Let it go.
Let it go.
Eventually.
Since the players & coaches haven't had the chance to enjoy their victory parade yet, even the "official" celebration isn't over!
I also agree that this thread should be retired. There is no question that Kobe moved into a different echelon in the NBA historical pecking order with this win (as did Gasol though much further down the ladder. Phil has helped his game.). I don’t like Kobe, nor do his teammates by the looks of that celebration, but he had the eye of the tiger all year particularly in the playoffs.
The coach just may be the greatest ever based on the type of NBA narcissist that has to be managed today versus the “regular” guys Red assembled around Russell. It is true Red did much more to run the organization than Phil (who appeared disinterested last year but animated this year). The era differences make this great fodder for discussion. Red was the inventor of the swagger with that cigar and is an icon in my hall of fame.
Sadly, Garnett’s injury prevented the Laker’s win from meaning more to them and the LA fans here I suspect secretly agree just as the C’s 2 wins against Houston in the 80’s diminished our pleasure some. What is better than beating the Lakers? We have so much experience doing it. (hey gotta keep the shots coming!)
That said congrats to them. They were the best team this year. I hate to agree with Lamar, but the Celtic guys he mentions should man up to acknowledge the championship. We may hate it but it does help sustain the rivalry. Hope to see you next year.
[quote]Just the facts... wrote:
here's an article froma an unbias source at ESPN that you might enjoy:
quote]
Of course I am very proud that this thread has lasted well over 6 months. I can agree with some of you and disagree with others but I do know that there is NO SUCH THING AS AN "UNBIAS SOURCE AT ESPN"!!!!!!!!!
Long hail the
Endless
Sports
Propoganda
Network
ripvanracer wrote:
...I do know that there is NO SUCH THING AS AN "UNBIAS SOURCE AT ESPN"!!!!!!!!!
Long hail the
Endless
Sports
Propoganda
Network
While your sense of humor is amusing, you're using it to polish over the main point: regardless of what you think about ESPN's objectivity, they are probably a bit more neutral regarding Auerbach's historical coaching legacy than his own children!
Lamar L.A. wrote:
While your sense of humor is amusing, you're using it to polish over the main point: regardless of what you think about ESPN's objectivity, they are probably a bit more neutral regarding Auerbach's historical coaching legacy than his own children!
I would agree with that.
(Unless, for instance they would want to hype up a propagandist media blitz about a certain player who is on the lakers that espn has been showing a special about constantly the last couple weeks which I have not watched)
The undisputed NBA champions (unlike the weak Celtics team last year), addressing their fans after the victory parade:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2009/06/17/nba_20090617_kobe_speaks.nba/
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers and Phil Jackson, who has now firmly established himself as the greatest coach in NBA history!
Lamar L.A. wrote:
regardless of what you think about ESPN's objectivity, they are probably a bit more neutral regarding Auerbach's historical coaching legacy than his own children!
Agreed. Also overly biased would be the opinion of Phil Jackson who stated there was no fair comparison between the two of them. Of course, it could be just that he is very modest. Or right.
Fred Bigelow wrote:
...Phil Jackson who stated there was no fair comparison between the two of them.
Actually, the comparisons are quite fair.
- Phil has won 10 titles in 18 years; Red won 9 titles in 20 years.
- Phil has a better regular-season winning percentage than Red
- Phil has a better playoff games winning percentage than Red
- Phil's team established the best single-season NBA won/lost record at 72-10
- Phil accomplished all of this in a league that is over twice the size of Red's NBA, with much greater competition and more levels of the playoff system to trip you up
Fred Bigelow wrote:
Of course, it could be just that (Phil) is very modest.
Bingo.
Once again it really isn't rocket science, but I have no doubt that the bitter Celtics fans feel that it is!
No doubt Jackson is a great coach and deserves the accolades he is receiving for his unprecedented accomplishment. But my last sentence in my previous post was accurate. The times are very different now than when Auerbach was coaching and managing his team. Phil's a smart guy and he realizes this.
Fred Bigelow wrote:
The times are very different now than when Auerbach was coaching and managing his team.
Yes, they are. I think that is the underlying principle behind the entire debate: Jackson did this when it was even MORE difficult than it was during Auerbach's era.
Though some would suggest the current abundance of teams waters down the competition compared to Auerbach's day.
Not Exactly! wrote:
Though some would suggest the current abundance of teams waters down the competition compared to Auerbach's day.
If that's the case, "some" would be mistaken. There are a LOT more men playing organized competitive basketball than there were 40 years ago. As a result, it's a hell of a lot tougher to win a championship in a 30-team league than it is a 10-team league!
What Red did was to bring in a number of great black players at a time that many other teams, like the St. Louis Hawks, were unwilling to bring them in. He also brought in some great white players, like Cousy and Havlicek and Nelson and later Bird and McHale. But he did this in Boston of all places and that gave the Celtics an enormous edge. Later on, in the 90s after the Len Bias fiasco the Celtics seemed to revert to the white player model and fell behind the NBA. Just look at their string of terrible draft picks. There is no one as good as Phil at managing today's egos. Look what he did with Kobe. When it was clear that Kobe's ego would keep him from greatness, Phil came back after a year of disaster for Kobe and let him shoot as much as he wanted. 81 pts the high. Kobe saw that it wouldn't get him the championship and he had it out of his system. Then Kobe was ready to help build a championship TEAM.
