Jackson’s Quest For Immortality
By Paulie Knep
Love of Sports Correspondent
It’s often said that coaching a seven-game playoff series in the NBA is like a chess match.
After one game, the coach of the losing team makes an adjustment. If his team wins the next game, the coach of the opposing team responds with a countermove.
With his Lakers down 2-0, then 3-1, and now 3-2 in the NBA Finals, it’s now Phil Jackson’s move.
The “Zen Master” is currently tied with legendary former Celtic coach Red Auerbach for the most NBA championships by a coach, with nine. Jackson’s a master motivator who elicits the most out of his players and is exceptional at bringing individuals together in pursuit of a common goal. He has a tremendous feel for the flow of a game and makes subtle, yet significant in-game and between-game adjustments.
Despite his nine rings, many basketball followers are reluctant to designate him one of the greatest coaches of all time. Critics are quick to point out that each of his championship teams included two of the best players in the league. There was Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen for the first six, then Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant for the last three. He’s never assembled a championship team from scratch or won without a pair of superstars.
While Bryant’s considered by many to be the best player in the league, there isn’t another elite player on the Lakers roster. The team consists of a number of younger players in need of direction, and Jackson’s coaching skills are being put to the test more than they’d been during any of previous championship runs.
After the way in which the Lakers were defeated in Game 2 (the 108-102 score doesn’t capture how lopsided it actually was) and the 24-point collapse in Game 4, it’ll take some masterful maneuvers by Jackson and his staff to put the Lakers in position to make this a series.
The Celtics have outhustled the younger, supposedly deeper, Lakers. They’ve been more aggressive offensively, getting to the line 38 times in Game 2, compared to just 10 for the Lakers, limiting the uptempo Lakers from initiating their transition offense in the process. They’ve also been more physical than the Lakers in the paint.
Defensively, the Lakers haven’t had an answer for Paul Pierce, but their biggest area of concern may be their inept offense. During the regular season and throughout the playoffs, the Lakers were a scoring machine. They created open looks through fluid player movement and passing out of the triangle offense, with Bryant taking over games when necessary.
However, the Celtics’ swarming defense has caused the Lakers to look befuddled offensively, taking them out of rhythm and forcing them to launch ill-advised shots. Bryant hasn’t been able to get into the paint, and all of his jump shots have been contested.
The Lakers’ second and third offensive options, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, haven’t made their presence felt consistently. Gasol’s looked soft compared to Boston’s front line and Odom’s been a non-factor for minutes on end.
Jackson must devise a scheme to tighten up the defense, find a way to create easier shots for Bryant and the rest of the team and get Odom involved in the game. He must inspire the Lakers to attack the basket and play more physically under the boards. Perhaps most importantly, Jackson needs to convince his team they’re still the better team and can win this series.
Sure, the 3-2 deficit is gonna be very difficult to overcome. With so many tactical and psychological moves to be made, Jackson has an opportunity to display how great of a coach he really is.
If the Lakers are able to come back and win this series, he’ll stand alone with 10 championship rings, with the 10th being the most impressive of them all.
The Zen Master has his work cut out for him. With his team one loss from elimination, one false move and its checkmate.
OTHER RECENT BANDWAGON LOVES
Comments
Post a Comment