20 Greatest NBA Coaches of All-Time #2

[KingLeoric]

I don't understand how Larry Brown can even be considered for #2 given that he burned bridges everywhere he went and undid a lot of the good things he did via his various antics. Plus he has an epic failure (the Knicks) on his record when Jackson does not.

[Doctor MJ]

Some voters are considering college coaches so I will be brief in stating my reasons why college coaches should have to face a presumption of inferiority. To begin with the college coaches generally enjoy a significant talent disparity over the opposition. The gap between the worst team in the NBA and the best isn't as large as the talent differences seen in most college games.

Second, the significant talent advantages enjoyed by most college coaches combined with the inferiority of college players allow coaches results in games that do not require as many adjustments adjustments. In college, its not uncommon for teams to run the same basic zone throughout the entire game, because college players aren't as smart as NBA players. In the NBA, coaches have to consistently change defensive strategies because players are capable of making quick adjustments.

Third, its much easier to coach in college than in the NBA because of differences in the power structure. In college the coaches have the power but in the pros it belongs to the players. The average college player if he wants to make the NBA has to get along with his coach to get playing time. In the NBA, with guaranteed contracts, teams will generally fire the coach in the case of player-coaches fights. This means coaches have to have a greater degree of psychological savvy in managing player's egos.

Finally, the norm has been college coaches struggle greatly in the NBA. John Calipari, Tim Floyd, and Jerry Tarkanian are just some of the coaches to have been disasters in the NBA.

My vote for number 2 is Phil Jackson. He has coached arguably the greatest single season teams of all time. Second, his teams have consistently been able to repeat as champions. Third, he has enjoyed success with three different cores of players. Forth contrary to his critics in many season Jackson coach teams did not enjoy any significant talent advantages (93, 98, 02). Fifth, with the exception of 04 his teams never suffer upsets.

-Yes there's a bigger talent gap in college, that's why if the coach isn't guiding his team to being in the top 10% or so, it wouldn't be mentioned as a major accomplishment. Within that 5%, they all have fantastic talent.

-I have a tough time buying the whole "NBA players are way smarter, they make adjustments". Do you think Adam Morrison sucks in the pros because he's dumb? Beyond that, most major adjustments come from the coaches anyway.

-The differences in the two games are just that, differences. Each side has different skill sets, and to assume that one is better, is to assume the conclusion. One of the big things is that a coach at the college level is his own GM, and he doesn't have the luxury of inheriting Jordan or Shaq.

-Yes, college coaches do tend to struggle i the pros. For the reasons already specified. The game is different. I will say though: Tim Floyd? You're holding him up as a great college coach? Really? In most of his years his team hasn't been in the Top 32 of college teams.

[Silver Bullet]

I don't understand how Larry Brown can even be considered for #2 given that he burned bridges everywhere he went and undid a lot of the good things he did via his various antics. Plus he has an epic failure (the Knicks) on his record when Jackson does not.

How are the Knicks an epic failure, when he won substantially more games with them than they did right after he left.

[KingLeoric]

I don't understand how Larry Brown can even be considered for #2 given that he burned bridges everywhere he went and undid a lot of the good things he did via his various antics. Plus he has an epic failure (the Knicks) on his record when Jackson does not.

How are the Knicks an epic failure, when he won substantially more games with them than they did right after he left.

No, going from 33 wins with Wilkens/Herb Williams to 23 wins with Brown to 33 wins with Isiah, in consecutive years, is not winning more games with Brown than they did without him.

[WesWesley]

phil jackson absolutley no doubt.

we are in no position to discredit phil jackson because of the talent he has coached. his attitude, demenour, and what not are points that may hurt him if he wasn't such a consumate winner.

[Warspite]

I don't understand how Larry Brown can even be considered for #2 given that he burned bridges everywhere he went and undid a lot of the good things he did via his various antics. Plus he has an epic failure (the Knicks) on his record when Jackson does not.

2 words :

Clippers playoffs

[WesWesley]

I don't understand how Larry Brown can even be considered for #2 given that he burned bridges everywhere he went and undid a lot of the good things he did via his various antics. Plus he has an epic failure (the Knicks) on his record when Jackson does not.

2 words :

Clippers playoffs

Mike Dunleavy?

[penbeast0]

Heck, I can do better than that . . . 2 words

Iverson finals

[WesWesley]

Heck, I can do better than that . . . 2 words

Iverson finals

pen I realize you have a bias toward Iverson, and I can relate to that. I'm not saying Iverson was a role model, or anything like that. I'm not saying he wasn't an inefficient ball hog for much of his career.

What I can tell you though, from a players perspective at least, was that he was feared.