How much credit does Tex Winter and HIS Triangle offense deserve for Phil Jackson's success? [While he has won with different team . .. never with out good ole Tex] Rocket River
While Tex deserves some credit for coming up with a handy-dandy offensive scheme, I don't think you can take any credit Jackson might rightfully deserve and give it to Tex just because he's an assistant. The mechanics of the triangle are publically known. Rudy T could implement it just as easily and I don't think a portion of the credit for Rudy's success with it should go back to Tex. If credit was owed, then should some credit also go to the guy who developed the jump shot, the pick, the pick & roll, or any other tool that is commonly employed throughout the league? While what Tex has done is a good thing, it isn't coaching, imo. He has developed a tool that coaches can use to try to maximize players' effectiveness. The coach is still the one who has to actually use the tool.
The triangle offense didn't really win titles or anything... Players make the system look good, and in this case, Kobe, Shaq, and MJ, and to a certain extent Pippen, made this offense look decent. Can anyone really define what the triangle offense is? Other than the fact that they have 3 guys on the same side at all time?