"The best coach in the league (and its not even close) is Gregg Popovich"

[ShoogarBear]

Pop is not a whiner like Phil.

On that, even Laker Fan must agree.

[Extra Stout]

I disagree - Gasol (up until the finals) has played like a superstar. He's been undefendable for the most part in the playoffs. There's been nothing done by Phil to make that happen - Gasol hangs out by the rim and get's dunks and tip-ins. What magical strategy did Phil employ to make that happen? If you think for a second that Gasol hasn't been one of the best big men in the playoffs, you are suffering from denial. Fact is that Phil has had nothing to do with the gifts he's been given for players. Is that his offense that he's running? Are you going to tell me that he's come up with a masterplan on defense? Please tell me why and how Phil is such a great coach.

Absurd. Pau Gasol is the same player he has always been -- an All-Star-caliber forward. He is not a superstar. He has scored a lot in the Lakers' offense because he fits in like in a glove. The "magical strategy" Phil and his staff have employed is the triangle. Nothing has changed there. Gasol just is great in the triangle and has picked it up very quickly. Part of that is probably that he's fairly smart, and part of that is that his coaches have done a good job acclimating him.

And thanks again for explaining that Phil Jackson is not a general manager who acquires players. What does that have to do with being a coach again?

This is really simple:
Good coaches + good players = winning
Good coaches + bad players = losing
Bad coaches + good players = mediocrity

You will find cases here and there where good players carry a mediocre coach to a Finals berth. But nine championships? Ridiculous.

Jackson with these Lakers has done everything that can be asked of a coach to mold young talent and veterans together into a cohesive unit, and nurture a rebuilding team back into contention. (Don't pretend that this Lakers team was languishing before the Gasol trade. They were already good.) This is what critics used to say separated a coach like Larry Brown from PJ. Now he has answered those critics. And all you bitter little people can do is render some lame excuse about how Pau Gasol is the second coming of Shaquille O'Neal, and Derek Fisher is Oscar Robertson or something.

Even with all that, after you take it all into consideration, Pop may still be the better coach. But you bitter, hating homers add nothing to the discussion.

[Kermit]

Tim was drafted... with the #1 overall pick in the draft. Yeah, of a diamond in the rough Pop found there.

I can count the number of coaches who won championships without great players on one finger. Larry Brown. 2004 Pistons. I guess he's the only decent coach the league has ever seen.

Lenny Wilkins?

[Extra Stout]

Lenny Wilkins?

You're spending some time in the wayback machine there.

[Kermit]

True. That's the only one I could name off the top of my head.

[romad_20]

sghahrem (3 hours ago) Report Violation I can read what this guy has to say all day long. it really is one of the most interesting articles I have ever seen on ESPN.com period, I am surprised there arent any features on it on the Front Page, or at least the NBA front page.

Its funny to see average user's posts, and what they think is correct based on their small sample size predictions, and then compare it to someone who makes millions of dollars betting on these things, and has an entire personal database that he uses to predict outcomes. I told my father about the article, and told him that he made a claim about who was the best coach in the NBA. my father's response was "if he says anyone other than Gregg Popovich, hes a moron." (we are laker fans by the way) Then when he read it, he said "So I guess he DOES know what hes talking about."

About the Doc thing that conradrosenbaum says below me, its funny that you mention that, because I was thinking about it last night, as Doc was thoroughly teaching Phil Jackson what coaching was (wow, I never thought I would type THAT sentence in sincerity), but in all fairness Doc has not ever coached as well as he has in these Finals, and that includes the rest of the playoffs (but then again, I have only seen a handful of Celtic games this year, and only seen Doc Rivers games a few times prior to this year).

I also said a month ago that Doc Rivers coaching against Mike Brown was like a "Chess match between a brick and a rock."

From a laker fan on ESPN.COM

[Reggie Miller]

My opinion on this is pretty well do ented.

As a combat veteran (which I am), Pop is the only NBA coach that I have any respect for, at all. Phil Jackson is a manipulator and opportunist, as is Larry Brown, etc.

It's hard to explain. Pop reminds me of all of the good field grade officers I have met. You have to have that inner core of authority to command the respect of other men. Pop has it. Jackson, Van Gundy, Riley, etc. do not demamd/command respect. I don't mean that they are inferior at the other aspects of their job(s), but thet do not command respect in the sense that I mean. I do not believe that they are capable of leading me into a life or death struggle.

Pop is a great leader. Don't forget it. Spurs' fans have been damn lucky to have him. Yes, he has always had at least one superstar since he assumed control as coach. Call me crazy, but who cares...

[genomefreak13]

What has Gregg Popovich ever done without Tim Duncan?

Duncan was never in the league of a michael jordan or a Shaq with a kobe bryant.

What was Jackson doing when he was left with only Kobe in his purse?

Oh yeah nothing...Pop was winning championships..