This is between John Kundla, Bill Sharman, Pat Riley, Del Harris, and Phil Jackson. This is going to surprise a lot of people, but my pick goes to Bill Sharman. Wanna know why, read "The Last Season". This guy was an absolute genius. He was one of the only people in the world who could control Wilt Chamberlain. He did this by manipulating him, he would make him feel like the plays they were running were his idea. He basically forced Elgin Baylor out (which ultimately won LA the championship) and got some of the most selfish players of all time to play like a team.Second would be Phil just because he was the only coach who could get Kobe and Shaq to play together, and his utilization of the pieces he had this year was incredible.
Forcing players out and controlling them doesn't make a person the best coach on a team that has one of the best lists of great coaches in the NBA.Phil Jackson is the best coach. His coaching strategies are amazing. I always say the best coaches are the people who played in the NBA, but were nonentities. Phil Jackson probably learned a lot watching his teammates while he didn't have the chance to do much. He was on a Championship Knicks team as a player. He knows the game well. He is the master of secrecy, and suprise.
Phil Jackson with Pat Riley in 2nd..Phil Jackson may be the smartest coach ever. It's almost impossible to beat him out unless maybe, if you go by the name Red Auerbach..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 4 2006, 10:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Phil Jackson with Pat Riley in 2nd..Phil Jackson may be the smartest coach ever. It's almost impossible to beat him out unless maybe, if you go by the name Red Auerbach..</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AirBlaze @ Jul 4 2006, 12:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Forcing players out and controlling them doesn't make a person the best coach on a team that has one of the best lists of great coaches in the NBA</div>Yes it does. Elgin Baylor was a huge detriment to the team. He was one of the biggest ballhogs in NBA history, Sharman was the only guy who could get him to retire. The whole team was full of ball hogs and self centered players, but Sharman worked his magic to get them under control for the 1971-1972 season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 4 2006, 04:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Phil Jackson with Pat Riley in 2nd..Phil Jackson may be the smartest coach ever. It's almost impossible to beat him out unless maybe, if you go by the name Red Auerbach..</div>2nd to quote you, I fee the same way. Except for the Auerbach comment, it's all good.
Probably Phil Jackson, he won games with Samaki Walker as a starter, that's just as impressive as those titles
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Jul 4 2006, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yes it does. Elgin Baylor was a huge detriment to the team. He was one of the biggest ballhogs in NBA history, Sharman was the only guy who could get him to retire. The whole team was full of ball hogs and self centered players, but Sharman worked his magic to get them under control for the 1971-1972 season.</div>So? Getting rid of a player or controlling them isn't coaching.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AirBlaze @ Jul 4 2006, 06:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So? Getting rid of a player or controlling them isn't coaching.</div>Getting rid of Baylor wasn't a coaching move, it was a personell move. But coaching in the NBA is all about controlling people. There was so much talent on that team, but so much selfishness, and little to know intelligence. So Sharman was able to get each player thinking he was the leader of the team. Read "the Last Season" if you want to know more.
Fine, I agree with you. But, Sharman wasn't as good a coach as Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. They're masterminds, and in Jackson's case, he controlled Shaquille O'Neal. He advised him to become a better defender and rebounder, and he helped him and Kobe Bryant get along. In his first season with the team, the Lakers won the championship, and did so twice in a row after. Also, he did so on a team of not many stars. As a matter of fact the only stars were Kobe Bryant and Shaq.
1.phil jackson 2.bill sharmanyou have to remember that the lakers of the 80's won a championship without pat riley under coach westhead,westhead was fired because him and magic didnt get along and pat riley was hired,riley is wayy overrated,not to say hes not a good coach but pat riley was in a good situation all the time,but riley did do a good with the knicks in the 90's
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AirBlaze @ Jul 4 2006, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Fine, I agree with you. But, Sharman wasn't as good a coach as Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. They're masterminds, and in Jackson's case, he controlled Shaquille O'Neal. He advised him to become a better defender and rebounder, and he helped him and Kobe Bryant get along. In his first season with the team, the Lakers won the championship, and did so twice in a row after. Also, he did so on a team of not many stars. As a matter of fact the only stars were Kobe Bryant and Shaq.</div>I agree with Phil Jackson (I just said Sharman in my original post to spice things up) but no way is Pat Riley a better coach. The Lakers of the 80's won a championship before he got there and got to the finals after he left. He didn't play a large role in those championships they got.
But he had changed a New York Knicks club, and a Miami Heat club twice, and won a championship with them once.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AirBlaze @ Jul 4 2006, 08:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But he had changed a New York Knicks club, and a Miami Heat club twice, and won a championship with them once.</div>But that wasn't with the Lakers. He was a much better coach after his years in LA.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fouled Out @ Jul 5 2006, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Probably Phil Jackson, he won games with Samaki Walker as a starter, that's just as impressive as those titles </div>Best response in this thread .Phil's the full package, the nice strategies to the mindgames he has it all. Phil immediately came to la and took us from being swept from the jazz and the spurs to winning the whole thing. It's no coincidence.Pat played with guys like Magic, the captain, james worthy, Cooper and Scott to name a few. Outside of kobe and Shaq, that team was much more superior. As Fouled, he somehow how with samaki starting. That's freaking amazing.Now me being a Jax homer doesn't cloud my judgment, atleast we have one G.O.A.T on the lakers.
