"There's no question about [the] talent they (Miami) have. But, talent doesn't always win." -- PHIL JACKSON, ESPN Radio, 2010
Merry Christmas!
This Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat do battle on the hardwood at the Staples Center. The pre-game hype and hoopla has a number of fascinating story lines, not the least of which is Phil Jackson’s mental approach to this regular season, playoff-feeling Christmas contest with the Heat.
It’s true the game is played on the court by the players.
Yet, it’s also true that psychology plays an important role. No one is better at verbal repartee than Jackson, the NBA’s all time leading coach, all star and zen master supreme.
This marks Jackson’s 20th (and probably last) season as a head coach.
He’s won a remarkable, record setting 11 NBA titles in the 19 years he’s been at the helm, six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Lakers.
His detractors say it’s been easy for him because he had Michael Jordan in Chicago and Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles.
His supporters argue that how you manage such supremely gifted, large ego players into playing as a team is a talent unto itself that only the best have mastered.
One thing we can all agree on: Phil Jackson loves to push the psyc...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers