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Is Jackson’s Coaching Legacy Tainted?

The Basketball Universe has been inclined to see Phil Jackson’s NBA coaching career as one of, if not the, greatest in NBA History. Fortunately, it just isn’t so. Although it may seem like he has an impeccable coaching philosophy that continuously leads his teams to the game’s grandest stage, the shroud of luck falls on to his legacy, and I am proud to say that I will be the one to make sense of it all! Michael Jordan made his glorious NBA debut for the Chicago Bulls back in 1984 after the Blazers passed him up for Sam Bowie. At the time, the Bulls were being coached by none other than Doug Collins. Jordan’s first three seasons in the NBA were very similar to Lebron’s, with the exception of a Finals trip for Lebron in 2007.

MJ quickly established himself as one of the games top stars in the years to come. No Phil Jackson… The Bulls had received Scottie Pippen via a trade with the Seattle Supersonics, and used their second top 10 pick to acquire Horace Grant in the 1987 NBA Draft. Still No Jackson… Under the direction and coaching of Collins, the Bulls finished in a tie with Atlanta for second place in the Central Division. In the 88-89 season, Oakley left for New York and Bill Cartwright was brought in to run the center position.

Starting to sound familiar yet?

The team was ready to make a championship push with it’s stars, coaches, and role players meshing nicely. But what happened to Collins? He was fired! Now we see the “glorious” entrance of Phil Jackson, as he takes over the team, that Collins had built mind you, at the start of the 1989-90 season.

Between 1991 and 1998, the Chicago Bulls, with their stars staying put, and role players doing their part, logged 6 Championship runs, all successful.  

An argument could be made saying that Phil was the glue, but it just isn’t logical to say that because we would never have known how Collins would have faired had he remained coach. Collins has admitted that he and Jordan “butted heads” early in Jordan’s career, but that doesn’t mean that Collins wouldn’t have been just as good if not better a coach than Jackson. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the “Great Phil Jackson” isn’t all that great! He had this team handed to him on a silver platter! He had absolutely nothing to do with acquiring the major names, and was rewarded for letting Jordan do what Jordan does!

Fast forward to the 1996-97 season, and we’re headed out West to visit another major NBA Franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers. Via free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to acquire Shaquille O’Neal. With the assistance of a few other noticeable names; Eddie Jones, Eldin Campbell, Robert Horry, and Nick Van Exel, Shaq lead the team to a 56-26 record, the Lakers best record since the 1991 season. Lakers’ President Jerry West made some major Draft Day moves in 1997, acquiring Derek Fisher with the 24th overall, and nabbing Kobe Bryant from from the Hornets, by offering up Vlade Divac. And all was in place for a new Yellow and Purple Dynasty! Keep in mind, without Phil Jackson!  

In the 1998-99 Season, after a run of 3 straight Championships, Michael Jordan decided to call it quits. Upon hearing this Phil Jackson decides to take some “time-off” as well. After hearing about these developments, and having released Del Harris from his Head Coaching position earlier in the season, the Lakers offered Phil Jackson their head coaching position at the start of the 1999-2000 season. The Lakers had made a few trading moves by dropping Jones and Campbell off to the Hornets for a few players, namely Glenn Rice.

So, with new faces in the coaching staff, role players, and veterans (Bryan Shaw, John Salley, Ron Harper, and A.C. Green), and of course their stars in place, the Lakers and new head coach Phil Jackson dominated the NBA for 3 seasons, bringing forth the heralded 3-peat. But, for the life of me I don’t understand why it was so impressive, the Bulls had just accomplished it twice in the 90’s!

Analyzing his coaching career up to this point, Phil has coached nothing but superstars and winners. He has absolutely no experience, or credibility for that matter, in building a team of his own, yet he’s considered the greatest coach of our generation! Again, he receives more undeserved credit.

Now, I get to deliver the ultimate blow! Before the 2004-05 season, after the “Showtime” Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, Shaq went to the Miami Heat. Phil Stepped down as head coach, only to be replaced by Rudy Tomjanovich, who stepped down just over halfway through the season due to health complications. Finishing under .500 at 34-48 (.415 to be exact), the Lakers needed a change. Cue Phil Jackson’s return! After taking a year off, due to the team losing major players and stars and after some major talent along with a few young prospects are brought in the the off-season, Phil was ready to take over again. The Lakers returned to the playoffs that season, only to lose to Phoenix in the first round.

This would be Phil’s first time as a head coach where he has had to build a team and mold them the way he saw fit. Until this past season, where the Lakers shockingly made it to the Finals only to be beaten by the Boston Cetlics, in decisive fashion I might add, Phil’s Lakers were barely .500! In 05-06, they finished at .549, and in 06-07, they finished .512!

Not exactly great coaching numbers right?

No superstars for Phil to hitch his wagon to! I think that this season’s Play-off run was a fluke! For some unearthly reason, the Spurs forgot how to play good defense, and their offense was non-existent!

Phil Jackson is not a legitimate Hall of Fame coach in my opinion. His methods for motivation are that of a first year coach, “Let them motivate themselves, they know what they did wrong”. Sorry Phil, but sometimes a team of youngsters with a superstar who doesn’t act as a leader, have no idea how to get themselves back in the game. They may not understand how to use their emotion to their advantage. And I’m 100% sure that you sitting your butt on the bench and not getting involved is not a sign of you trying to allow the team to figure it out, It’s a sign of you not knowing what to do!

Submitted by: Mark Minguey

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