Should Phil Jackson be proclaimed the greatest coach in NBA history? That debate is certain to pick up if the Lakers beat the Pistons in the Finals, thereby giving Jackson a record 10th NBA championship. advertisement
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LET HIS RECORD SPEAK FOR ITSELF
I think the methods Jackson has employed in coaching teams in Chicago and Los Angeles have been right on target.
No one can argue with the results.
Heading into the Finals, Jackson had a career coaching record of 832-316, a .725 winning percentage and a postseason career record of 174-65, a .728 winning percentage.He won six titles with the Bulls in the 1990s, and is in pursuit of his fourth title with the Lakers. He has done the right things, no question about that.
Yes, he's had good and great players, but to his credit he has -- for the most part -- gotten the most out of them. Defining what makes a coach one of the all-time greats is a subjective thing.
I also figure it very hard for anyone to really make that kind of assessment since I feel to objectively do so one would have to be at practices, in huddles and meetings and in locker rooms -- to really see a coach at work.
The only ones with that kind of access are the players.
CONTRASTING TIMES
Red Auerbach coached the Celtics to nine titles, but comparing Jackson to Auerbach doesn't work because they coached in different eras.
Like Jackson, Auerbach's record speaks for itself. Yes, it was an eight-team league, but the talent was more condensed and the playoff schedule not as taxing. One major difference is that when Auerbach coached, there wasn't the media scrutiny on coaches that there is now. Looking at it from the outside, my sense is that Jackson doesn't deal much with issues between players, preferring instead to let those matters resolve themselves. The fact that he chooses not to try and put out the occasional brush fires that ignite between his players is why I think he's had longevity and success. In no way does it appear to me that Jackson micro manages at all. He has dealt with the issues between Shaq and Kobe and this year with Gary Payton in ways that have worked.
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Jackson has said that he's been fortunate to coach great players and he's taken some criticism over never coaching anything but top-tier talent.
But I don't think Jackson makes any bones about the fact that he would not want to get into a situation where he is trying to put together a team from the bottom or even the middle up.
He has always said he feels more comfortable coaching teams that have most of the pieces in place and are expected to win -- and when you think about that, getting teams to match those kinds of lofty expectations is not an easy task. Credit has to go Jackson but also to the organizations for which he has coached since they have for the most part been able to add role players who often prove to be just the right fit to complement their superstars.
Timing is everything and Jackson's has been perfect as far as when he took over both in Chicago and Los Angeles. PLAYERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
Even though in today's sports world coaches are under the micorscope at all times -- they probably get too much credit when things go right and too much criticism when things go wrong -- when all is said and done it's the players who have to go out and perform at a very high level to win a title. When you are talking Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach, you are talking about two men who have separted themselves in the coaching profession mainly because of their championship success. Both have very high standards, and their basketball values are equally as high.
And both have implemented their philosophy and shown the wisdom to know when to let the players take over. © 2004 MSNBC Interactive |  | NBA Section Front |
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