I said Lakers in 7 in the predictions thread, mainly because I figured Kobe would will them to the top when it came to crunch time. After one game (and it is only one game), the Magic may be lucky to get a single game at their place.

Won 100 bucks tonight and have another 100 riding on the Lakers to win it all.

I'm not a Kobe fan but he gets that eye of the tiger look and it's usually over. Jordan is the only other that has had it in my time. I like LeBron but it's a no brainer for me if I want a guy to close a game out I'm going with Kobe.

Smackdown tonight! 1 game and the home team seems to be hard to beat. Orl will be a hard out at their place but they got dominated the 2nd half of this game!

That is one argument, but I won't use it. Phil does nothing. He sits the entire game and maybe whistles a time or two. What has he ever accomplished that he wasn't suppose to. It is easy to win when you only coach talented teams.

 

Another thing is that he will probably go down as better than Aurbach. That is garbage. Auerbach changed the game of basketball when he drafted Bill Russell. Post play never would have developed as quickly defsively without old Red and Russell. What has Jackson ever accomplished besides watching 4 of the greatest basketball players of all-time win titles for him?

 

And mainly I'm a fan of records staying where they belong.

 

This is an arguement that will never be finished, but you act like Auerbach didn't have amazing talent playing for him as well. So what if Phil Jackson doesn't get up and scream at his players? Maybe he has a different coaching style. Maybe his players are mentally prepared because of the way that he runs his practices and things before the game.

 

There have been a lot of coaches in the NBA who have had great, unbelievable, and amazing talent and still couldn't bring home titles. Like him or not, think he is overrated or not...it takes more than just great players to win (soon to be 10) NBA titles.

 

And if you are a fan of records staying where they belong? To me that just seems like an ignorant statement. If this went along with talking about the HR record with steroids, I would agree with you. But saying that and encompassing everything with it, I don't see the point in us still having sports?

This is an arguement that will never be finished, but you act like Auerbach didn't have amazing talent playing for him as well. So what if Phil Jackson doesn't get up and scream at his players? Maybe he has a different coaching style. Maybe his players are mentally prepared because of the way that he runs his practices and things before the game.

 

There have been a lot of coaches in the NBA who have had great, unbelievable, and amazing talent and still couldn't bring home titles. Like him or not, think he is overrated or not...it takes more than just great players to win (soon to be 10) NBA titles.

 

And if you are a fan of records staying where they belong? To me that just seems like an ignorant statement. If this went along with talking about the HR record with steroids, I would agree with you. But saying that and encompassing everything with it, I don't see the point in us still having sports?

 

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Like him or not Phil gets the job done. He coaches the players that he has to work with and always seems to develop them into really good players. Look at the Lakers when he left them for 2 years...They were quite bad if I recall. He is a great coach who gets the most out of all of his players.

Kobe doesn't seem happy at all in the presser. Not a good sign for the Magic.

 

I didn't watch it, but what did he seem unhappy about?

This is an arguement that will never be finished, but you act like Auerbach didn't have amazing talent playing for him as well. So what if Phil Jackson doesn't get up and scream at his players? Maybe he has a different coaching style. Maybe his players are mentally prepared because of the way that he runs his practices and things before the game.

 

There have been a lot of coaches in the NBA who have had great, unbelievable, and amazing talent and still couldn't bring home titles. Like him or not, think he is overrated or not...it takes more than just great players to win (soon to be 10) NBA titles.

 

And if you are a fan of records staying where they belong? To me that just seems like an ignorant statement. If this went along with talking about the HR record with steroids, I would agree with you. But saying that and encompassing everything with it, I don't see the point in us still having sports?

 

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. But, Red did change the way the game is played by drafting Russell. Those Celtic teams were great and that had alot to do with the talent.

 

Like I said, he has never won a title that he didn't have the best team, talent wise, in the league. Jordan and Pippen, Shaq and Kobe.

 

You don't have to yell and scream, but you do need to do something. Letting teams play through adversity can work, but why do it in the playoffs? The playoffs give you enough adversity and challenges as it is, why lose games because you are to stubborn to do things that every other coach in the world would do, like call a time out and regroup.

 

Great coaches over-achieve. When has Phil done that? He runs away as soon as his team doesn't have the star power to win a championship. Him and Pat Riley are in the same boat for me. It is easy to be the coach when you have two HOF players, not so easy when you are coaching a team that would struggle to make the playoffs.

