There isn't a single team in this league that Phil Jackson can't improve from their current status. His ability to get his teams to play cohesive ball on the offensive end of the floor and execute at a high level is second to none. Every reasonably talented team Phil has ever acquired has been the best offensive team in the league. Maybe not always numerically, but going into the playoffs you wouldn't any other team to play offense for you. Another thing that seperates Phil from everybody else is how he prepares his team mentally. The two biggest indications of mental toughness is not self destructing when faced with adversity and ability to win on the road. Phil's teams are all tough as hell, never choke and never struggle to win on the road. That's why he has the ridiculous playoff record that he does. He also maximizes his roleplayers. Just look at LA's bench this season.
Finally, I don't know where this talk of his teams not playing D comes from. Look up the defensive numbers of the Bulls and Lakers during the years they won championships or went deep in the playoffs. Top 10 or better in all the major categories. Bulls often Top 5 in fact.
Would Phil Jackson win a title with the Nuggets or Pistons?
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TommyTheCat
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Dr Aki
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i actually think he couldve coached denver and detroit to rings
detroit for obvious reasons already mentioned
but if jackson was in charge, he wouldve got denver to make that deal for artest
given the time and trust, i dont think its such a stretch to see a team of camby, kmart, artest, melo and AI run the triangle properly especially if melo and AI subscribed to sharing the ball so long as there are sufficient isolation plays run for them in the context of the triangle
even if artest wasnt dealt for, jr smith is still a servicable SG seeing as jackson prefers long guards/forwards to create mismatches in the post
its all a question of whether there was sufficient defense (and discipline) to make a real playoff run
denvers only true weakness (/w artest) wouldve been if a center had the ability to take camby away from the paint
detroit for obvious reasons already mentioned
but if jackson was in charge, he wouldve got denver to make that deal for artest
given the time and trust, i dont think its such a stretch to see a team of camby, kmart, artest, melo and AI run the triangle properly especially if melo and AI subscribed to sharing the ball so long as there are sufficient isolation plays run for them in the context of the triangle
even if artest wasnt dealt for, jr smith is still a servicable SG seeing as jackson prefers long guards/forwards to create mismatches in the post
its all a question of whether there was sufficient defense (and discipline) to make a real playoff run
denvers only true weakness (/w artest) wouldve been if a center had the ability to take camby away from the paint
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ninetyone4ever
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What I don't like about this kind of question- which gets asked alot- is that it takes for granted that most championship teams have one of the top 5 or 7 players in the league if not more. The possible execption to this is the '04 Pistons, (who arguably had the deepest team in the playoffs that year although they didnt have the major stars) The '04 Pistons had the advantage of becoming the first team in awhile to win primarily by grinding defense, which the league wasn't used to, and also playing the circus show that was the '04 Lakers in the finals... the team by that point hated each other and was ripe for an implosion.
The better question to ask is would have Phil's previous teams won championships- or as many- with a different coach. I believe MJ would have got at least 1 or 2 rings in his career even if Roseanne Barr was coaching the team, but I'm not sure that group pulls together as well without a leader like Phil and wins 6 in 8 years. Likewise, the Lakers were always on the verge under Del Harris and Kurt Rambis but couldn't close the deal until Phil was brought on. I'm not sure of the '00-'04 Lakers win any without Phil... especially the first against Indiana. The change in their play from the last year under Kurt Rambis to Phil's first season was incredible.
A coach does not win championships on his own. By the same token I dont believe great teams are a sole product of their players. It's a kind've magic that happens when a GM knows what he's doing and can not only hire the right guy to X and O coach the players he has but can also manage the personalities. Phil does both very well.
I think he had a little something to do with this young Lakers squad making the finals this year as well.
The better question to ask is would have Phil's previous teams won championships- or as many- with a different coach. I believe MJ would have got at least 1 or 2 rings in his career even if Roseanne Barr was coaching the team, but I'm not sure that group pulls together as well without a leader like Phil and wins 6 in 8 years. Likewise, the Lakers were always on the verge under Del Harris and Kurt Rambis but couldn't close the deal until Phil was brought on. I'm not sure of the '00-'04 Lakers win any without Phil... especially the first against Indiana. The change in their play from the last year under Kurt Rambis to Phil's first season was incredible.
A coach does not win championships on his own. By the same token I dont believe great teams are a sole product of their players. It's a kind've magic that happens when a GM knows what he's doing and can not only hire the right guy to X and O coach the players he has but can also manage the personalities. Phil does both very well.
I think he had a little something to do with this young Lakers squad making the finals this year as well.
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Phil Jackson
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Funny as hell. That never gets old.