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Nalod
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In staunchly defending his triangle offense, Knicks president Phil Jackson went on the offensive and chided commissioner Adam Silver for his recent dig at the Knicks still struggling with the complex offense.
Jackson, in a State of the Zen Address before the Knicks faced Atlanta Monday night at the Garden, went on to say patience is needed and he’ll know which players won’t ever get it by December. Trades pick up on Dec. 15, when all players in the league are eligible to be dealt.
Jackson indicated he is tired of all the nitpicking of an offense that brought him an NBA record 11 coaching titles. In doing so, he sounded willing to give up some of his $60 million contract to the strict league office.
“It was fun to have Spike [Lee] do the little piece on it and the humor part of it,’’ Jackson said. “I wasn’t so humored by the commissioner actually jumping on top of that, too. He didn’t need to get on that. There’s enough focus on the triangle. It’s a system, simple basketball. We’re over the triangle, and let’s get to business and play it the right way.’’
Last week, after the Knicks’ collapse in Detroit, Silver, when asked about a different topic, brought up the triangle, saying, “I watched the Knicks game last night. Clearly, they’re still learning the triangle. I still don’t understand it. But they’re learning it.’’
Jackson seemed to issue a warning to his team he could make changes if he doesn’t see great progress next month.
“There’s still quite a ways from their execution capabilities as a team,’’ Jackson said. “This is going to happen, all part of the process. We think in terms of basketball-wise, Thanksgiving, December, it’s time to really say, ‘If you haven’t gotten it by now, maybe we’ll have to think of you as a learner or not a learner as a ballplayer at that time.’ ’’
Earlier Monday, coach Derek Fisher said “a lot of guys’’ are playing too “passive’’ in the offense and not allowing their “basketball instincts’’ to take over. Fisher appeared to be referring to, among others, J.R. Smith, whom Jackson has considered trading.
Modal Trigger
Carmelo Anthony
Photo: EPA
Jackson also addressed Carmelo Anthony’s alarming four-game slide, revealing he had a talk with him Monday morning about the offense and his role in it.
“He seemed very upbeat today when I talked to him,’’ Jackson said.
Jackson said Anthony needs to focus on other things than shotmaking, getting to the basket when the triangle is set up on the other side of the court as he did in Atlanta in the first half on Saturday. Jackson also would like to see Anthony get more offensive rebounds.
Jackson hasn’t traveled to any road games, but has been giving input. In fact, he made a point to step on the court during the morning shootaround Monday to impart wisdom about showing more fight against physical defense.
In the process, Jackson may have ticked off the league office some more when he criticized the officiating in Saturday’s loss to the Hawks. The league is highly sensitive to any form of referee bashing and usually fines coaches or players. It’s rare when a team executive goes that route — unless his name is Mark Cuban.
“I stepped on the court today to say if guys lean on you and put their nose in your business, you have a right to protect yourself,’’ Jackson said. “I was disappointed in the refereeing the other night, letting Atlanta slap the ball out of our players’ hands.’’
Jackson said “the coaching staff is doing a great job’’ in face of the injuries to Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani and Pablo Prigioni. Fisher said they speak every day but Jackson doesn’t “micromanage.’’
“I came back to impart what I learned,’’ Jackson said. “I’m constantly giving off ideas in the form of writing notes, communicating in various forms, some things we can try, some things we can initiate. We’ve touched just a very small part of our offense and adding bits and pieces as we go on.’’
Jackson said not having “a lead guard’’ such as Calderon has contributed to the 2-5 start. |
11/10/2014 11:04 PM
