Kobe doing Decoy??

I think Phil Jackson is an amazing coach. He is an all timer and only needs one more title to give him 10 worlds title rings. The triangle offense allowed for Jordan to dominate and it was Phil who really got Jordan and the Bulls over the top and launched and allowed for their dynasty to take over the NBA.

However sometimes he lets his greatness disrupt his team. What I mean is that sometimes he seems to over think the situation. Basketball is a simple game at heart and too much thinking and too much strategy can hurt more than help. Call it the curse of the genius, but sometimes the smartest people cannot accept that the obvious solution is the right one because it is obvious and they feel that it cannot be that simple.

Last night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Phil Jackson fell victim to the curse of the genius. Trailing by 3 with with under 5 Phil called timeout and drew up a sideline inbounds play that went to Derrick Fisher. Fisher missed a contested 3 badly and the Nuggets got the board and the win.

Now I realize Fisher has knocked down huge shots but this postseason he has been dreadful from 3 point range. In my opinion that play has to get the ball into Kobe's hands. He is without a doubt the most clutch shooter playing in the NBA today, and to not get the ball in his hands in inexcusable in that situation.

Afterwards, Phil said he did not want Kobe to get the ball because the would probably get doubled or fouled immediately. This strategy makes sense on paper but the fact remains: YOU HAVE KOBE ON YOUR TEAM! I will take Kobe trying a contested 3 over anyone else. Worst case scenario Kobe lets the double team come and he finds a teammate for a wide open 3.

I think this was a classic example of over thinking the game of basketball. Almost anybody else would have called the play to Kobe and lived with the aftermath. In this case Phil over thought the situation and his team suffered.

In the NBA you live and die by your franchise player, and the Lakers have one hell of a franchise player. In this case Phil fell victim to the curse of the genius. I can promise you if the Lakers find themselves in the same situation Phil will call Kobe's number. After all true genius is learning from your mistakes and changing your strategy.