Phil Jackson's final season as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers will be filled with intrigue, as he chases an unprecedented 12th NBA title, and an unheard of fourth three-peat as a head coach.
Jackson's task is difficult to begin with, but former Lakers coach Pat Riley has upped the ante by assembling a historic trio of superstars in Miami who represent a direct challenge to Jackson's quest.
禅师的夺冠道路困难重重，但是前湖人主教练莱利开始了一场豪赌——签下三巨头，这就是直接对禅师宣战
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are arguably one of the greatest trios of stars the league has seen in 20 years, and the Miami Heat have already been elevated to the status of title favorites in the eyes of many.
猩猩，韦德，博士应该是20年内最强的三巨头。在很多人眼里热火已经是最有可能夺冠的球队了。
If Riley should happen to seize the reins from Heat coach Erik Spolestra, and the Lakers and Heat meet in the NBA Finals, we could be witness to one of the most ironic coaching showdowns in NBA history.
Jackson and Riley are the authors of the two greatest eras in the Lakers' history, and their contrast in coaching styles has helped define the legacy of one of the NBA's most storied franchises.
Riley's 171 career playoff wins are second only to Jackson's 179, and Jackson has won five championships as head coach of the Lakers while Riley won four titles in the '80s, and one more as an assistant under Paul Westphal.
Jackson has won nearly 70 percent of his playoff games, which is the best in NBA history, and Riley's percentage of 61 in the same category ranks 10th on the same list.
禅师季后赛胜率接近七成，这是史上最高的。而莱利六成的胜率排名第十。
Both coaches have reaped the benefits of having some of the greatest players in Lakers' and NBA history during their tenures, but it was their approach and coaching styles that made the teams successful.
在他们的执教生涯里，都有一些超级巨星来辅佐他们。但是最终还是他们的方式和风格让球队如此成功。
Riley's Showtime teams of the '80s had the NBA's best point guard in Magic Johnson, the NBA's top center in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and one of the best small forwards in James Worthy.
Those three superstars were surrounded by talented players such as Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, and A.C. Green, and Riley thrived by letting the talent of his players dictate his coaching schemes.
Riley's primary focus was defense, but on the offensive end he centered his strategy around the distinct abilities of his players. Magic Johnson's greatest asset was his ability in the open court, so Riley designed a scheme which took advantage of that.
Riley's Showtime style was built around solid defense, and pushing the ball up the court as quickly as possible, while utilizing the secondary break if no shot was initially available.
The Showtime era Lakers were one of the most entertaining teams of all time, and although Jackson's teams may be as exciting, they more than compensated with execution and precision.
Like Riley, Jackson also believes in a dominant defense, but his offense is based in what has become the most revolutionary scheme the NBA has ever seen.
就像莱利一样，禅师也依赖于强硬的防守，但是他的进攻端更加犀利一些——三角进攻才是最强的进攻战术
The triangle offense is actually more of an idea than a true strategy, and it takes a versatile and intelligent player to make it work; and Jackson has had two of the NBA's very best.
Jackson captured six NBA championships in Chicago with Michael Jordan as the point man in his triangle, and he has won another five in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant assuming the same role.
It's true that Shaquille O'Neal was the focal point of Jackson's championship teams of 2000-02, but Bryant's responsibility in the scheme was the same then as it is now.
说实话，三连冠期间，鲨鱼才是球队的中心，但是科比从那时到现在一直扮演着相同的重要的角色。
Bryant's ability to get his shot from any spot on the floor is the most crucial aspect of the triangle, because his constant movement around the court keeps opposing defenses at a disadvantage.
Jackson's commitment and belief in the triangle offense has defined his coaching legacy, just as Riley's ability to adapt to the different skills of his players has defined his.
Jackson and Riley are not only the two greatest coaches in Lakers history but could also be considered two of the greatest coaches to ever grace an NBA sideline.
禅师和莱利不仅仅是湖人队史最好的教练，更是整个联盟历史上最好的教练。
Whether you choose to favor Jackson or Riley may be a matter of generation gaps, no one can deny the footprint each coach has left on the Lakers franchise, or what they have meant to the franchise's legacy.
