Who do you guys think is the better coach? Both have worked with 2 legendary franchise player, Kobe and Shaq, and Tim and David Robinson respectively. Both know how to work with players, and I know Phil has more rings, and more playoff wins, but Greg Popovich is currently coaching the most dominant team in sports right now so its controversial.
I'm going to take Phil because of everything he's done. He coached the Bulls to 3 titles then 3 more when MJ came back. He also went to a LA team that could not get past the WCF until he got there and lead them to 3 titles. Gregs a great coach but Phil is better imo
Don't forget, both know how to control the refs.... :-/I'd go with Phil right now, but you really have to wait until Pops is finished to make a comparison.
Popovich.Phil Jackson is all philosofical or whatever and that doesn't always work. Pop is a stay-on-your-ass kindve coach...which is generally the best kindve coach.
Wow. I love how you guys are completely disregarding Phil Jackson's championship teams. People regard Phil as the best coach of all-time up there with Auerbach. He's the freakin Zen Master. His spiritual traits, as well as his amazing guidance to young players has always been great. The guy could handle players like Dennis Rodman on the court, he has over 900 regular season victories, as well as the most of all-time in the playoffs(besides Red). Phil Jackson is the definition of greatness in it's greatest purity. Pesty, Popa has had some good talent around him as well. So when you say "What he's done with the talent he's been given is amazing." Amazes me. He is indeed a great coach, but he has never had a bad team. Neither has Phil for that matter, but you brought it up. Even when Phil Jackson has a mediocre team, with the only player to shout about is Kobe, they still make the playoffs.
Phil Jackson is an amazing coach with tons of experience, but I really like what Pop has done with the talent available. I think Phil is better because of the rings, but it is better to wait until he is finished before stepping back and making this comparison.
I'd take Pop.Phil has more rings but consider the teams he joined to get them: The Jordan Bulls and the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Doc Rivers could win with those teams. Probably. Okay... maybe. Okay... But I'll give Jackson credit for returning to the Lakers even after Shaq left. This will be the toughest test of his career and should be telling of what kind of coach he truly is.Yes Pop has Tim Duncan. Pop is the first to give all his credit to Tim Duncan. So I don't expect Pop to be publishing any books anytime soon. However remember that Pop joined the Spurs BEFORE Duncan arrived. So while it was a fortunate turn for Pop it wasn't really planned. David Robinson was on the team when Pop joined but previous coaches couldn't get David and the Spurs to the Finals.A little off-topic but I just quickly wanted to throw Larry Brown's name into the mix. Brown is the only coach to win the title in the NCAA and NBA. Plus he is never afraid of a challenge in joining young/underachieving teams. He got the Clippers to the playoffs. 'Nuff said.
Phil Jackson. Pop kind of does his thing, sticks to the same old style, and really needs certain types of players to be successful in his system. Jackson is much more versatile with the talent he is given, and through mind games can bring the best out in all players. Not to mention he has basically perfected how the triangle is run and knows how to make tweaks so that every single NBA player can fit in it. He is a master manipulator, and that is what makes him the better coach IMO.
