ONE MORE THREE-PEAT JACKSON TICKLED BY HIS NINTH CHAMPIONSHIP, AND READY FOR MORE.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Lakers coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. , again on top of the world, couldn't help getting in a slight dig. The Lakers' championship-clinching victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday gave them the first three-peat since the team moved to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , but it was the third time Jackson had experienced it. He twice coached the Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1966, and has won six NBA Championships since. to three-peats and this season's title gives him nine overall, matching former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20 1917 – October 28 2006) was a highly successful and influential basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. for the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= record. The same Auerbach who recently had questioned Jackson's ability to coach because he never had to remake a team, who used to consistently irritate the Lakers, and others, with the way he would light his cigar after victory. ``Looks like I'm going to have to get my own cigar out of my briefcase in the locker room and light it up,'' Jackson said. ``I didn't get one FedExed by Red today.'' The only criticism anyone has ever attempted to hand Jackson is that he took over teams with built-in superstars, Michael Jordan This article is about the former basketball player. For other uses, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. and Scottie Pippen Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). in Chicago, and now Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). and Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. in Los Angeles. Yet neither of those teams were able to win until Jackson took over. And no coach in NBA history has had the kind of success he's had. With Wednesday's sweep of the Nets, Jackson also edged ex-Lakers coach Pat Riley For the American guitarist, see . Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American National Basketball Association head coach and team president of the Miami Heat. for most career playoff victories. Jackson is now 156-53 in the postseason, also the highest postseason winning percentage. Jackson, who spent five years coaching the Albany Patroons in the old Continental Basketball Association This article is about the American CBA. For the CBA in China, see Chinese Basketball Association. The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) is a professional men's basketball league in the United States. , now has won 25 consecutive playoff series, yet another NBA record. ``It is remarkable that I'm sitting here in a situation I never dreamed of,'' he said. ``I've been very fortunate to be in this position. ``When you think that first championship was 11 years ago to the day ... it seems like more than that. Seems like two decades instead of just one and a year. ``I'm looking forward to the challenge of trying to get back here and win a 10th.'' Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal made a point in his postgame press conference to thank Jackson. The Lakers had been swept in their final playoff series in each of the previous two seasons before Jackson arrived for the 1999-2000 season. ``I'd like to congratulate Phil Jackson for bringing out the best in us,'' O'Neal said. ``He gave us a plan when we first met him. He gave me a plan. ``He promised us if we stuck to the plan that everything would work out. I'm just glad that Jerry West was able to get him to sign up because it was something I needed in my life. ``I was sort of a great player who didn't have any championships. Since I met Phil, I have three.'' And planning more. ``He is now one of the greatest,'' O'Neal said. ``Hopefully next year we can make him the greatest ever.'' COACHING MAGIC Here's a look at the coaches who have won the most titles in their respective professional sports in basketball, baseball, football and hockey: Coach Sport Titles Phil Jackson Basketball 9 Red Auerbach Basketball 9 Scotty Bowman Hockey 8* Toe Blake Hockey 8 Joe McCarthy Baseball 7 Casey Stengel Baseball 7 Vince Lombardi Football 5 *Bowman will reach nine if the Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. win this year's Stanley Cup, which they lead 3-1 over Carolina. LAKERS CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION When: Friday, 10:30 a.m.-1:20 p.m. Where: Kickoff ceremony is at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. The parade will begin at Third and Figueroa Streets at 11:30 a.m. and will continue to Staples Center at 11th and Figueroa. The Rally at Staples will begin at 12:50 p.m. There also will be a pre-rally celebration outside of Staples from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Who: Chick Hearn, coach Phil Jackson, each member of the Lakers, Staples Center president Tim Leiweke and mayor James Hahn will address the crowd. TV: Channel 9, with James Worthy and Alan Massengale hosting. Coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. CAPTION(S): photo, 2 boxes, map Photo: Phil Jackson, with his two stars, greeted his ninth championship with a grin. John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: (1) COACHING MAGIC (see text) (2) LAKERS CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION (see text) Map: LAKERS CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE Gregg Miller/Daily News |
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