One of the arguments that favors Jackson over Auerbach is the time frame in which Jackson has accomplished his impressive feats. Now, you certainly cannot blame any coach or player for dominating the time period they were given, but you can certainly favor an individual who succeeds in an era where there is more competition. Just as a Major League Baseball hitter will receive recognition for excelling in a so-called pitcher’s era, you must take into consideration the individual’s surroundings when you try to determine who should be labeled the greatest. Jackson brought about ten championships in the free agency era, when salaries and attitudes often shifted the NBA landscape several times a year. Players egos and personal lives were not nearly as scrutinized or public when Auerbach was leading Boston, and the personalities that Jackson has had to teach to co-exist (see; Dennis Rodman) were certainly beyond anything Auerbach experienced.
This is not meant to discredit Auerbach in any way, but the simple truth is that Jackson has excelled in a period when sports figures and stars are under a microscope every minute of the day. With the invention of the internet and the seemingly ceaseless number of sports media, every decision these coaches and athletes make will be met with endless analysis and criticism. While it is impossible to state accurately whether Auerbach would have been able to stand up to the intense media spotlight that modern day sports presents, it is necessary to credit Jackson for handling it so professionally and consistently.
Another interesting statistic to explore is the playoff success of each coach. While we have already looked at their playoff winning percentages, it is important to take a look at the consistency of their playoff success. Now, of course Auerbach won eight straight championships and nine out of ten, but the years before finally reaching the basketball summit his Celtics were nothing more than a sputtering first round tuna. The Celtics won the NBA title in the 1956-57 season, and in eight of the next nine seasons. However, from 1950 until 1956 Boston never made it out of the first round, reaching three playoff victories only twice. This could imply that Auerbach’s team was not yet fully matured and needed time to develop and reach the players prime, but if this is the case does that take some of the credit off of Auerbach’s shoulders? It is also important to note that Auerbach failed to achieve any playoff success until Bill Russell arrived and became the anchor for that dynasty.
Next: Stepping Back and Taking a Look
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