I will select Phil Jackson and his favorite triangle here. Over the past two decades Phil has coached two great dynasty's in the Lakers and Bulls. Lakers won 3 rings - Bulls won 6, it is clear that Phil Jackson can win rings as a coach (won 2 as a player as well). However, what really catches my attention is that he took a nearly talentless squad in the Lakers and has taken them to the playoffs every season. Sure Kobe plays a role but how would Bryant, Odom, and the Lakers fare with a coach like Brian Hill? I don't think many people would say that the Clippers, Hornets, and even possibely the Kings have more talent than the Lakers. Phil and Kobe are making the Lakers a .500+ team every season at this point and time. Popovich has done great things with a single Spurs squad over the last decade but Popovich didn't win as many rings in succesion with one squad. When Jackson coached a dynasty like the Lakers they quickly went off and won 3 rings. Popovich won 4 with Duncan as his superstar. Tim Duncan is arguebely the greatest Power Forward ever to play the game. Surround him with motivated veterans and a near unstopable one-two punch in the backcourt with Parker and Ginobili off the bench then you're bound to win a championship. Popovich of course played a huge role in making this Spurs squad great but if you were to put him on the Lakers right now, they would not make the playoffs. Controlling a superstar is something which many coaches struggle in doing. Phil Jackson dominates this aspect of coaching, he's very much a players coach but still instills in his players what he expects from them on the court. Popovich doesn't have to keep Kobe Bryant in check, he keeps Tim Duncan a very hard working and loyal player in line which is very easy. If I sound like I'm downplaying Popovich I'm not, he's a great coach and Tim Duncan wouldn't have 4 rings without him but Phil Jackson is just more accomplished and simply better.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (coyote @ Jun 24 2007, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Phil has more rings but consider the teams he joined to get them: The Jordan Bulls and the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Doc Rivers could win with those teams. Probably. Okay... maybe. Okay... </div>Then how come both of those teams were known as playoff underachievers before Phil came, and dynasties when he showed up? He's had a lot of talent, but he was the only guy who could take that talent and transform it into championships.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ChuckTheD @ Jun 25 2007, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Then how come both of those teams were known as playoff underachievers before Phil came, and dynasties when he showed up? He's had a lot of talent, but he was the only guy who could take that talent and transform it into championships.</div> I have to agree with you here. A coach is the most vital part of a championship, just look at the past couple of champion coaches: Greg Popovich Pat Riley Greg Popovich Larry Brown Greg Popovich Phil Jackson Phil Jackson Phil Jackson Greg Popovich Clearly dominated by Popovich and Jackson, yet the other coaches were both also great coaches in Larry Brown and Pat Riley. The Lakers and Bulls did struggle going deep into the playoffs before Phil, Jackson brought his triangle offense and winning mentality to these squads and gave them the final rush to a championship. Doc Rivers wouldn't have even gotten them past the first round, Coyote.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jun 25 2007, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to agree with you here. A coach is the most vital part of a championship, just look at the past couple of champion coaches:Greg PopovichPat RileyGreg PopovichLarry BrownGreg PopovichPhil JacksonPhil JacksonPhil JacksonGreg PopovichClearly dominated by Popovich and Jackson, yet the other coaches were both also great coaches in Larry Brown and Pat Riley. The Lakers and Bulls did struggle going deep into the playoffs before Phil, Jackson brought his triangle offense and winning mentality to these squads and gave them the final rush to a championship. Doc Rivers wouldn't have even gotten them past the first round, Coyote.</div>I agree with both you and ChuckTheD to some extent in that I was not being totally sincere when I said "any coach" including Doc Rivers could win with these teams. So in that sense I think both Pop and Jackson are near the top of the list. I still favor Pop though because even though both coaches have had the necessary talent I believe Pop has accomplished more with less. The Spurs team and style has been transformed since their first title (other than Duncan of course). In '99 the Spurs offense completely revolved around Duncan. The defense revolved around the Twin Tower concept. But these days the Spurs have a flexible style that can run with teams like the Suns when necessary and still grind it out with the Pistons, etc.I also don't want to sound like I'm taking credit away from Jackson but isn't Tex Winters his assistant coach recognized as the architect of the Triangle offense? (This is a serious question as I think this is what I've heard in the past but may be wrong). Anyway this isn't really a knock against Jackson though because an important part of being a head coach is surrounding yourself with good people like Winters and PJ Carlesimo.In any case I'd be happy with any of the championship coaches you mentioned (Pop, Jackson, Brown or Riley). So that being said I'd still happily take Pop.
One thing I can guarentee youLakers would be a better ball club with popovich.If you have veteran team Phil is perfect. With a younger team He is a disaster.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo061 @ Jun 26 2007, 02:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>One thing I can guarentee youLakers would be a better ball club with popovich.If you have veteran team Phil is perfect. With a younger team He is a disaster.</div>agreed. I dont like Phil's x's and o's game but he can usually hold a team together with some chemistry.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo061 @ Jun 26 2007, 01:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>One thing I can guarentee youLakers would be a better ball club with popovich.If you have veteran team Phil is perfect. With a younger team He is a disaster.</div>Other way around IMO. Phil is much better at knowing who to push and who to lay back on, and tends to always prod a certain player enough to where he responds very well. He handles young stars extremely well, and unlike Pop who had 3 very selfless stars in Duncan/Parker/Ginobli, Jackson has had to deal with the biggest ego's the game has ever seen (MJ/Pippen/Shaq/Kobe).
