Clutch City 01
09-03-2009, 02:11 PM
Phil Jackson (1,041-435, 70.5%)
Jackson's 10th title this year broke a tie with Auerbach, but it's not only an extra ring that separates him from the other 315 coaches in NBA history. Sure, he's coached enormous talent, but he's also managed enormous egos and earned ultimate respect from his players — the toughest part of being a coach in the modern era. His motivational techniques are as effective as they are unorthodox, and his tactical abilities (especially the adjustments he makes during playoff series) are far underrated. Combine his Zen Master persona with his unmatched success, and you have a coach who's truly one of a kind.
Red Auerbach (823-426, 65.9%)
There are those who try to diminish Auerbach's coaching legacy by saying he rode Bill Russell's coattails to nine championships in 11 years, much as Phil Jackson is said to have benefited from the likes of Michael, Shaq and Kobe. That's nonsense, for it was Red who — in an age of offensive basketball — best understood the importance of defense and thus orchestrated a pre-draft trade for Russell, still the greatest defensive center in league history. He also stressed conditioning more than his contemporaries and instilled a team-first dynamic that never wavered, regardless of personnel. If you include his four decades in Boston's front office as an expert talent evaluator, Red tops any list of the most influential non-players in the history of the game. But on a list strictly based on coaching achievements, he's No. 2.
Pat Riley (1,210-694, 63.6%)
With his Armani suits, slicked-back hair and year-round tan, Riley's always been known for his style as much as his substance. But nothing should overshadow this fact: The guy could flat-out coach. He won with finesse (the Showtime Lakers), then won with power (Pat Ewing's Knicks and Alonzo Mourning's Heat). His fifth championship, with Dwyane Wade and Shaq in 2006, was a mix of the two styles. If anything, his flashy persona enhanced his coaching career. It helped him get the attention and earn the respect of his star players. And when you work in Los Angeles, New York and Miami, looking good never hurts.
Link has all 10 on the list.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/pgStory?contentId=9959472#sport=NBA%20Tipoff&photo=9955452
Jackson's 10th title this year broke a tie with Auerbach, but it's not only an extra ring that separates him from the other 315 coaches in NBA history. Sure, he's coached enormous talent, but he's also managed enormous egos and earned ultimate respect from his players — the toughest part of being a coach in the modern era. His motivational techniques are as effective as they are unorthodox, and his tactical abilities (especially the adjustments he makes during playoff series) are far underrated. Combine his Zen Master persona with his unmatched success, and you have a coach who's truly one of a kind.
Red Auerbach (823-426, 65.9%)
There are those who try to diminish Auerbach's coaching legacy by saying he rode Bill Russell's coattails to nine championships in 11 years, much as Phil Jackson is said to have benefited from the likes of Michael, Shaq and Kobe. That's nonsense, for it was Red who — in an age of offensive basketball — best understood the importance of defense and thus orchestrated a pre-draft trade for Russell, still the greatest defensive center in league history. He also stressed conditioning more than his contemporaries and instilled a team-first dynamic that never wavered, regardless of personnel. If you include his four decades in Boston's front office as an expert talent evaluator, Red tops any list of the most influential non-players in the history of the game. But on a list strictly based on coaching achievements, he's No. 2.
Pat Riley (1,210-694, 63.6%)
With his Armani suits, slicked-back hair and year-round tan, Riley's always been known for his style as much as his substance. But nothing should overshadow this fact: The guy could flat-out coach. He won with finesse (the Showtime Lakers), then won with power (Pat Ewing's Knicks and Alonzo Mourning's Heat). His fifth championship, with Dwyane Wade and Shaq in 2006, was a mix of the two styles. If anything, his flashy persona enhanced his coaching career. It helped him get the attention and earn the respect of his star players. And when you work in Los Angeles, New York and Miami, looking good never hurts.
Link has all 10 on the list.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/pgStory?contentId=9959472#sport=NBA%20Tipoff&photo=9955452