Phil Jackson to the Heat next year (prediction).

[Bosstown]

This is speculation, but it's also a strong gut feeling. Jerry Bus has said that, "This will be his last year with the Lakers" and "Can I see him coaching another team in the NBA? Yes.". We all know Phil likes to go to winning teams with the best players and with Kobe on the decline and the Heat having 2 of the top 3 players in the league why wouldn't Phil want to go if he indeed wants to continue to coach? I just have a gut feeling about this one, its a free country and he can do what he wants but that would be something else...kind of like how he left the Bulls to join a upcoming Kobe/Shaq duo.

[radiohead]

It's a possibility, but I can't imagine him working hand in hand with Pat Riley though.

[mgent]

How else can he maintain the title of most overrated coach in history?

[Edgar]

How else can he maintain the title of most overrated coach in history?

and totally destroy the competition while doing it

[pearljammer10]

It's a possibility, but I can't imagine him working hand in hand with Pat Riley though.

Yeah. Heads will clash together if they are given that opportunity. I dont see Jackson going to the Heat...

[tenn_smoothie]

This is speculation, but it's also a strong gut feeling. Jerry Bus has said that, "This will be his last year with the Lakers" and "Can I see him coaching another team in the NBA? Yes.". We all know Phil likes to go to winning teams with the best players and with Kobe on the decline and the Heat having 2 of the top 3 players in the league why wouldn't Phil want to go if he indeed wants to continue to coach? I just have a gut feeling about this one, its a free country and he can do what he wants but that would be something else...kind of like how he left the Bulls to join a upcoming Kobe/Shaq duo.

"something else" ??


Jackson leaving the lakers and taking the miami job would be not be a surprise at all - it would be Jackson doing exactly what Jackson has always done - jump to a team with the best talent in the league which has been developing under another coach who did all the hard work necessary through the inevitable early growing pains and then "manage" that team to a couple of titles for which he then receives all the credit.

Jackson never built so much as a sand castle his entire career and yet is the most arrogant and condescending coach in the league - i have zero respect for the guy.

[hpantazo]

This is speculation, but it's also a strong gut feeling. Jerry Bus has said that, "This will be his last year with the Lakers" and "Can I see him coaching another team in the NBA? Yes.". We all know Phil likes to go to winning teams with the best players and with Kobe on the decline and the Heat having 2 of the top 3 players in the league why wouldn't Phil want to go if he indeed wants to continue to coach? I just have a gut feeling about this one, its a free country and he can do what he wants but that would be something else...kind of like how he left the Bulls to join a upcoming Kobe/Shaq duo.

very well put, TP for typing out what I wanted to say

"something else" ??


Jackson leaving the lakers and taking the miami job would be not be a surprise at all - it would be Jackson doing exactly what Jackson has always done - jump to a team with the best talent in the league which has been developing under another coach who did all the hard work necessary through the inevitable early growing pains and then "manage" that team to a couple of titles for which he then receives all the credit.

Jackson never built so much as a sand castle his entire career and yet is the most arrogant and condescending coach in the league - i have zero respect for the guy.

[vinnie]

Jackson is a very good coach, but has there ever been a coach who has pretty much only coached teams with the best players in the league? Now Jerry Sloan and George Karl, there are coaches who really know how to win, regardless of the talent and the injuries. I just dislike Phil and his smug character so much it makes me want to hurl to see the praise heaped on him. Miami would be perfect -- sit back and watch the team play.

[nba is the worst]

Jackson is a very good coach, but has there ever been a coach who has pretty much only coached teams with the best players in the league? Now Jerry Sloan and George Karl, there are coaches who really know how to win, regardless of the talent and the injuries. I just dislike Phil and his smug character so much it makes me want to hurl to see the praise heaped on him. Miami would be perfect -- sit back and watch the team play.

Red Auerbach?

I know, he drafted those best teams, but with at least 4 HOF's on every team in the Russell era, etc...

No chance he goes to the heatles.

[xmuscularghandix]

Jackson is a very good coach, but has there ever been a coach who has pretty much only coached teams with the best players in the league? Now Jerry Sloan and George Karl, there are coaches who really know how to win, regardless of the talent and the injuries. I just dislike Phil and his smug character so much it makes me want to hurl to see the praise heaped on him. Miami would be perfect -- sit back and watch the team play.

Red Auerbach?

I know, he drafted those best teams, but with at least 4 HOF's on every team in the Russell era, etc...

No chance he goes to the hetles.

Aeurbach trade and schemed to get those picks, he scouted players, coached them, and then they went to the hall of fame.

Jackson has gone to teams that already had great players and them coached them to championships.


Red was such a good coach that his players were good coaches. KC Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, Bill Russell...

[LakersFan_33]

How else can he maintain the title of most overrated coach in history?

Even if you're a homer, that is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a while. 11 out of the last 20 NBA championships are his. And before you say it, a lot of coaches have had great talent, but not won.

[Who]

I think Phil Jackson will walk away from the NBA at the end of this season. At least temporarily. He looks like a guy who needs a break from the grind of the NBA lifestyle. All the travel, media and other daily irritations. I think he's a guy who wants some time to himself.

Give him a year or two away from the NBA ... and then see whether he has regained that thirst to coach.

Also, it's hard to imagine Pat Riley putting his gigantic ego aside and hiring Phil Jackson to turn Riley's Heat team, the team he built, into winners.

[LakersFan_33]

Anyway, Phil will either coach the Lakers, or he will retire - He's made that clear already. You can close this thread now.

[Jon]

I think Phil Jackson will walk away from the NBA at the end of this season. At least temporarily. He looks like a guy who needs a break from the grind of the NBA lifestyle. All the travel, media and other daily irritations. I think he's a guy who wants some time to himself.

Give him a year or two away from the NBA ... and then see whether he has regained that thirst to coach.

Also, it's hard to imagine Pat Riley putting his gigantic ego aside and hiring Phil Jackson to turn Riley's Heat team, the team he built, into winners.

I agree, if any super coach takes over next year, it's going to be Riley. 

Wouldn't be shocked if Doc ended up there, though, after the Big Three Era is over.  I don't see him jumping ship to go there; however, if KG and Ray go in two years and Boston goes into rebuilding mode, picking up a similar situation in such a convenient location would make a lot of sense for him. 

[mgent]

How else can he maintain the title of most overrated coach in history?

Even if you're a homer, that is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a while. 11 out of the last 20 NBA championships are his. And before you say it, a lot of coaches have had great talent, but not won.

Has Phil Jackson ever done anything without great talent?  Sure he's a good coach but he's had some of the best teams of all time.  They deserve the credit not the guy who had the impossible job of "managing such big personalities."