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Phil Jackson, Zen Master. The Greatest Coach of All Time? By John Nguyen
08.18.2009 - Updated on 08.18.2009
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When his name is brought up, Red Auerbach’s name is not too far behind. We have heard of the MJ versus Kobe, Kobe versus Lebron, and then the inevitable MJ versus Kobe AND Lebron debates (those have been done to death) making this argument sitting in the back.
P. Jax did his damage with the complicated free system based on politics and money called, “Free Agency.” How can any coach achieve ten championships in such a short amount of time with free agency? This is a monumental epic feat that Red Auerbach cannot even accomplish. General Managers have difficulty keeping a core together, so when players end up leaving, it is incredibly tough to rebuild chemistry with new incoming players who could be less talented. Players back in Red’s era had a sense of loyalty. Based on this fact alone, it was easier to retain them. Today, it is obvious that players are loyal to the money and having a more significant role to feed the ego. If Red was to coach today, he probably could not handle the pressures of producing turnarounds very quickly. Simply put, things are more complex compared to the times of yesteryear. Besides, Auerbach just gives off this aura of “If he wants more than what we’re offering, let him leave. Screw it.” I remember in an interview that he had to deal with an unsatisfied player. Red told him, “Do you want to play in Siberia? I can make that happen.”
Managing players’ egos is where P. Jax shines. Auerbach is fine, too, but as I mentioned, things are more complex than ever before. Most rookies coming in now think they’re all stars already coupled with the fact that they became multimillionaires overnight. Do they feel a sense of entitlement? Sure, why the heck not? If you were picked in the top 10 of any draft, wouldn’t you feel that you were some kind of savior? Heck yes! Don’t be bashful. Would Auerbach put up with that hot mess? No. Would Phil? Yes, but he does in a subtle way. He just will not play that player many minutes. Red would just tell a player to go take a flying leap into a toxic dump. It’s interesting that both coaches are the masters of mind games.
Auerbach would be a realist about managing chemistry and roles while Jackson is the Zen Master applying Eastern philosophy and Native American spiritual practices. For any person to apply unorthodox left field tactics, that person will get my props for branching out in weird ways. He’s also the pioneer of the triangle offense. Don’t get it twisted. Both men made it work. Despite having different styles, they were great in what they did.
Auerbach actually developed talent from the ground up through the draft whereas Jackson stepped into a solid team with two superstars. The only player he actually developed was Scottie Pippen while Red developed Russell, Havlicek, Cousy, Sharman, and many others. He was also a pioneer to adopt a “No Color Barrier” motto, introducing the fast break, and inventing concepts of the role player and Sixth man. Auerbach is the man in those departments. In terms of impact on the game, Auerbach trumps Jackson. No question.
Is Phil Jackson the greatest coach of all time? To answer this, one needs to think, “Who was the better coach?”
In the end, regardless of either man, it’s about the results.
Phil Jackson
Career - Regular season 1041 - 435
Winning percentage .705
Playoffs 209 - 91
10 championships during 18 year career.
Red Auerbach
Overall: 938 – 479
Playoffs: 99 – 69
9 championships in 16 years with Boston
What do you think?
[image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jetbody/3620720706/] |
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Posted by
617 all day
on 08.21.2009 | Red. hands down. dont care what anyone has to say. he has done a lot more for the game of basketball than Phil Jackson ever will. . | Posted by
J. Nguyen
on 08.21.2009 | I’m sticking up for Red here. He’s done way too much for the game behind the scenes as well as on the court.
P. Jax just didn’t do that. . | Posted by
dominic
on 08.20.2009 | it would be interesting to see phil coach a young or mediocre team , could he take them deep into the playoffs?? could he motivate them enough to have a winning record?? where was all the zen back in 08 finals when his team got spanked by 39 points in game 6.the lakers gave up in the second quarter, where was the motivation then??? . | Posted by
ronh
on 08.19.2009 | Phil is indeed the best coach of all time MJ Shaq Kobe did not win a ring till phil showed up. Also if you look at it he has a chance to boost his resume even more with this current team he might coached to more titles. . | Posted by
Snika
on 08.19.2009 | Being the best NBA coach is all about managing Superstars... I don’t think there is any question, Phil Jackson is the best. Phil and Red have the same percentages and Phil has just done it longer. Think about it... when Phil starts a season as head coach, he has had over a 50% chance of winning a ring! WOW!!! . | Posted by
on 08.19.2009 | i think he is the greatest. he broke red’s record with the most championships. plus there were a lot of good teams and players against phil jax’s bulls when they ruled the nba. i dont really know how many teams were against red’s celtics, but im sure it aint as many as 15 that time. plus phil made rodman play with jordan and scottie, which looked impossible bec rodman played for detroit before and they were rivals. as a great coach, youve got to make your team work well whatever the issue is. so i could sat phil is better, but only slightly. . | Posted by
Jiminyhops
on 08.19.2009 | John Nguyen wrote an aritcle that didn’t get talked s---about,, kudos john, kudos . | Posted by
steve
on 08.18.2009 | Aurbach’s teams had more superstars, each one had 3 or 4. Until last season Jackson’s maximum was 2. VERY IMPORTANT POINT in my view. Also, inheriting a good team doesn’t mean you don’t grow them. Look how he helped superstars mature and be unselfish , jeez he got BJ armstrong to all-star, Red culd never have done that. Jackson wins hands down. . | Posted by
dodoy
on 08.18.2009 | i think Phil is a great motivator and Red was a great tactician. Motivator as a good communicator which a certain play should be executed, while a good tactician should be a good playmaker which also an inventor of a certain play. Red was coaching when players were not as athletic as today. Phil coaches not only on d ability of the player but his status as a player. This is era vs. era. . | Posted by
40inchleaper
on 08.18.2009 | Phil is the greatest motivator in the history of the NBA. he may not have the greatest coaching skills, but he has the asset of bringing the best out of a player . | Posted by
b e n n i e
on 08.18.2009 | Phil is indeed the greatest. He got 2 hall of fame players in MJ & Pippen to learn how mesh their talents together to win rings. He did the same for 2 other hall of fame players in Kobe & Shaq. Plus, he led a team that had starters such as Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown, and Smush Parker into the playoffs. He learned how to manage Kobe. He molded Kobe into the ultimate leader. He taught this 2009 squad that in order to win you have to fail & overcome battles together. He led them to the top, when just a couple years ago they were below the bottom. Sure he’s had 3 of the top 10 players to ever play the game, BUT they had to learn discipline, unselfishness, trust, and hard work from one person..and that person ladies & gentleman is Phil Jackson. Plus the eras we won championships in were different than the one Red won in. Red’s Celtic squad had tons of players, while the Lakers were the only other team around with that talent. In the 90’s the league had Hakeen, Barkely, Malone, and a variety of hall of famers on different squads. In the early 2000s Phil’s teams faced bigger teams & different defenses. And present his Lakers squad battles stacked squads out in the west, plus stellar defense out east. Phil>Red. P.S. Phil still has one or two more left ;-D . | Posted by
dominic
on 08.18.2009 | great coach and motivator, his record speaks for itself. he also had the best players on the planet , jordan pippen shaq kobe . that has alot . |
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