had clearly grown on Jackson, and a year away from it was probably just about the right break. Besides, as a competitor, one who carved out a decent career as a player in the league, he had to wonder what he could accomplish with one superstar and mostly spare parts.

The ultimate answer, of course wasn’t spectacular: after a crushing overtime loss to Phoenix in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series, the Lakers scarcely showed up in the decisive battle. The intra-arena second-round series with the Clippers that many considered a fait accompli after the Lakers were ahead 3 games to 1 over the Suns never happened.

This is hardly Jackson’s fault, of course. He obviously did more with an odd assemblage of talent than most anyone else could have managed. He made Lamar Odom look focused, George reliable and Kwame Brown conscious - no small feats, by any stretch.

But probably the most impressive thing Jackson did this year was prove those of us who figured he’d never take on a hopeless cause voluntarily wrong. True, he had other reasons to do it, but there’s no question he’s keenly aware of his championship-laden legacy.

At least now he can watch the Clippers up close.