Knicks · Zenmaster says his experiment has ‘fallen flat on its face' (page 1)

The Zenmaster hasn’t enjoyed much Zen in his first year as President of the Knicks.
Phil Jackson

In an interview with Harvey Araton of the New York Times, Phil Jackson said the Knicks’ season is “Like nothing I’ve seen before. So far, my experiment has fallen flat on its face.”

The Knicks began the season 5-36 before winning five of their last seven to improve to 10-38. They remain in the mix for the NBA’s worst record and a shot at the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

Jackson told Araton that he’s committed to the triangle offense, which, along with guys like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, helped him win 11 NBA titles in Chicago and L.A.

But former Bulls GM Jerry Krause said the Knicks don’t have the talent to win with the triangle.

“It’s really hard to run the triangle with bad players because most bad players don’t understand the game,” Krause said. “You’re not going to win with bad players running any system. But with the triangle you particularly have to have intelligent players who can be patient. And I’m not talking about math intelligence. I’m talking about basketball intelligence.”

The Knicks have more than $30 million in cap space this summer to get players like Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, Reggie Jackson, etc., but Jackson conceded he’s concerned that fear of the triangle’s complexity may discourage some free agents from coming to New York.

“Of course it’s a concern of mine, the perception that it’s too difficult to learn or too difficult for today’s players to embrace,” he said. “But I think anyone that believes he’s a total basketball player is going to want to do it. A sound offense incorporates all the basic skills of any player you have, whether you’re a center, a power forward, whatever. There are isolation spots in the triangle, but the only thing that precludes a player really fitting in is someone who has to have the whole side of the court to go one on one.”

On the subject of Carmelo Anthony, Jackson told Araton that the All-Star forward may shut it down after the All-Star Game to rest his balky knee. Still, Jackson gave Anthony a vote of confidence in terms of helping the Knicks win going forward.

“He has the capability of being a fourth-quarter guy who is going to make the shots,” Jackson said. “You need that kind of guy when you’re in the playoffs to win close games. You can run your triangle for three and a half quarters and it still comes down to having someone who is a little extra special down the stretch.”

As for shuttling back and forth from his home near L.A. to New York, Jackson said, “It isn’t ideal,” which may foreshadow him leaving his current gig before his five-year, $60 million contract ends.

Of the Knicks’ overall plan to rebuild, Jackson tried to reassure fans by saying, “This is just the first chapter.”

Anthony, meantime, turns 31 in May and has said he wants to rebuild “now.”

Way back in 1999, Bill Fitch, who was Jackson’s college coach at North Dakota, told him: “There’s not going to be any more midrange shots. It’s going to be a 3-point shot or right around the basket — that’s the way the game is evolving.”

Having won six titles with the triangle in Chicago, Jackson did not want to believe that. He could not understand why teams would not emulate the Bulls after what they had done.

“He pretty much predicted the state of the game,” Jackson said of Fitch. And the overall N.B.A. game, in Jackson’s opinion and much to his dismay, did become much too predictable, much less pure.

Here's where i have a problem, your team isn't taking enough Ft's, or getting opposing teams in Foul trouble and that's why the knicks where losing a ton of close games. That zapped the players confidence. If you in a "Lets see if this can work" year, why not make small adjustments to get the players to the FT line, thats why have zero or very little confidence in fish

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

jrodmc wrote:I just think it's a sure sign of a no-nothing pretender who's going to collect all that money and then die.

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

why don't you contribute a thought or an opinion Jrod?

Some substance dude

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:I just think it's a sure sign of a no-nothing pretender who's going to collect all that money and then die.

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

why don't you contribute a thought or an opinion Jrod?

Some substance dude

Sarcasm is lost on some. I'm agreeing with knicks1969 in a veiled and thoughtful way, while pointing out the assets Mr. Jackson has procured/preserved for us thus far. I also offered my own personal trepidation about the insights of someone known unaffectionately as "Crumbs".

Stop with the substance abuse, reinman.

jrodmc wrote:

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:I just think it's a sure sign of a no-nothing pretender who's going to collect all that money and then die.

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

why don't you contribute a thought or an opinion Jrod?

Some substance dude

Sarcasm is lost on some. I'm agreeing with knicks1969 in a veiled and thoughtful way, while pointing out the assets Mr. Jackson has procured/preserved for us thus far. I also offered my own personal trepidation about the insights of someone known unaffectionately as "Crumbs".

