AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 12
Monday, September 12, 2005
Best NBA coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While standing on the Michigan sideline in the final minutes of Notre Dame’s 17-10 win (much love to AJC editors Ronnie Ramos and Jeff D’Alessio for that one) another moonlighting NBA writer and I began a conversation about the merits of coaching.
Good, bad and everything in between.
Charlie Weis, a Super Bowl champion offensive coordinator in the NFL, has immediately infused the Irish program with the confidence, organization and razor sharpness that has become the trademark of the New England Patriots.
So began a discussion about the best coaches in the NBA right now. I think there’s a clear hierarchy that begins with Larry Brown, Phil Jackson (love them or hate them) and Gregg Popovich. It moves on to the likes of Rick Carlisle, George Karl and Nate McMillan.
But how do you rate them? We had a hard time distinguishing how much credit you give a coach when he’s working with the best talent — how many rings did Phil Jackson win without at least two of the best players in the world on the roster?
