But would PJ have had the same success with "soldiers" instead of "artists"? To say Pop is less than PJ based on assessing Pop's handling of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers without addressing PJ's success with the Duncan-led Spurs is only looking at the question from one side.
Because Phil HAD a team of soldiers, and he won 6 titles with them. The Bulls were nothing if not soldiers under his system with Jordan acting as general. His (IMO waaay overrated) "zen" nonsense was really his skill at managing a couple of egotistical spoiled brats, make no mistake, he was/is very talented there but that is where he is limited as a coach, that's really all he does well, his mega talented staff handle all the heavy lifting.
Pop would not have tolerated the dram of LA, he is far too disciplined, and Kobe and Shaq bucking his authority would have led to the early breakup of the team. That is not Pop's fault, that is lamentable atmosphere of today's NBA, overpaid prima donna's thinking they are bigger than the sport that enable that selfish self-centered attitutde, by it's nature it feeds on itself and old school coaches like Pop I do not believe would have handled the mother of all drama that was LA's Lakers back then, again, not his fault, andI think it is a shame it has come to that.