Stop with the substance abuse, reinman.

Crumbs?

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:I just think it's a sure sign of a no-nothing pretender who's going to collect all that money and then die.

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

why don't you contribute a thought or an opinion Jrod?

Some substance dude

Sarcasm is lost on some. I'm agreeing with knicks1969 in a veiled and thoughtful way, while pointing out the assets Mr. Jackson has procured/preserved for us thus far. I also offered my own personal trepidation about the insights of someone known unaffectionately as "Crumbs".

Stop with the substance abuse, reinman.

Crumbs?

Not the greatest of businessmen I'll admit, but MJ used to run his own negotiations with Krause, and called him that, due to the fact he often apppeared ill-prepared and sloppy.

A little history lesson for you.

jrodmc wrote:

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

mreinman wrote:

jrodmc wrote:I just think it's a sure sign of a no-nothing pretender who's going to collect all that money and then die.

I just think he's feeding Zen pablum to the media who are enamored of some broken down old has-been coach who has no idea what to do with draft picks, bad contracts and cap space.

I actually get a little scared reading what Jerry Krause has to say.

why don't you contribute a thought or an opinion Jrod?

Some substance dude

Sarcasm is lost on some. I'm agreeing with knicks1969 in a veiled and thoughtful way, while pointing out the assets Mr. Jackson has procured/preserved for us thus far. I also offered my own personal trepidation about the insights of someone known unaffectionately as "Crumbs".

Stop with the substance abuse, reinman.

Crumbs?

Not the greatest of businessmen I'll admit, but MJ used to run his own negotiations with Krause, and called him that, due to the fact he often apppeared ill-prepared and sloppy.

A little history lesson for you.

hahaha - thanks!

I just want Phill to add guys to the roster that can stretch the court. We need a Paxton/Kerr/BJ Armstrong; and we need a Horrace Grant/Rodman/ type players.

What I see from the knicks since sweet lou joined is much more hustle and defense out of everyone else.

mreinman wrote:paxTon was awesome

What I see from the knicks since sweet lou joined is much more hustle and defense out of everyone else.

Agree, even THJ is defending the perimeter now. I think the coaching staff changed its prior defensive approach

Knicks1969 wrote:

mreinman wrote:paxTon was awesome

What I see from the knicks since sweet lou joined is much more hustle and defense out of everyone else.

Agree, even THJ is defending the perimeter now. I think the coaching staff changed its prior defensive approach

funny but you know who I saw playing his azz off on defense?

JOSE FREAKIN CALDERON

Knicks1969 wrote:I believe Phill will be successful in NY. I am beginning to see semblance of improvements from Fisher the coach; perhaps with more "all around" talents, we might finally turn the page.

I just want Phill to add guys to the roster that can stretch the court. We need a Paxton/Kerr/BJ Armstrong; and we need a Horrace Grant/Rodman/ type players.

This off season will be crucial in regards to the players picked up in free agency as well as who/where we pick in the upcoming draft.

Sangfroid wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:I believe Phill will be successful in NY. I am beginning to see semblance of improvements from Fisher the coach; perhaps with more "all around" talents, we might finally turn the page.

I just want Phill to add guys to the roster that can stretch the court. We need a Paxton/Kerr/BJ Armstrong; and we need a Horrace Grant/Rodman/ type players.

This off season will be crucial in regards to the players picked up in free agency as well as who/where we pick in the upcoming draft.

Agree....Phil's next two transactions will solidify his legacy as president of the club. He can't afford to make mistAke this time around. We need two-way players who have smarts and a head on their shoulders.

djsunyc wrote:y'all should be lucky your president is running an "experiment".

djsunyc wrote:y'all should be lucky your president is running an "experiment".

Isn't that what all teams GMs and presidents are essentially doing?

1. Anthony
2. Calderon
3. Hardaway
4. Early
5. Galloway

Looks like a ton of roster spots to fill. For the rest of the season we have guys who are playing for a chance to stay. It would only make sense for a few of these guys to be brought back next year so that there is some continuity with the system. Then we have the Draft and about $30 Mil in Free Agency to get more talent we need to actually compete on a higher level. We still have to see what Phil can get done by the trade deadline. Sounds like a pretty reasonable path to rebuild the team to me.

Knicks1969 wrote:It was foolish to predict playoffs with a rookie coach, JR, Amare, and such poor defended players on this roster.

Just as foolish to not predict it. What's he gonna say? Team sucks and won't make playoffs?