charleshb's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book. It was a great collaboration between Phil Jackson and Charlie Rosen. It was quite detailed, in some sections, about the particulars of specific games which I didn't expect. As a whole, it was quite enjoyable and informative. Jackson and Rosen skillfully used the game as a metaphor for life. Worth reading or listening to the audio book as I did.
paulogonzalez's review
3.0
This book covers up Phil Jackson's first ring with LAL. Jackson and Rosen alternate chapters, though Jackson have written many more pages than Rosen. And the more interesting ones, I'd add.
Rosen's chapters are about his basketball life as player and then as coach, as well as various anecdotes and an approach to the figure of Tex Winter, the man behind the famous 'Triangle' offense which Jackson had developed both in Bulls and Lakers. I felt his chapters like more boring than the Jackson's ones because I don't have special interest in the life of him, however I consider the figure of Phil Jackson much more attractive. Of all these chapters I only enjoyed the part devoted to Winter, a man whose importance developing the 'Triangle' was crucial to the success of Jackson and whom I scarcely knew.
So the best part of the book are Jackson's chapters. He makes a brief view of his entire basketball career until year 2000, paying special attention to the 1999-2000 season, in which he won his seventh NBA title as coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Roughly one third of the book is about that.
I enjoyed his first chapters talking about his player years and then his beginning as coach in CBA and Puerto Rico. He offers us several stories in these leagues when he was developing his skills to lead a team, and they result interesting for a different view of a beginner, not the usually better known successes.
The last third of the book is the story of Lakers' 1999-2000 season, the first one of Jackson with this team, in the end of which they won the title. They were an outstanding team and the Jackson's willing to implement the 'Triangle' was a big challenge, finally successful. It wasn't easy to treat Kobe or Shaq's egos, but Jackson was able to cope with all of them and to achieve their main goal: the ring.
Besides Phil Jackson explains many of the concepts of the 'Triangle', there even are several graphics at the end of the book to help us understanding them. It's very interesting to know how Jackson, with Winter's contribution, of course, implemented the system and was able to develop it through the season. His doubts about this or the relationships inside the team. And also his own personal life, how after his divorce he had to learn how to be a single again and how this influenced in his day-to-day.
Rosen's chapters are about his basketball life as player and then as coach, as well as various anecdotes and an approach to the figure of Tex Winter, the man behind the famous 'Triangle' offense which Jackson had developed both in Bulls and Lakers. I felt his chapters like more boring than the Jackson's ones because I don't have special interest in the life of him, however I consider the figure of Phil Jackson much more attractive. Of all these chapters I only enjoyed the part devoted to Winter, a man whose importance developing the 'Triangle' was crucial to the success of Jackson and whom I scarcely knew.
So the best part of the book are Jackson's chapters. He makes a brief view of his entire basketball career until year 2000, paying special attention to the 1999-2000 season, in which he won his seventh NBA title as coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Roughly one third of the book is about that.
I enjoyed his first chapters talking about his player years and then his beginning as coach in CBA and Puerto Rico. He offers us several stories in these leagues when he was developing his skills to lead a team, and they result interesting for a different view of a beginner, not the usually better known successes.
The last third of the book is the story of Lakers' 1999-2000 season, the first one of Jackson with this team, in the end of which they won the title. They were an outstanding team and the Jackson's willing to implement the 'Triangle' was a big challenge, finally successful. It wasn't easy to treat Kobe or Shaq's egos, but Jackson was able to cope with all of them and to achieve their main goal: the ring.
Besides Phil Jackson explains many of the concepts of the 'Triangle', there even are several graphics at the end of the book to help us understanding them. It's very interesting to know how Jackson, with Winter's contribution, of course, implemented the system and was able to develop it through the season. His doubts about this or the relationships inside the team. And also his own personal life, how after his divorce he had to learn how to be a single again and how this influenced in his day-to-day.
raehink's review
2.0
Phil Jackson, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, offers his observations and experiences, including the first championship season he had with the team. I actually abhor the Lakers but I enjoyed reading about the coaching aspect of things.
More...