Has any Coach Been More Fortunate than Phil Jackson

I saw a stat that Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich have won a combined 12 of the last 15 championships...that's pretty remarkable

 

He's certainly made the most of his fortune. Other coaches would have squandered their chance. Doug Collins couldn't handle the team, Larry Brown would have left after 2 yrs, etc.

 

Sometimes I think I could have coached one of those Bulls team to a championship. There has to be a point where a team is so stacked with talent that the coach doesn't really factor in that much. Not that the coach won't matter at all, but how many any other half decent coaches could have led those teams to victory?

I've only been watching the NBA since the early 90's so can't comment on coaches before that, but yes, Phil has definitely been the most fortunate in the last 20 years.

I mean LA and Boston were stacked during the 80's, but Phil's been at it for the last 20 years straight. On some level I almost pity the guy because there will always be people who'll say he only achieved those feats because he had a Jordan, Shaq/Kobe combo on his roster. I still think one of his greatest achievements was winning 55 games with a Jordanless Bulls in the 94-95 season.

 

I mean 93/94 season.

Have I always been unable to edit my posts, or is this a recent thing? I thought I used to be able to.

 

Bulls were stacked indeed, along with MJ, another top 50, best rebounder of my lifetime, best career 3 shooters( paxson kerr), 3 point champ (hodges), and argueably the best Euro player at that time in the nba.( kukoc), drazen was a little better, i think. Bj armstrong, and Ron Harper didn't hurt. Almost forgot Horace. Livingston, Purdue, Cartwright.

 

I really don't think Collins couldn't handle the team. I give props to Phil for switching to the triangle, but the main difference between 90 and 91 IMO was the maturation of Grant and Pippen. I think their games would have come around eventually.

But the only folks that are luckier than Phil Jackson are Shaq, Magic Johnson and I wanna say Larry Bird...but the Bias tragedy did happen to him.

 

it's a case where coaching is beyond the X's and O's. it becomes more about personality and being able to bring the best out of a team.

kind of like in school. how some students are more responsive to certain teachers. but yeah, he has been the most fortunate coach ever. RA or Rudy could've coached those teams to just as many championships.

 

Ok there are many arguments against this luck thing:

1) Jordan, Shaq and Kobe didn't win anything before he coached them

2) They didn't win every year.

If jordan and co. or shaq and co. were so dominating that even an idiot could coach them and win, how come they didn't win every year they were together?

I'm not saying PJ wasn't lucky, but a lot of athletes are lucky for having him too. MJ was lucky he came to a team with a good GM who got him Pippen, a great coach and all these other role players. Same for Kobe, he was lucky he got traded to the Lakers during his rookie year. If some moron like Mchale drafted him instead he can say good bye to his 4 rings.

He's both lucky AND good. HOF guys usually are.

 

So what happen if Lakers win it this year .....

and Phil doesnt coach anymore.


Kobe/Lakers doesnt win another championship?

 

1. You realize the Bulls were starting to win before Pippen became a regularly in the rotation. Also were very close to beating the Pistons, before 91, that Pistons team was getting old and were losing valuable players in their championship run.

Shaq and Kobe were probably to of the most dominant players of the generation with or without Phil Jackson.

Most accomplished NBA coach ever, definitely, best basketball coach of all time, no way. I think he benefited from his best players than what they did from him.

 

Maybe Phil retires after winning it this yr ...

takes a year off .....

then coach LEBRON and lead him to 5 rings?



Jordan-Shaq/Kobe-Kobe/Gasol-Lebron that would be crazy shiet.

how many rings would Lebron win with Phil?

 

He had to have something to do with helping the two best players ever (debatable).....become the two best players ever....right?

Not saying they are the best....but.....you get what im trying to say....

 

MJ and Kobe? i highly doubt they needed any pushing to become the best. the only thing PJ did was let them do their thing. in fact, i think it was a bad decision on his part to pull Kobe out of the game when he was on track to beat Wilt's 100 point game.

MJ and Kobe have the work ethic and heart. they play games with a chip on their shoulder. that mixed with talent makes a player the best. a good coach can bring a player like say Aaron Brooks from a nobody to a borderline all-star. i'm not so sure PJ can do it without the elite players in the league.

 

Bet Phil signs a contract for another 5 years.

 

Greatest opportunist in sports.

 

he is going to be Lebron's coach and lead him to at least 3 rings. until maybe Kevin Durant goes into his prime. and then Phil is going to coach KD to a few rings. the guy is going to have an untouchable record of championships by the time he retires.

 

In one word: No.

 

Jordan was losing until Pippen and Grant matured. Once they became studs they won. Once MJ was gone they lost. Once LA had the most talent then won. When they had Kobe and scrubs they lost. They got gifted Gasol and had the most talent again and they won.

 

Yes, because MJ and Kobe came into the already 100% perfect and in the peak of their games

Kobe and MJ's drive to succeed is all their own, however PJ was the one who helped mould them into the players they were meant to be. Kobe came out of highschool, you think he knew how to defend properly and score efficiently the moment he stepped into the court? C'mon now.