scout

I was expecting something like this, front page MSN. I thought the article was slanted, so I googled the author. Co-authored a book with Phil, no bias there.
I would go into detail, but got to catch a plane. I'll check back and add my 02 cents later.
What a freakin' joke.

Phil vs. Red: Who's the NBA's best coach ever? - FOX Sports on MSN

efin98

The article is garbage...

Red came to Boston and it took seven years for him to win his first championship, before he came the team had not had a winning year in their four year existence and went to the playoffs just once.

Jackson came to Chicago and the are ALREADY a deep playoff team. In fact, they were in the playoffs the previous five years and in the conference finals the year before so he INHERITED a team rather than building one. Same holds true for LA- they were a playoff team the previous five years including going to the Western Conference Finals two years before.


Red could have coached another decade, instead he left to focus on building a franchise...which he did. Jackson has been called the ultimate opportunist coach, and his actions after Kobe blew up after the first three championships and after he quit after Jordan retired the second time is proof.

__________________
"As long as we have Belichick, I always think that we're going to be just fine."...Tom Brady, in reference to his coach.

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BadMoFo

Has anyone here even seen Red coach, or is everyone basing their opinion because of who he coached?

I think the same reasons we say Belichick is the best coach ever in the NFL is the same reason Phil Jackson has got to be the best coach ever in the NBA, mostly because it's tougher now than ever before to become a dynasty. With free agency, more teams in the league and the distractions coaches face nowadays, I'd give the nod to a modern-day coach.

Nine teams in the league, never knew that.

Pessimistic Pete

Phil is one of the greatest coaches in sports history, period.

scout

Great documentation and analogy.

sdaniels7114

I got a kick out of how the author said Jackson has assistant coaches, trainers and scouts so its more complicated for him, while Red did everything himself making it easier.

scout

Phil gets credit for coming into an two organizations which were playoff teams, and using his zen magic, gets unruly players to play basketball.......................
Let's buckle up our helmets nice and tight and get into the time machine. The year is 1956, a wonderful time to be an outspoken, intelligent, black man headed to Boston. The first black starter on a championship team was the previous year, 1955. In case anyone forgot, black players were not allowed in all the coffee shops, hotels, etc. A number of times Russell refused to play unless black players where given equal treatment as white players. He was an outspoken proponent of the Civil Rights movement and the first athlete that wanted to be called black vs negro. Not all his teammates felt he was deserving. Tommy Heinsohn thought Russell was causing him to make less money. Russell responded by threatening to quit if he didn't receive a dollar more in salary then Heinsohn. In 1964, the Celtics would have the first all African American line-up. Of course the Civil Rights Act was passed in 64', so away games must have been swell.
I forgot, what were the issues that Phil had to resolve in Chicago?
Red Auerbach, won eight world championships in a row. People want to talk about how much easier it was back then ( we still are in our time machine). Against the L.A. Lakers, which featured the greatest player in the games history, Chamberlain was 7-1, 275 lbs.
He would be still dominant in today's game. Jerry West, still is one of the all-time best guards. Did anyone see how close LeBron came to breaking West's points in a playoff series? Followed up by the best forward in the game, Elgin Baylor. Take these three players in their prime and put them on any of today's NBA teams and they are playing for a championship. They would never beat the Celtics while Red coached them.
Charlie Rosen points out that when Phil started his run there were 27 teams compared to Eight. What he failed to mention was that 14 of those 27 teams had losing records while two broke even at 500.
"It could be said that one basic reason for Red's reign atop the league was Russell perpetually manned the center position". Is there anyone (outside of Boston) who didn't think Chamberlain was the best player in the World? By contrast, is there anyone, anywhere who does not believe that Jordan is the all-time best ever in basketball?
You can't have it both ways.
WTF does paying a $25 fine for challenging a referee vs paying $25,000? Ah Charlie, in the Celtics days, they wore black sneakers to save on washing expenses whereas today players are given new sneakers each game. Not that that has anything to do with who was the better coach, just wanted to point out the vast amount of garbage which is in this article.

NEPatriot

Phil Jackson is the BEST and His record speaks for itself.

scout

Nice rebuttal. Care to enlighten us even more.

Patsfanin Philly

You mean 5-3 in game sevens versus 8-0 for Red?????