POLL: Is Phil Jackson more Laker or Bull?

by olf on Nov 2, 2009 5:44 PM PST

During Sunday night's Lakers vs. Hawk's game FSWest broadcast short interviews with Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Pat Riley describing Elgin's retirement, the 33-game win streek and the first Laker championship in L A. They followed that up by showing a Classic 1972 NBA Finals game - Lakers vs. Knicks.

I only watched a bit of it but it was fun seeing West & Chamberlain out on the court. They look so different than even the 80's Lakers. I was surprised to see a young Phil Jackson out on the floor playing for the Knicks. (I keep forgetting that he has also won two rings as a player.)

To me Jerry West, Pat Riley and even Elgin Baylor will ALWAYS be Lakers even though Riley is in Miami, West was in Memphis and Elgin ran the Clips for many long years. But I realized that because Phil accomplished so much with the Bulls and Jordan that I still think of him as a Bull first. However when you look at it, he has taken the Lakers to 6 NBA Finals and won 4 Championships. So his Laker record is getting close to matching his Bull record.

(Disclaimer: I don't mean this post as a burn against Phil. While noone is perfect, he is obviously a great coach and the Lakers are lucky to have him.)

So now on to the question. . .

Poll

POLL: Do you see Phil as more Laker or more Bull?

He will always be a Bull first.

20 votes

I think of him as a combination of the two but still more Bull than Laker.

56 votes

I think of him as a combination of the two but mostly as a Laker first.

36 votes

He's already primarily a Laker

19 votes

Another ring (or two) and he'll primarily be a Laker.

39 votes

170 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

right now he's definitely more Laker

but when his career is over and he’s 5-10 years removed from the game? Hard to say.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 2, 2009 6:29 PM PST reply actions

right now he’s definitely more Laker

So you think he’s more Laker now but it might tip back to the Bulls or a combination in the years ahead? (Only asking ‘cause I’m surprised by that.)

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 2, 2009 6:59 PM PST up reply actions

well, right NOW he is a Laker...so it's kind of hard not to think of him as one.

but when he leaves the lakers, it’ll be hard to say…

by Nostance on Nov 2, 2009 7:05 PM PST up reply actions

Good point of course. But when I was watching the ring ceremony on opening night it struck me how I considered West, Magic, Worthy, Kareem, total Lakers. But when Phil came up to get his ring I still thought about his accomplishments with the Bulls. I must say though that his Laker accomplishments are piling up.

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 2, 2009 8:19 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, that's what I was getting at.

Right now he’s more Laker, but he’s very much a Bull. After all that’s where he made a name for himself.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 2, 2009 9:38 PM PST up reply actions

Combo, but more Bulls, 6 championships there

"I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan. I only want to be Kobe Bryant,"
-Kobe Bryant

by KobeisGod on Nov 2, 2009 6:37 PM PST reply actions

I think of him as more Bulls too but 6 Finals with 4 trophies is starting to get into Bulls area just a little, don’t you think?

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 2, 2009 7:01 PM PST up reply actions

oops. Sorry, you did say combo, never mind.

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 2, 2009 7:02 PM PST up reply actions

he seems more bullish to me...

with the bulls he got to the finals 6 times and won each time
right now hes leaning towards the lakers side
but when people look back at his career…hes slightly more bullish….

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by shaqfor3 on Nov 2, 2009 9:34 PM PST reply actions

I've always thought of him as a Laker, but

I’m a little biased. Has there been any great coach that has been identified more with the term “coach” than with any specific team? Wooden, Auerbach, Lombardi and Krzyzewski have all been more or less with the same franchise. Perhaps Riley and Jackson are part of a newer wave?

by brianfbb on Nov 3, 2009 1:38 AM PST reply actions

See, I still think of Riley as a total Laker. He played for the Lakers, was a Laker announcer for a few years and of course the 80’s Showtime coach. There is no way his Miami time ever surpasses that.

I also think one of Phil’s “accomplishments” has been to last so long in the volatile Laker environment – especially the Shaq-Kobe era. Any other coach would have been bounced long before Phil.

Around the league Popovich in San Antonio and Jerry Sloan in Utah have been there forever but I can’t think of many others. The rest just seem like journeymen to me. (The Warrior’s coach and Nate McMillan in Portland maybe. Don’t keep that close track, especially in the east.)

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 3, 2009 7:51 AM PST up reply actions

I forgot about Pop.

As for Riley, I see your point in that he played for and did other things for the Lakers, but as a coach? Well, yeah maybe he’s still a Laker. Heat fans probably disagree, but they just retired Tim Hardaway’s number, and have Dan Marino’s (Yeah that one) up there too.

I guess it depends on where you feel where that person’s legacy lies. Baylor, West, and Riley have definitely left their biggest marks as Lakers. Perhaps I feel like Phil’s more Laker because in Chicago, I felt like Jordan was so big, his accomplishments kind of overshadowed Phil’s career there. Or maybe it’s because this is where Jackson retires, or because LA is where he quieted the most doubters by taking a chance on a rebuilding team. Or maybe it’s because he won his 10th ring here, surpassing any other coach in history and breaking Auerbach’s record. Maybe it’s that it’s Hollywood.

Or maybe I’m just biased.

by brianfbb on Nov 5, 2009 4:35 AM PST up reply actions

He has $12 million reasons per year to be more Laker.

by wondahbap on Nov 3, 2009 10:08 AM PST reply actions

Just for the Record

He did reach the Finals 6 times each with BOTH Teams.

So I wouldn’t fault anyone for siding with either teams.

STILL, as others have pointed out, he did win 6 chips with the bulls and “only” 4 chips with the Lakers.

I can see arguments made for both franchises.

With the Lakers, 6 Finals trips, 4 rings, and “two” stints … During the 3 peat era, I wouldn’t have really considered Phil a “Lakers” – I still saw him as that crazy Jordon/Phil combo that won 6 rings in Chicago … but over these past years with the two first round defeats, the Finals loss, and then the redemptive Finals win … doesn’t it feel like we’ve been through a battle with Phil and he’s more of a Laker than a Bulls?

I mean, we all went through Phil maximizing what little talent Kwame and Smush had to offer, to retooling a young team around Kobe, to re-establishing a relationship with Kobe, to winning the chip – it’s so much more “work” that was put into his latter run with the Lakers than with any of his runs with Chicago or the 3-peat era Lakers, no?

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by PeanutButterSpread on Nov 3, 2009 3:56 PM PST reply actions

It's funny I never thought of it that way

I guess I would still consider him more of a Bull, because they were an all-time team/dynasty and his coaching rep is mostly due to his time there.

However, he’s just been such a great fit as the Laker’s coach that there’s no reason not to consider him an all time great Laker. I think Phil one of the reason’s he keeps going is more of cementing his legacy than any great devotion to the organization. Either way, I’ll take it since the results are great.

"If you don't take out his battery, he's going to keep going all day."

by S Jay Bruin on Nov 3, 2009 6:07 PM PST reply actions

I think when he came to LA

he was home no joke Phil is a laker coach. GOAT if you ask me. and kobe is better than jordan just sayin

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by Czheck on Nov 3, 2009 8:24 PM PST reply actions

Can I say both to this thread question??

I think its leaning more towards the Lakers because Phil is still with us but he spent alot of years in chicago so it depends on the years spent with the Lakers vs. years spent with Bulls and Lakers need more rings.

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by BrittneyM on Nov 3, 2009 9:57 PM PST reply actions