I still get chills thinking about the 2000 NBA Finals, that legendary showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers. Having rewatched every game multiple times, I can confidently say this series remains one of the most compelling championship battles in modern basketball history. What fascinates me most isn't just the superstar performances, but how both coaching staffs embodied what Tenorio said about forming the most competitive team possible - they squeezed every ounce of talent from their rosters.
Game 1 set the tone perfectly at Staples Center. The Lakers won 104-87, but the score doesn't reflect how hard Indiana fought. Shaquille O'Neal was absolutely dominant with 43 points and 19 rebounds - numbers that still astonish me two decades later. What people forget is how Phil Jackson outmaneuvered Larry Bird strategically, using multiple defensive schemes to contain Reggie Miller. The Pacers' coaching staff made brilliant adjustments in Game 2, holding Shaq to just 18 shots. Indiana's 100-91 victory showcased their resilience, proving they wouldn't be pushovers despite being underdogs.
The series shifted to Indianapolis for Game 3, where the Pacers secured a crucial 100-91 win. This was coaching brilliance on display - Bird's decision to start Sam Perkins at center disrupted LA's rhythm beautifully. I've always believed this was the game where Kobe Bryant truly announced himself as a superstar, scoring 28 points despite the loss. Game 4 provided the series' most dramatic moment - Kobe's iconic putback dunk with 2:30 remaining that essentially sealed the Lakers' 120-118 overtime victory. That play exemplified what championship teams are made of: seizing opportunities when they matter most.
Looking back, Game 5 might have been the turning point. Indiana's 120-87 blowout victory demonstrated their coaching staff's ability to make radical adjustments. They completely redesigned their defensive approach, holding the Lakers to 36% shooting. What impressed me was how they maximized role players - Travis Best contributed 14 crucial points off the bench. Returning to LA for Game 6, the Lakers closed the series 116-107, but it was far from easy. Shaq's 41 points and 12 rebounds earned him Finals MVP honors, yet I've always felt Kobe's all-around growth throughout the series was equally valuable.
Reflecting on these games, I'm struck by how both coaching staffs exemplified the principle Tenorio mentioned about building competitive teams. Jackson masterfully balanced his superstars' egos while developing role players like Robert Horry and Rick Fox. Meanwhile, Bird's staff extracted maximum value from veterans like Rik Smits and Dale Davis. The final statistics tell part of the story - Shaq averaged 38.0 points and 16.7 rebounds - but the real lesson is about adaptability. Both teams evolved throughout the series, making this one of the most tactically fascinating Finals I've ever studied. Even today, coaches could learn from how these staffs built complete teams rather than relying solely on star power.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