 

As for records it is a personal preference, you don't have to like it. I like the fact that Chamberlain set the record for points in a game, Cal Ripken's consecutive wins streak, etc. I like it. You don't have to.

:thumb:

 

 

Like him or not Phil gets the job done. He coaches the players that he has to work with and always seems to develop them into really good players. Look at the Lakers when he left them for 2 years...They were quite bad if I recall. He is a great coach who gets the most out of all of his players.

 

He does not coach the players he's left with. He runs away when the talent does. You think he's still in LA had Kobe forced that trade? No way.

Those Laker teams were quite bad because they had no players around Kobe and he was going from the role of sidekick to leader of the team. Not because of Phil's absense, IMO. Many other coaches could have won the titles he's won, with the teams he's had.

 

The mind games he plays probably had some role in the Kobe/Shaq fued. Jordan was so basketball cerebral that he thrived off of that. Kobe as a mature 30 year old likes that. Maybe he doesn't do any real coaching now because he realizes that the teams are better when he just stays out of the picture.

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. But, Red did change the way the game is played by drafting Russell. Those Celtic teams were great and that had alot to do with the talent.

 

Like I said, he has never won a title that he didn't have the best team, talent wise, in the league. Jordan and Pippen, Shaq and Kobe.

 

You don't have to yell and scream, but you do need to do something. Letting teams play through adversity can work, but why do it in the playoffs? The playoffs give you enough adversity and challenges as it is, why lose games because you are to stubborn to do things that every other coach in the world would do, like call a time out and regroup.

 

Great coaches over-achieve. When has Phil done that? He runs away as soon as his team doesn't have the star power to win a championship. Him and Pat Riley are in the same boat for me. It is easy to be the coach when you have two HOF players, not so easy when you are coaching a team that would struggle to make the playoffs.

 

As for records it is a personal preference, you don't have to like it. I like the fact that Chamberlain set the record for points in a game, Cal Ripken's consecutive wins streak, etc. I like it. You don't have to.

 

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I respect your opinion, I have just never agree with or fully understood this arguement that people try to make. Maybe I am a little bias, growing up with the 90's Bulls teams and watching all their games. But the difference between Pat Riley and Phil Jackson is that Phil continually wins with those good players. You can't say the same about Pat Riley.

 

I like Cal's consecutive game (not wins lol) streak too, but are you saying that you aren't going to like it if someone else who plays the game the right way tops it? Or the same with Chamberlain's, Pete Rose's, Nolan Ryan's, or anyone elses?

He does not coach the players he's left with. He runs away when the talent does. You think he's still in LA had Kobe forced that trade? No way.

Those Laker teams were quite bad because they had no players around Kobe and he was going from the role of sidekick to leader of the team. Not because of Phil's absense, IMO. Many other coaches could have won the titles he's won, with the teams he's had.

 

 

What about the two years in Chicago after Jordan retired (for the first time)? He stayed and they were still pretty successful.

 

I also believe that there are many other coaches how would not have won the titles that he has won with the teams he's had. It's an arguement that will never be solved. But in the end, he will be a HOFer and will continually be brought up in the converstaion of "Best ever coaches in the NBA".

I honestly believe that after this series we all will be saying that Kobe is the best in the game. It just looks like he has that fire and will not let his team lose. BUT, as for the Magic, we might be looking at the Spurs of the east over the next few years. They are SOLID and will only get better with experience.

I am not sure I quite understand your comparison of the Magic and the Spurs?

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA, and he proved it last night. The Orlando Magic proved, that if Kevin Garnett hadn't of hurt himself, we'd be seeing another Celtics/Lakers final.

Kobe Doin' Work... The look he had in his eyes last night is bad news for the Magic. Nobody on that team can guard him.

Kobe Doin' Work... The look he had in his eyes last night is bad news for the Magic. Nobody on that team can guard him.

 

Very aggressive. He attacked the basket a little more than I expected.

 

I think the Lakers are licking their chops now that they have a matchup against a team that doesn't play physical.

I am not sure I quite understand your comparison of the Magic and the Spurs?

 

That team that has a 10 year run. Not total domination but you know that every 2-3 years they will be back in the finals and will be in the discussion every year as a contender.