http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13461940

LAS VEGAS—Along with packs of ice, Gatorade bottles and the occasional gym bag, it’s not uncommon for NBA players to be seen toting personal items out of practice sessions. Still, it was little unusual to see Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks’ 20-year-old Latvian rookie, clutching a bright orange book under his arm as he exited the gym after a summer-league practice a few weeks ago.

“Coach [Derek] Fisher gave it to me. It’s called ‘The Positive Dog.’ Took me maybe three days to finish, and was simple to understand—explained in a childish way,” Porzingis said of the Jon Gordon title, which uses a pair of talking dogs to illustrate the importance of a positive outlook on life.
Jerian Grant. ENLARGE
Jerian Grant. Photo: Getty Images/Wall Street Journal photo illustration

The book is one of several that Fisher, the Knicks’ second-year coach, has handed out to some of his players as a kind of summer reading list. He picked up the habit from team president Phil Jackson, who coached Fisher for nine years in Los Angeles and was known to give books to players during his Hall of Fame career with the Bulls and Lakers.

“Part of [assigning books] is to give them a sense of who their coach is, so they can understand how I view performance, competition and self-improvement,” Fisher said. “Plus, I just like to share information—training secrets, how to recover after practices and games, nutrition. Those are things I like to share to help guys out. And sometimes it’s easiest to share them in the form of a book.”
Fisher’s Favorites

Here are the books that Knicks coach Derek Fisher has handed out to his players during this off-season.

Kristaps Porzingis: “The Positive Dog” (Jon Gordon)
Jerian Grant: “Developing the Leader Within You” (John C. Maxwell)
Cleanthony Early: “Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else” (Jon Gordon)

To this point, Fisher’s reading assignments have been for young, first-year players, and they have focused on cultivating a positive mentality—probably the most sensible subject for a team that went 17-65 last season.

Besides giving “The Positive Dog” to Porzingis, he gave “Developing the Leader Within You,” by John C. Maxwell, to first-round pick Jerian Grant and Gordon’s “Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else” to Cleanthony Early, the team’s top selection in the 2014 draft.

I have no problem with this. It's just a small gesture that sets a tone for the players on the team. Sometimes people make fun of such things, but you can't really quantify or predict how a small idea can have an impact on a player. It's a very inexpensive and subtle way to put some possibly helpful thoughts in a players head. If it works great if not it cost next to nothing.

SAS on the other hand has the most annoying and pessimistic take on the whole thing. He's becoming unwatchable at this point when it comes to the Knicks. He can't pass on any opportunity to kick dirt on the Knicks.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13461940

SAS is a real ass. I can go really hard but I'll just leave it at that.

All coaches learned from someone. Maybe Kidd learned from Byron Scott. His style is very similar.

Fisher played under Phil for the majority of his career. There are certain things that make sense that he wants to implement. Starting a book club is fine. It gets the guys talking. It gets the guys on the same page because they are sharing in experiences through reading. I get that.

I want Phil to win so bad so Fisher and Phil could tell some of these media guys to suck their dicks