In your opinion he's a good coach...but in others opinions (including ones more qualified then yours such as players, other coaches, GM's, and sportswrites), he's a great coach. Maybe you need to ask them why they think a guy who has won two championships and constantly was able to keep his team composed in the face of elimation is a great coach. And I think people who claim Rudy T is soft don't know what they are talking about. Rudy T just doesn't deal with disciplining his players if they become malcontents. He trades them or cuts them. Just ask Vernon Maxwell or Scottie Pippen.
The Laker's Kobe and the Rocket's Francis are differnent situations. Shaq is the most dominating player PERIOD. Subtract that and you substract 30% of the offense. In the past, they would just go to Shaq if the game was close and they were almost instant ponts. Kobe is doing what he can. But the Lakers were so used to giving the ball to Shaq that it's a void. Also, because Shaq demands such a high salery and so dominating, they don't need/cant afford an all-star supporting cast. They just need good players. This would not work for the Kings, Nets, Spurs, or Rockets. The supporting cast must be "very good players" not "good." Remember, the rest of the league was geared up to beat the Lakers WITH Shaq. The Kings and Spurs are better than the Lakers from 1-to-12. The Lakers strength are from 1-5 (heh). Not much depth. But they don't need to have depth with Shaq. The Lakers are now taking Kobe and a bunch of good players against teams that have sometimes three excellent players and a bunch of very good players.
It's called exageration-- the little brother of sarcasm. The point is that having great players makes anyone a much, much better coach. Jackson has had his share: MJ, Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe. Which other coach has enjoyed such wealth? Pat Riley had Kareem and Magic and won some titles, too.
I still believe Jordan would have won with the same Bulls team, even in Phil wasn't there. Both Grant and Pippen didn't even enter the league until '87....give them a few years to mature and you have your championship team. Same thing with Shaq and Kobe, both needed to mature....especially Kobe. As long as the coach isn't some moron.......the greatest players will always win.
.. and you will recall that Phil Jackson passed on the overtures from the nuggets even though he had a daughter at the University of Colorado! Man, Phil gets Shaq, Kobe and Buss' daughter, too!
Do you have a CLUE of what you are talking about? I believe in Shaq's second year in the league, the Rockets and Knicks played in the NBA Finals. Shaq didn't win the Championship until his EIGHTH season. What a coincidence that coincides with the first year Phil Jackson was his coach.
