He communicates, which is overused in coaching, though you'd be surprised how many coaches fail to talk with their players. But he is honest. He doesn’t always tell them what they want to hear. He's not in the business of tricking players into performing. He treats players like adults and expects a return.

As the son of ministers, his approach can, at times, be like a preacher working with a congregation with the players his flock, and also his responsibility. He takes a part in their lives, like providing reading material, and is known to regularly inquire about family concerns. But he doesn't allow their responsibility to team and responsibility slip. And when it does, like with Bryant, he doesn't give up.

A soul is worth saving, especially with that jump shot.

Though the talent on his teams has kept Jackson out of regular coach of the year consideration, perhaps no one in history has dealt more successfully and won with such distraction, from the Kobe/Shaq feuds to Bryant's criminal case to Dennis Rodman, and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's constant debates with management.

It always seems easy when it works.

Who else has had to go through what Jackson has, yet won championships?

His famous refusal to call so many timeouts is part of that practice. It symbolizes trust in the players and that he won't over-coach while also forcing them to learn and respond. Just as Jackson must. He's excellent in preparation, known for attacking teams to take away their favorite weapons and adjusting as games go on. His teams traditionally have done better in second halves.

Jackson has a share-the-ball, passing oriented philosophy of the game centered around his triangle offense. But he's also flexible to suit his talent and this season seems to have used the triangle perhaps 30 to 40 percent of the time.

Kevork Djansezian / AP Jackson has a special way of relating to his players, like Ronny Turiaf.

The triangle is a thinking players' offense with perhaps a half dozen main sets and no play calls, in which players identify the set and how the defense reacts to it and then they move. It employs elements of improvisation and attention to detail which get overlooked in Jackson's coaching style. Jackson coached the Bulls nine seasons and now is working on his eighth with the Lakers with a one-season sabbatical. It's a remarkable run of stability in a highly unstable profession.

So while everyone gets set for a Lakers-Celtics Finals and the memories of the great 1980's rivalry, this series may be a bigger treat for being able to watch the best ever at his job, Phil Jackson. It's rare when we get to see that while it is occurring.

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