[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Do you guys buy or sell the argument that is made about Phil Jackson’s run as a coach?  He was put into already built teams and simply won championships with MJ, Kobe, Shaq, Pippen, and Rodman.

[KDThunder35Participant]

I agree that Phil was put into extraoridnary position with his teams.  He had the two best shooting guards of all-time in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, which both were just as competitive as they were talented.  Also, having a dominant big like Shaq and and the inside trio of Bynum/Gasol/Odom helped immensely.  Pippen was the ideal do-it-all guy (20+pts, 7 +rebs and 6+ assists in his prime), and Rodman was averaging 18+ rebounds a game.  He had adequate role players for all his championship teams that complimented his star players almost perfectly. 

With that being said, I still am going to buy Phil Jackson as a coach.  He is by far the best ego-manager in all of professional sports.  His cool, calm demeanor and mind games he could play with his players (as well as opposing players) to bring out the best in them is unrivaled.  I don’t think he was the greatest X’s and O’s coach, or in game adjusting coach, but he could squeeze the most out of any player that played for him.

[Russell0WestbrookParticipant]

 Who cares who he had the guy won championships it takes a great coach to win 11 rings no matter who you are coaching. remember Doug Collins couldn’t win with the bulls and Phil came right in and got a 3peat they guy is a great coach and anybody who know about ball knows that. He also trusts his system and players more than any other coach in the history of basketball

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Why could other coaches not maintain the same success? Obviously his system worked incredibly well, and his calm, composed manner in dealing with his team worked wonders. I do not think their is a coach in any sport who took more into account about mental preparation for a game, and dare I say he took a few underachieving teams too much greater levels than they would have gone too otherwise. So, if I had to buy or sell this story, I would sell it as another piece of garbage ESPN is putting on the airwaves to hit someone while they are down. Phil won 11 championship rings as a coach, and even if his teams had amazing players, he was their leader, he was the one they wanted as their coach and he was the one who lead them to the heights they achieved. No one who had ever coached those teams got them anywhere near the level Phil got them too, and while you could argue he was in the right place at the right time, circumstance tends to bring out our strengths or weaknesses. His circumstance just so happened to make him the best coach the NBA has ever had.

[i’m jus so offendedParticipant]

good point Russell, that’s what I love about him, he impliments a system and lets his players try to figure it out on the court….Yes he had a superstars in Kobe, Shaq, MJ and Scottie but he emphasized maximizing the ability of the players surrounding those guys and building trust in those guys….If you guys haven’t you guys gotta read Phil’s book "Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior". Awesome insight to MJ’s growth as a teammate from a self dependant player and just captivating account as his playing career and obviously coaching as well

[Scottoant93Participant]

Some people say the triangle offense made Michael Jordan a better all round basketball player. Phil Jackson was giving great players, but to get those players to respond to your coaching is amazing, and to win 11 championships tops it all off. He deserves all the respect he gets

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