According to Mark Stein, Phil Jackson chose to downplay Kobe’s offensive role in Game 1 of the Phoenix-Los Angeles series in order to allow other Lakers to score more – at the risk of losing the game – therefore increasing individuals’ feelings of self-actualisation and the team’s chance to win the series. Interesting idea.
Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom, and Luke Walton went off and the Lakers lost the game. Since the supporting cast played well, does that mean that L.A. is now more likely to win four out of the next six games? Perhaps, but I think it was an unnecessary exercise.
Jackson is smart enough to know that the coaching staff must determine what key goals must be achieved in order to win the championship. “Winning a title” is too abstract and players must focus on concrete objectives instead. Once these “tipping points” have been selected, it is up to the coaches to create the incentives that will drive players throughout the playoffs.
A team must receive contributions from all 7-9 players in the rotation in order to succeed in the playoffs. Happy, motivated, and satisfied players are more likely to play well under pressure. I would hope that an N.B.A. player does not need to score to be happy; they are professional athletes, not eight-year old children. Players at the highest level must have some level of self-motivation and gaps should be filled in by coaches and teammates.
Bill Russell, who won eleven Association championships in his thirteen seasons didn’t need to score to stay motivated. If Havlicek, Cousy, or the Jones “brothers” went off, Russell didn’t care as long as the Celtics won. Playoff wins are too valuable to throw away. Teams built around a superstar must give their guy the ball and ride them as far as they will take them (e.g. LeBron James’ triple-double vs. Washington). Necessary contributions will be made due to the skill, professionalism, and worth ethic of the other players. It would be nice if everyone were happy, but in the end everyone has to perform, on demand, under pressure.