As hope of competing for a postseason spot fades away, the Knicks' focus will become making evaluations and building for next year. When management reflects upon this season's shortcomings, a failure to execute the triangle offense properly figures to always be a topic of conversation with Phil Jackson running the show.

Jackson's third full season as Knicks executive is nearing its end. He's had plenty of opportunities to make judgement calls and usher in the players he believes best fit his desired system. At some point (perhaps the team has already reached it), he won't be able to point fingers anymore. Should players be poor fits or not be producing, that says more about Jackson than it does them. It's a reflection upon his inability to put together a successful team. It's time to look in the mirror.

Such a mentality is also worth noting, not only as he evaluates his players, but the coaching staff as well. With a 24-36 record, the Knicks are currently worse off now than they were at this point last season. Jeff Hornacek is not at fault.

It's worth taking into consideration everything the team has had to deal with to this point. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, two key acquisitions last summer, have both had to deal with major injuries. Kristaps Porzingis also missed time and struggled to find his rhythm for quite a while upon returning. Rose's decision to up and depart to Chicago without notice certainly resulted in drama. Jackson's public comments in the media and on Twitter (especially those about Carmelo Anthony) have created a cloud of negativity that has followed New York for much of this campaign. If all of this isn't enough, the trade speculation surrounding Anthony and others (and then a failure to make any subsequent moves) seemingly creates a level of uncertainty that makes it difficult for a team to focus on moving forward. There's no clarity regarding the direction of this franchise.

Needless to say, Hornacek's fingerprints are nowhere to be found at the scene of this crime. Many people say that if Jackson truly wants the triangle offense executed to his liking, he should simply coach the team himself. That may be true, but obviously isn't a possibility. Instead, it's time to put the organization's trust in Hornacek. That includes giving him the freedom to coach the way he's comfortable doing.

Hornacek is a good coach. He's learned under some of the greatest basketball minds of all time. He knows what it means to compete for championships and understands what it takes to build good chemistry. As a strategist, Hornacek has a very good feel for the game. He makes sensible in-game adjustments and draws up even better plays out of timeouts. He can usually judge the flow of a game and make the necessary substitutions to give his team a necessary boost. What's more, his success in Phoenix proved that he has a good feel for motivating young players. If the Knicks were doing things correctly, they'd be embracing a youth movement with Hornacek and his staff working swiftly on development.

Alas, Hornacek is not to blame. Though unrealistic, Jackson opting to coach the team himself isn't the answer either. Hornacek is the team's third head coach in as many seasons. Something has to give. Clearly, there's more going on here than a coach's inability to find a successful rhythm with his team. Hornacek needs to be given a chance to see things through, along with the freedom to do it his way.

If Jackson can't afford him that, it'll be incredibly difficult to hire quality coaches for this organization moving forward. Firing coaches as frequently as New York has in recent seasons is bad for culture. This is a time for reflection. In doing so, the positives around Hornacek should cement him as an asset for what they're trying to build moving forward.

Aside from signing a proven leader like CP3 there is no easy solution to this problem. There are however some young leaders in this draft as well as some really talented guards and wings that we need. IMO this is what Hornacek and the Knicks need.

Phil has to hit Home Runs, Triples and Doubles this summer in the Draft, UDFA's and Free Agency. 2 Way Team Oriented players!!!

fishmike wrote:this speaks of what I have been saying and the problem with having Melo on this roster. Melo is a great player and a gifted scorer. He's also not changing and has a huge locker room presence where for the most part his teammates have always really like him. Melo is not going to play uptempo or speedball. He can be part of a spread offense but he views that as a way to get his shots off in m2m coverage.

I would like very much to see what Jeff does for a couple years with some good young talent. A nice blue chip guard from this draft, maybe a guy like Patty Mills and lets start building something new.

So long as Melo is here its his team and there is simply no way around that, and Jeff knows this. He's been super PC with Melo and defended him as he knows if Melo shuts down on him he loses the team like what happened with MDA.

