The Lakers are the 2010 NBA Champions.
If you know Brad Sugars, you know he’s a huge L.A. Lakers fan. And last night, the team beat the Boston Celtics in the seventh game of a hard fought series, so Brad is very happy right now.
But besides making Lakers fans happy, the game last night was another example of what makes good coaching so important.
Throughout the game, Jackson was masterful, and it is easy to see how he uses principles of leadership to get the best from his team. His ability to keep his team calm when they fell behind early was important. Jackson also showed he knows the strengths and weaknesses of his team, relying on bench players to play big roles throughout the deciding game.
The seventh game was not a thing of beauty. Neither team shot the ball well but the Lakers were able to overcome their poor shooting by getting to the free throw line and dominating on the boards. Jackson’s reputation as a master motivator was on display Thursday. Lamar Odom and Ron Artest, who had struggled throughout the postseason, both played terrific games, contributing on both ends of the floor. Despite their solid play, the Lakers still trailed for most of the contest, but Jackson remained calm and determined on the bench.
The biggest reason the Lakers struggled offensively was Kobe Bryant’s poor shooting performance. Bryant made just six field goals in 24 attempts and looked frustrated and upset for much of the night. Jackson decided to start the 4th quarter with Bryant on the bench and it paid off. The Lakers opened the final stanza on a run which gave them their first lead of the game. When Bryant reentered the game, he was refreshed and energized. He hit a couple jumpers and was more aggressive, getting to the free throw line and creating foul trouble for the Boston big men. Sitting Kobe could have been controversial if it hadn’t worked out, but Jackson knew his star was pressing and not playing to his full ability. Few coaches have their finger on the pulse of their team the way Jackson does and it showed.
At the end, Kobe was playing his best ball of the night, but Jackson was able to find two other parts to seal his 11th NBA title. Derek Fisher once again showed his toughness, making a monster three pointer in the waning minutes and little-used reserve Sasha Vujacic was summoned off the bench in the final seconds to make two monster free throws. Jackson showed confidence in his entire team throughout the season and he was rewarded by big plays and a Championship. What can you achieve by following a talented coach?
Phil Jackson has to be considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of team sports for a number of reasons. He follows coaching principles and understands what his team needs to be successful. By listening and following him, his players are once again champions.
