Phil Jackson 2009: The Zen Master Further Ascends?

When most NBA fans think of the current edition of the Lakers, the first name that comes to mind is "Kobe." By the way, did you know that "Kobe" in Japanese is loosely translated as "sweet meat"? But that's a story for another article. Right now, I want to talk about "The Zen Master."

Phil Jackson technically has 11 NBA titles! Allow that number to soak in for a moment. He has two as a player (although due to spinal fusion surgery, he didn't play in the 1970 playoffs/Championship win with the Knicks). But what I want to talk about are his nine titles as a coach...tied with the late great "Red" Aurbach of the Celtics. Allow that number to soak in for a moment.

The (ridiculous) rap against Phil is that he won those nine titles with superstars: MJ and Scottie with the Bulls and Shaq and Kobe with the Lakers...that he inherited, no less.

I find this rap ridiculous as it infers that any other coach with two superstars/season could also have nine titles. So...why don't they? Jerry Sloan had Malone & Stockton for umpteen years, yet has...uhhh...no titles. How many titles does who-the-heck-ever coached the Sixers have when he/they had Dr. J, Moses Malone, George McGinnis, Doug Collins, World B Free, Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, Charles Barkley, Mo Cheeks, et al, in various combinations?

Ahhh...but the current Lakers! When Phil was coaxed back out of coaching retirement, he (re)-inherited Kobe and...a pile of "J.A.G's" (Just Another Guy). Along with the brilliance of GM Mitch Kupchak, Phil has built a team that made it to the 2008 NBA Finals.

As a Lakers fan, I'm obviously rooting for them to win it all this season. But I'm also rooting for them to do it for "The Zen Master." Not that he really needs it to cement his place in NBA history and the HOF. But I'd like to see that absurd rap eradicated and also have him surpass "Red," thereby annoying the heck out of Celtics fans.

P.S. The folks at www.theonion.com (humorously) suggest that for his subsequent "ascension," Phil will ditch the famed Tex Winters' Triangle Offense and transcend to a higher-plane offense..."The Tetrahedron Offense" depicted below. Hmmm...I wonder who that is defying/warping time and space at the top of that thing?