The REAL Debate: Greater coach: Popovich or Phil Jackson?

Phil's advantage over Pops is his ability to manage personalities. Pops has not had to do that with his group.

They're both great coaches, but it's more likely Phil could have Pop's success with the Spurs than Pops could have had with the Bulls and Lakers.

If that makes sense.

It doesnt.

Oh this will be an interesting thread

quote:

---

Phil's advantage over Pops is his ability to manage personalities. Pops has not had to do that with his group.

---

But he has in the past. If you notice when selfish players go there, they know their role and play team ball. Now while I would go with Phil, Pops commands a certain level of respect that he doesn't even need to do it. If you're on a Pops team, you shut up, play ball, and know that no one is bigger than the team.

I do get the gist of what you're saying though. Pops really hasn't had to deal with superstar players with large egos though. I don't know how a Michael, Kobe, or Shaq would have dealt with sitting for long periods of time when the bench is hot or they aren't playing well. But that's just something we'll never know because their teams are built differently.

quote:

---

Pops really hasn't had to deal with superstar players with large egos though.

---

Stephen Jackson got dumped from the team just before the playoffs. I think Pop knows how to send messages to his players. Phil's had enough success that you can't just dismiss him, but I think Pop is significantly better than Phil.

So the same people that say Duncan > Kobe are going to argue that Pop does it without any superstars?

Also like someone else already said he had David Robinson and Parker.

quote:

---

Stephen Jackson got dumped from the team just before the playoffs. I think Pop knows how to send messages to his players. Phil's had enough success that you can't just dismiss him, but I think Pop is significantly better than Phil.

---

I actually had Steven Jackson in mind when I made my comment but he isn't exactly a superstar. He's had him in the past and Jackson was effective and unselfish in his previous stints there.

quote:

---

And why didn't they have diva attitudes? Was it because they were just great humans or is Pop such a great coach it's easy to buy into his system?

---

Who cares? That has nothing to do with who's the better coach. All that matters is winning.

quote:

---

. I think Pop knows how to send messages to his players.

---

I also think being in SA it is easier to tame personalities without the media attention that is in LA and Chicago.

When questions like this come up I always think of who i rather play for?
I'll take pop

quote:

---

Pop has some bigtime players too, they just dont have bigtime diva attitudes.

---

This. People make it seem like Pop has been racking up wins with a bunch of scrubs + Duncan. So not the case.