Phil Jackson believes Chicago Bulls over achieved last season – NBA Update
Phil Jackson has said that the Chicago Bulls punched well above their weight last season, and it is something, they should be proud of.
He however warned that if Bulls fans were harbouring expectations of some more miracles from the windy city side, they could be in for a disappointment next season.
The legendary coach, who retired at the end of last season when the Los Angeles Lakers were bundled out of the playoffs, said Chicago needed some key additions and more improvements if they were to become a true force in the NBA.
"I think they overachieved last year as far as record and how they got to the spots they got to in the playoffs," Jackson said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000.
The former coach, who is a revered figure in Chicago for being the coach of a Bulls side that won six NBA World Champions in the Jordan era, said Chicago could do well with recruiting some more players. He also pinpointed Carlos
Boozer as chief among those who need to step up their game.
"They still have to have some steady shooters from the outside to complement the penetration they have, and then (Carlos Boozer) has to have that post-up game that he was brought there to give them.
Jackson recognized that the Bulls had a very special player in Derrick Rose. The point guard became the youngest ever recipient of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award last season and led his side to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Phil warned though that without support, even Rose would eventually fail to get Chicago to the top of the hill.
"They just can't be one-dimensional in that regard. They have to have those complementary pieces to assist Rose in his game." He reasoned.
The Bulls would do well to heed the advice of their former coach. Jackson is one of the most revered figures in NBA history. He didn’t only lead the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA World Championships, he also won a further 5 rings with
the Los Angeles Lakers.
With a total of 11 NBA World Championships to his name, Jackson is the most decorated coach in history. It is no surprise that he easily dissected the shortcomings of a Bulls side that performed so admirably last season.
The weaknesses pointed out by Jackson though became evident during the Eastern Conference Finals, when Chicago matched against the mighty Miami Heat. A Heat side laden with loads of talent, read LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane
Wade, stifled Chicago by clamping down on their one star; Rose.
With Rose unable to match the combined prowess of 3 super stars on the opposite side, Chicago went tumbling down. If the Bulls want to avoid a repeat, they should listen to Phil.
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