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

fishmike wrote:this speaks of what I have been saying and the problem with having Melo on this roster. Melo is a great player and a gifted scorer. He's also not changing and has a huge locker room presence where for the most part his teammates have always really like him. Melo is not going to play uptempo or speedball. He can be part of a spread offense but he views that as a way to get his shots off in m2m coverage.

I would like very much to see what Jeff does for a couple years with some good young talent. A nice blue chip guard from this draft, maybe a guy like Patty Mills and lets start building something new.

So long as Melo is here its his team and there is simply no way around that, and Jeff knows this. He's been super PC with Melo and defended him as he knows if Melo shuts down on him he loses the team like what happened with MDA.

i saw it as condemning Jackson for his roster construction, meddling, creating drama and uncertainty for the players with his criticisms and leaks to the media, and with his forcing his coach to play a style that suits Jackson and not Jeff. Where is the melo part? The only thing I saw about Melo was that Jackson's public criticisms of Melo and putting his name out there to be traded created uncertainty and drama for the coach and the team.

Phil would not even have anything to say if Melo was doing the right thing. Phil isn't the cause of the problem. He's merely responding to the problem. If the ball is moving and players are defending and giving max effort there are no Phil tweets.

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

fishmike wrote:this speaks of what I have been saying and the problem with having Melo on this roster. Melo is a great player and a gifted scorer. He's also not changing and has a huge locker room presence where for the most part his teammates have always really like him. Melo is not going to play uptempo or speedball. He can be part of a spread offense but he views that as a way to get his shots off in m2m coverage.

I would like very much to see what Jeff does for a couple years with some good young talent. A nice blue chip guard from this draft, maybe a guy like Patty Mills and lets start building something new.

So long as Melo is here its his team and there is simply no way around that, and Jeff knows this. He's been super PC with Melo and defended him as he knows if Melo shuts down on him he loses the team like what happened with MDA.

i saw it as condemning Jackson for his roster construction, meddling, creating drama and uncertainty for the players with his criticisms and leaks to the media, and with his forcing his coach to play a style that suits Jackson and not Jeff. Where is the melo part? The only thing I saw about Melo was that Jackson's public criticisms of Melo and putting his name out there to be traded created uncertainty and drama for the coach and the team.

Phil would not even have anything to say if Melo was doing the right thing. Phil isn't the cause of the problem. He's merely responding to the problem. If the ball is moving and players are defending and giving max effort there are no Phil tweets.

We disagree but is there anything in that article that goes after Melo or is it directed at the mistakes Jackson has made?

Well it gets back to why Phil said anything about Melo and why he wanted to trade him. It's pretty clear why that is. Melo basically reversed his move towards DadMelo and went back to being a ball stopper and non passer. Instead of increasing his facilitating to make the team better. That's not written but that is in fact why Phil says anything about Melo or looked to trade him.

CrushAlot wrote:

fishmike wrote:this speaks of what I have been saying and the problem with having Melo on this roster. Melo is a great player and a gifted scorer. He's also not changing and has a huge locker room presence where for the most part his teammates have always really like him. Melo is not going to play uptempo or speedball. He can be part of a spread offense but he views that as a way to get his shots off in m2m coverage.

I would like very much to see what Jeff does for a couple years with some good young talent. A nice blue chip guard from this draft, maybe a guy like Patty Mills and lets start building something new.

So long as Melo is here its his team and there is simply no way around that, and Jeff knows this. He's been super PC with Melo and defended him as he knows if Melo shuts down on him he loses the team like what happened with MDA.

i saw it as condemning Jackson for his roster construction, meddling, creating drama and uncertainty for the players with his criticisms and leaks to the media, and with his forcing his coach to play a style that suits Jackson and not Jeff. Where is the melo part? The only thing I saw about Melo was that Jackson's public criticisms of Melo and putting his name out there to be traded created uncertainty and drama for the coach and the team.

Kemet wrote:

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

fishmike wrote:this speaks of what I have been saying and the problem with having Melo on this roster. Melo is a great player and a gifted scorer. He's also not changing and has a huge locker room presence where for the most part his teammates have always really like him. Melo is not going to play uptempo or speedball. He can be part of a spread offense but he views that as a way to get his shots off in m2m coverage.

