Knicks · The Logo critical of job Jackson has done with Knicks... (page 1)

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/...



It sounds like NBA legend Jerry West has some serious doubts about Phil Jackson's ability to turn things around for the New York Knicks.

In an interview on Sunday, West, who wasn't on good terms with Jackson when both men worked for the Los Angeles Lakers, took a few thinly-veiled shots at the Zen Master. West questioned the trades Jackson has made with the Knicks and wondered about his ability to succeed in a front office role.

“It’s a little easier for (Heat president and former Knicks and Lakers coach Pat Riley)," West said in an interview on Sirius XM Bleacher Report Radio’s “NBA Sunday Tip” co-hosted by Howard Beck and Ethan Skolnick.

“He’s had a lot more experience on both sides in coaching and now in the front office. With Phil, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens back there. They didn’t have the kind of year I’m sure they wanted to have. Everyone in the league feels like they made two trades that helped Cleveland tremendously and one that helped Dallas this year."

Jackson sent J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland in early January in a 3-team trade that gave the Knicks two second-round picks, two trade exceptions and two players they would cut and later re-sign.

Smith and Shumpert have been key contributors in the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals, leading some, including West, to question the deal.

Last June, Jackson traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks for a package that included Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert.

New York released Dalembert in January and Calderon had a sub-par season. In Dallas, Chandler helped the Mavs reach the playoffs. Again, Jackson received plenty of criticism for the trade.

The Knicks finished with a franchise-low 17 victories last season. Jackson hopes to turn things around this summer. New York will pick fourth in the NBA Draft and has approximately $27-million to spend in free agency. West wonders whether Jackson will be able to attract top talent to New York.

"He wants to have a team that will have his identity on it," West said. “A lot of people want to be critical. I wouldn’t be so critical because they need a fresh infusion of talent there and also people that will be able to play the way they want to play.

“Phil was fortunate. He’s made a lot of money in this league," West added in a reference to Jackson's $60 million salary with the Knicks. "Even though he’s making a lot of money today, he wants to win. He’s a competitor. It will remain to be seen whether they’ll be able to turn their fortunes around. They have a lot of money to spend on free agents, but a lot of times people don’t want to play certain places for different reasons.

“What he’s done there would be easy to criticize," West added. “He understood that team would be pretty good, but not at the level he’s won. If you’re not successful in getting free agents it will set their progress back. It’s a completely different challenge for him. He’s had teams with enormous talent. He’s coached them brilliantly and won championships, but it’s a different challenge for him."

West and Jackson weren't exactly best friends when both worked for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson famously asked a group of people, including West, to leave the Lakers locker room following a playoff loss. So West's opinion of Jackson should be viewed with that in mind.

The Logo isn't above a little gloating. Not that he's wrong - Phil has a lot to prove here still.

the logo has a personal grievance with Phil from Phil's time on the Lakers. Its petty and opportunistic to go at Phil now. The media is eating it up though. He probably still isn't a fan of Phil from their playing days....

Phil is easy pickings at this point. Everyone seems to be taking shots, which is fair game. Phil is a big boy. He can take it. Phil has taken shots at others over the years. Phil will have his chance to show what he's about over the next 2 months. Phil has admitted to early growing pains and making mistakes. Now he gets a chance to correct the situation.

Yes, he helped cleveland "This year"........

And we got picks for the future. We got rid of Tyson who was done here, and got rid of Felton. For larkin, Sam, Calderone and Early.
Dallas was helped "this year".

This team was not going anywhere "This year".

Logo didn't say anything that bad. The writer is making a story of it. Phil got a lot of work to do.
News at 11.

holfresh wrote:http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/...



It sounds like NBA legend Jerry West has some serious doubts about Phil Jackson's ability to turn things around for the New York Knicks.

In an interview on Sunday, West, who wasn't on good terms with Jackson when both men worked for the Los Angeles Lakers, took a few thinly-veiled shots at the Zen Master. West questioned the trades Jackson has made with the Knicks and wondered about his ability to succeed in a front office role.

