The most devastating losses in Phil Jackson’s era at Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Feature Part 1
When you talk about the best NBA coaches in the NBA history, one name immediately pops up in the mind. The name is of a coach, who won 11 NBA titles in his illustrious career and is the architect of two of the greatest legacies
in the history of NBA.
He is Phil Jackson.
The man who made the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls of the 90’s, the greatest team ever to set foot in NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers as the most potent team of the last decade. Jackson was the creator of one of the most feared
offensive strategies in the league, the triangle offense; he was the one who made role players into starters and stars into superstars.
He was the Zen master of NBA, a master tactician, an aggressive competitor and an immaculate leader.
Albeit, when the legendary coach retired, the Los Angeles Lakers failed to give him a befitting farewell. After winning the NBA championship in the 2010-11 season and the one before that, the Lakers were looking to start the decade
with a three peat. And they were well on their way.
The team in the purple and gold brushed off Chris Paul led New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs and were the favourites going into the Western Conference Semifinals against Dallas Mavericks,
a side was branded as the perennial post season under achiever.
However, when the series started, it was not the Mavs who choked.
One game after another, the Mavericks stunned the Lakers and handed them a first ever sweep in their franchise history. Lakers were shattered, not only because they were toyed out of the title contention, but also because Phil
Jackson didn’t have a last laugh.
This however was not the only agonizing loss in Phil Jackson career as the Lakers coach. There were many heart breaks along the way;
Game 6 of the First round of playoffs against Phoenix Suns - 2006
Leading the series 3-2, the Lakers entered the game with all the momentum and they were just minutes away from winning their first playoff series since 2004. However, Phoenix’s forward Tim Thomas spoiled the party.
With less than 7 seconds to go in the game, Tim knocked down a three point dagger to even out the scores, sending the game in overtime. That was the point where the Lakers lost their direction. They not only failed to stop the
assault from the desert city franchise in overtime and lost out 126-118, but also got mauled in the final game of the series.
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