Is Phil Jackson Overated?

Question

Who's the best NBA coach ever?
I personally feel Jackson gets a little too much credit as a coach yeah he's good but I think Riley is better. Jackson just has had Jordan and Pippen, and Shaq, and Kobe. Riley on the other hand has done a lot with teams that weren't stocked. Jordan probably would have won 6 rings with any good coach.
I also think Jackson has done a terrible job working out his team's chemistry problems by writing a book to capitalize on Kobe then turn around and coach him and now he's bashing Shaq too. It's like he thinks he's God because he coached Jordan. Not only that but why won't he let Kobe win the scoring race this year he always let Jordan. I don't like Jackson or how he coaches the Lakers and their winning record doesn't really impress me because they have the best player in the NBA, Odom, and the #1 Draft Pick. In fact I feel Riley could have done more with this team in the past 2 years. They should have been 50+ last season and 55-60+ this season.

Answer 1

Yes. Phil Jackson IS overrated. He's been fortunate enough to coach players like Jordan, Pippin, Shaq and Kobe. Sure..he's the ZEN master. But with those players in their prime, Napolean Dynamite could've coached them to an NBA title. By the time Phil got to the Bulls in '89, MJ was already averaging 30 points a game and had been in the league for 4 or 5 seasons. He also got Shaq 7 or 8 years into his NBA career. The true test would've been if he coached Memphis, Atlanta or some team that is constantly below .500. Jackson used the same approach (the Triangle) with every team.

Riley on the other hand had Magic and Kareem but he also won a championship with Dwayne Wade and a no longer dominant Shaq. He also changed his style from the 'fast-break' oriented Lakers to the slow but physical Knicks and took them to the finals. Although they didn't win, he still gave them their best record in Knicks history. He's easily done the best with the pieces he's had to work with.

Answer 2

Red had Bill Russel, Jon Havlichek, Bob Cousey, etc.. these guys are some of the best ever. In the early 90's when Riley's Knicks signed Derrick Harper everyone thought the Bulls had no chance.
Phil dosen't let Kobe have the freedom Jordan had because Kobe ain't Jordan. You have to remind Kobe there are 4 other people on the court.
Phil had Jordan and Pippen and a lot of "B" players, except Rodman, and they crushed people. Listen to sportswriters and they claim Pippen wasn't that good, so they say. Phil won 9 rings with teams that only had 2 great players. Other teams may be deeper, but they can't win, Phil wins.

What teams have won the championship with less talent than the Bulls, at any given time they had 2-3 dudes on the floor who weren't even looking to shot.

Answer 3

Isn't Everyone Overrated To Some Extent? I suppose Mike Brown and Doc Rivers Are Overrated, But Phil Jackson? Are You Serious? Yea, Maybe He Hasn't Coached A Developing Tea, But Still, He's Phil Jackson For God Sakes! Best Coaches In The NBA. Phil Jackson Gregg Popovich Jerry Sloan Don Nelson Larry Brown

Answer 4

No. Phil Jackson is not overated. Just because he had Jordan and Pippen and Shaq and Kobe, doesnt mean he got lucky. What if Jordan and Pippen didn't work well? What if Shaq and Kobe flopped before their 3 titles? He also was able to incorporate many different role players on each team. We probably wouldn't have heard of Tony Kukoc or guys like him if it weren't for the Zen master. I'm not a fan of his Lakers team (Sixers fan), but they did win a title. Phil Jackson is a very good coach. He's not the best coach ever, but he's definitely in the top 5.

Answer 5

In my opinion, I don't think Jackson's that overrated. People think that just because you have a superstar (or two), that they will win championships for you. It's true that Phil's had many great players on his teams (Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe), but it's about meshing the team chemistry that makes it work. He's definitely had his bad years too. Remember the '03-'04 season? The Lakers had Kobe, Shaq, Malone, AND Payton...but still lost in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons. It wasn't a matter of superstardom on the team; I feel that it was the coach's fault for not making that Lakers team a very cohesive squad. I see a lot of potential in this year's Lakers team, but not so much last year. This year, they are passing the ball a lot better; Kobe's dishing out to the open man (as opposed to chasing another scoring title; he's finally got one under his belt, so he doesn't need to worry about it anymore); and of course, his teammates are making the open shot.

Sure, having the #1 draft pick of 2001 (Kwame Brown) looks nice, but see how big a flop he was in Washington? Even last year, Kwame didn't perform that well. But now, because of the brilliant (and patient) coaching staff, I can see Kwame contributing big minutes for the Lakers. Even without Lamar Odom, the team's doing quite well. They're in the midst of a 4-game winning streak, and they beat Dallas (who had a 13-game win streak) just this past Sunday.

Kudos to the Lakers!

Answer 6

I don't think you know the game of basketball and everybody else that says Phil is overrated does not know the game, either. Phil Jackson is the best coach to coach in the league. Red had a team full of stars. Pat had a team full of stars. Phil had 2 stars and the rest roll players. Look at both his teams. Kobe and Shaq, then who else. Mike and Scottie and who else. You have to bring order to your star players before your team can be great. Everyone knows Mike ran the Bulls but who ran Mike. It looked like Mike was in control but kept Mike calm. Mike did not win until Phil came. Shaq did not win until Phil came and it was obvious who won for the Heat last year and it was not Shaq and Pat. They had a super star that was on fire and played a weak Dallas team.

I think you are a Phil Jackson, Laker hater. They are in second place WITHOUT THERE BEST PLAYER and it is because Phil has talked to the go-to-guy about his basketball sense. Look at the game smart guy. You should do a little more analyzing before you make brash and give unreasonable opinions. . . SMART GUY!

Answer 7

Finally!! Someone else besides me who thinks that Phil Jackson is way overrated!! OF COURSE HE IS!!!! Everyone he has coached, when he got there,all the pieces were all ready in place. The Bulls would have won 6 championships with a pile of dog crap!!! The Lakers would have won 3 in a row with my friend's cat's kitty litter box!! Phil Jackson is a mediocre coach who has approached every team with the same gameplan: The Triangle. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought the Earth was a triangle!!! Phil is a horrible coach!!! Here is what a triangle actually is (at like mathgeek.com or whatever)!!!

Answer 8

Well I used to think so. I mean when you have Michael "the king, yeah king" Jordan on your team, how can you lose. Then you are on a team with Shaq. However, now with no real stars to speak of, he has them playing fairly well. I mean even in spite of Kobe, they are hanging tough. With Kobe's locker room attitude, his tattle tale antics and his completely and utter lack of street credit, it is a wonder that they win at all.

But I digress. I do not think that Phil is over-rated, however, despite less titles, I do put him below Riley. They are both very good coaches, however, they can't hold a candle to Don Nelson or even PJ Carlisimo for that matter.

Answer 9

I guess people forget that Red Auerbach won 8 consecutive championships w/o players the caliber of Jordan and Bryant. Phil gets a little too much credit. He was just lucky enough to always have the very best the league had to offer.

Answer 10

Phil Jackson is not overrated coach. I watched him for years the Bulls coach and out smarting Riley almost routinely with him Zen type approach.