mlby1215 wrote:CrushAlot wrote:mlby1215 wrote:BigDaddyG wrote:mlby1215 wrote:Sambakick wrote:Phil could've been a good GM if he didn't chain himself to a single coaching philosophy (triangle offense)Ironic that what gave him coaching success killed his GM success. But that's what happens when people are hired to do jobs they haven't done before.
I do not disagree that Triangle should not be the solution for everything, but he still had to find a system to build on. Looking back a lot of ex-knicks actually playing their best in Triangle. Melo probably would still be a valuable starter if he was willing to play in Triangle.
"He hasn't done it before so he should not do it" is used a lot as a reason against hiring Phil, but I think the reason holds little value. Can we say the same about Steve Kerr? He was a first year coach when he won the chip. With his 50 years of experience in bballs, Phil clearly were good enough to take the job.
And he was not the GM. Mills was the GM. Phil did not hire him. So it is amazing that ppl would blame every mistake on Phil Jackson. Mills WAS the GM, Phil did not hire him, and Phil could not fire him.
Yeah, but Phil had (mostly) the final decision on basketball personnel decisions. It's my understanding that Mills was in control of the day to day operations Phil couldn't be bothered with. Every trade, roster transaction etc was Phil's decision. That was the case excuse Phil used to slide into the presidency. It's semantics, but orgs have different titles and roles that don't necessarily overlap with other team's positions. I'm not a Phil hater or lover. He did some good things and he did some wacky stuff as well. I think the Triangle still works. Maybe not in it's purest form, but you still see teams using Triangle movements. It looked bad with us because we didn't have IQ players or players willing to go along with it.
To this day we still don't know who was responsible for what. For example,one day Phil were indifferent to resign Melo, but the next day he was handing him the max + no-trade clause. Was it on Phil? or Mills? or Dolan? We took a lot of things for granted, like Phil was the one calling all the shot.
The truth probably was not that clear. At the end, he was fired because he drafted Frank, not DSJr. Dolan probably didn't know who the Frank was, but he fired him anyway because he assumed Frank was bad.
Who told Dolan? Obviously it was Mills. He had Dolan's ear. In general a GM listens to the prez, but in this case GM had the direct line to the owner, and the owner would force the hand of prez, or he will be fired. (And Phil was fired)
Now, can we be so sure that "Phil made all the final decisions and Mills was on day-to-day"? IMO, as a ex-coach Phil probably would rather rely everything on Mills and he only wanted to teach and handle the tactical side of bballs.
But it doesn't matter anymore. The thing we are sure is that Phil Jackson didn't complain. Until we have heard his side of story we will never know.
One thing I am sure is that. Mills couldn't even have a 30 wins team without the help of Phil Jackson. Who knows what Phil Jackson could have done if he wasn't handed this clown called Steve Mills?
Phil’s buddy, Charlie Rosen said Phil had final say on all basketball related decisions. He said Phil would have resigned if that ever changed.
What is basketball related decisions? At the end, it is a company owning a basketball team. Everything is basketball related. For example, is the medical system related to basketball? Sure Phil had not say on it. Or could he fire Steve Mills? It should be a basketball related decision but it is now clear as day that he could not.
One important thing is that there are too many people trying to hold Phil Jackson accountable. You know what? I agree with all of them. He was earning 60mil/5years and he was the prez. The buck stopped there. I never said he was not responsible. However,
If the prez of 80-166 should be fired, then how could the GM of 80-166 get promoted? Shouldn't have he shared the same responsibility as well? Except a few occasions (like Lopez or Lee), all contacts Knicks have signed was overpaid. It includes the time Phil was the prez and AFTER Phil was fired. I really don't think it was Phil deciding the number.
Any decision involving coaching, the roster, contracts, trades etc. Phil did decide the number. I would never argue in favor of Mills keeping his job. Not during the Isiah years, the Woodson year, the Phil years or the Perry years.
