Rivers vs. Jackson

 

Lakers and Celtics are playing the finals this year, and those two teams are really on the same level, sadly, we cannot say that their coaches are paired too, in fact there is a huge gap between each one’s achievements.

Let’s put it this way, Phil Jackson has won 9 titles and Doc Rivers has none, but here’s the interesting fact: When Jackson started to win championships with the Bulls, he had Michael Jordan, the best player basketball has seeing, and now he’s coaching the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant, the current MVP and the player that is the closest thing to Jordan.

On the other hand we have Doc Rivers; Well, he never coached a team full of all-stars like the current Celtics, and just this season alone, he’s won 66 games and took Boston to the 2008 NBA finals.

So is it that Phil Jackson has taken advantage and have chosen teams with players that are a step above in terms of talent when compared with the rest of the players in the league? I would say yes, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach, he just knows the game quite well, and all in all, he holds an impressive record, on the other hand, this is the chance for Doc Rivers to add some good points to his resume. For him, is now or probably never.

Let's talk about personality: these two are quite different also, as Doc Rivers is more passionate for the game, he’s close to his players and it’s seeing more like a friend among his pupils.

And Jackson it's more like a mentor, a teacher, one that brings good results with his knowledge, and that doesn't relate to his players that much.

So I see Doc Rivers as part of an entity, and Phil Jackson as the guy nobody likes but who is needed, anyways, I don’t think Jackson cares at all about that, and I think Boston has a true leader in Rivers and even though nobody is giving him much credit, I would say that he will come up with his first championship ring in 6 games for the Celtics.

Maybe that good understanding between Rivers and his players is what is making the difference this season, let's see how far they can go.