I would like very much to see what Jeff does for a couple years with some good young talent. A nice blue chip guard from this draft, maybe a guy like Patty Mills and lets start building something new.

So long as Melo is here its his team and there is simply no way around that, and Jeff knows this. He's been super PC with Melo and defended him as he knows if Melo shuts down on him he loses the team like what happened with MDA.

i saw it as condemning Jackson for his roster construction, meddling, creating drama and uncertainty for the players with his criticisms and leaks to the media, and with his forcing his coach to play a style that suits Jackson and not Jeff. Where is the melo part? The only thing I saw about Melo was that Jackson's public criticisms of Melo and putting his name out there to be traded created uncertainty and drama for the coach and the team.

My point is I agree, this season isnt on Jeff, I think he's a good coach, I think he will do well here, and I think the only way he lasts is if he keeps Melo happy while he's here. I also think once Melo is gone we will see a different style of play and what Jeff can really do.

The other night there were 10 seconds left in the game with the Knicks up by one point with Toronto having the ball calling time-out .. coach Horn put Melo and Rose on the court to play defense the final 10 seconds of the game .. the Knicks LOSS 92-91

Nalod wrote:Another article about "Blame". Single focus of this nonsense is to focus what is wrong and replace the person as if that alone will solve things.
Naturally, we extropolate the present in to the future.

Reasons to be cheerful.

1. Cap space
2. Trade picks.

Things not in abundance in the past.

"Triangle is to blame". I blame Rose for being a moron and not adhering to the gig. He had to know, BJ armstrong is his agent. He played for Phil.
Melo. Coach Horny for not coaching it right. Rambis of course gets all the blame. PHil and his 11 ring antiquated system. That System was antiquated 20 years ago.
Jennings, he could not do it either. Fisher, for being a horny bastard. Dolan for not loving on Oak. Oak for not loving himself......

ON and on.

lets get it straight, PHil is president of basketball operations and thus responsible for EVERYTHING! Been that way from day one.
Media has to right about something and knows some of you will get mad at the same thing over and over again. WE love to hate Phil, or Grunwald, or Walsh, Or Isiah, or Layden.

Phil is making decisions and taking chances. Lance good, WIlly good, KP good. Rose bad. Jennings bad. Winning record bad.
What Phil is not doing, COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEMS BY DOING SHORT TERM STUFF TO COVER HIS ASS......

Nalod is not all rosy on Phil, but I see the record and I see this experiment with Rose and Jennings is not working and what does Phil do? Pretty much is moving on and making this about the system and if we lose, we lose and get better draft. If we "get it", maybe make the playoffs. If we "get it" and fall short, maybe Rose is committed and we get a good talent at a good price who "gets it".
some of you will see this as a waste of time. Some of you see being an 8th seed as a waste of time. THats a debatable opinion with valid points on both sides.

Glad he didn't dump melo for Rivers and Crawford. Glad he didn't bring in Rubio. Glad he is not compromising on what he knows.
Maybe BJ armstrong beat into Rose that he will be cut if he does not adhere to the program and by doing so will look good as he might show he is coachable. Maybe Thibs passed on him because he knows Rose won;t play the type of defense he wants. Or in fact any other team that didn't make an offer. Its a tough contract to move. If he is a lost cause, waive him. If not, let him finish the audition. Maybe the kid can play it.

Coaching team-ball and substitution has been the big problem two season in a row .. plus when u add the no defensive-effort in the 4th quarter the blame goes straight to a non-strategy head coach.
You dont put a slow non-running player like Melo in a lineup with a speedy uptempo PG-Jennings and a running center Noah. There's no Jennings or Noah for the remainder of the season, why? Plus KP skills n talent are to raw to be in the starter n finisher lineup.
The head coach never established a 2nd unit lineup, or worked in practice with the bench players fitting in a lineup with 3 of the starters on offense or defense.