“It’s a little easier for (Heat president and former Knicks and Lakers coach Pat Riley)," West said in an interview on Sirius XM Bleacher Report Radio’s “NBA Sunday Tip” co-hosted by Howard Beck and Ethan Skolnick.

“He’s had a lot more experience on both sides in coaching and now in the front office. With Phil, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens back there. They didn’t have the kind of year I’m sure they wanted to have. Everyone in the league feels like they made two trades that helped Cleveland tremendously and one that helped Dallas this year."

Jackson sent J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland in early January in a 3-team trade that gave the Knicks two second-round picks, two trade exceptions and two players they would cut and later re-sign.

Smith and Shumpert have been key contributors in the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals, leading some, including West, to question the deal.

Last June, Jackson traded Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks for a package that included Jose Calderon and Samuel Dalembert.

New York released Dalembert in January and Calderon had a sub-par season. In Dallas, Chandler helped the Mavs reach the playoffs. Again, Jackson received plenty of criticism for the trade.

The Knicks finished with a franchise-low 17 victories last season. Jackson hopes to turn things around this summer. New York will pick fourth in the NBA Draft and has approximately $27-million to spend in free agency. West wonders whether Jackson will be able to attract top talent to New York.

"He wants to have a team that will have his identity on it," West said. “A lot of people want to be critical. I wouldn’t be so critical because they need a fresh infusion of talent there and also people that will be able to play the way they want to play.

“Phil was fortunate. He’s made a lot of money in this league," West added in a reference to Jackson's $60 million salary with the Knicks. "Even though he’s making a lot of money today, he wants to win. He’s a competitor. It will remain to be seen whether they’ll be able to turn their fortunes around. They have a lot of money to spend on free agents, but a lot of times people don’t want to play certain places for different reasons.

“What he’s done there would be easy to criticize," West added. “He understood that team would be pretty good, but not at the level he’s won. If you’re not successful in getting free agents it will set their progress back. It’s a completely different challenge for him. He’s had teams with enormous talent. He’s coached them brilliantly and won championships, but it’s a different challenge for him."

West and Jackson weren't exactly best friends when both worked for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson famously asked a group of people, including West, to leave the Lakers locker room following a playoff loss. So West's opinion of Jackson should be viewed with that in mind.

J.West and PHil have hated each other since their days of working together in LA so he's just taking shots at Phil. If in two years Phil doesn't have a team that will be ready to contend every year then i'll lose all faith in him as a executive but he hasn't even had a chance to show what he can do yet so J.West can Fudge off.

Nalod wrote:Yes, he helped cleveland "This year"........

And we got picks for the future. We got rid of Tyson who was done here, and got rid of Felton. For larkin, Sam, Calderone and Early.
Dallas was helped "this year".

This team was not going anywhere "This year".

Logo didn't say anything that bad. The writer is making a story of it. Phil got a lot of work to do.
News at 11.

Yep- this JR/Shump criticism is lame. I can understand if you loved/liked Shump and JR and didn't want us to give them away, but the media didn't. Did Denver give Cavs the keys to the finals? apparently it was just the Knicks, even though they turned around after the Mosgov trade. Who gives a shit how the Cavs do post-trade.

Also can I say this too. Who is the Logo to critique anyone about helping another team through a trade. He sent LA Pau Gasol so they could win more championships with Kobe.

The writer should of mentioned that in his article too.

smackeddog wrote:

Nalod wrote:Yes, he helped cleveland "This year"........

And we got picks for the future. We got rid of Tyson who was done here, and got rid of Felton. For larkin, Sam, Calderone and Early.
Dallas was helped "this year".

This team was not going anywhere "This year".

Logo didn't say anything that bad. The writer is making a story of it. Phil got a lot of work to do.
News at 11.

Yep- this JR/Shump criticism is lame. I can understand if you loved/liked Shump and JR and didn't want us to give them away, but the media didn't. Did Denver give Cavs the keys to the finals? apparently it was just the Knicks, even though they turned around after the Mosgov trade. Who gives a shit how the Cavs do post-trade.

I don't understand that argument..You gave an Eastern Conference rival pieces to make it to the Finals, where they look like they were not going to make the Finals before the trade..This rival is stronger and will be in your way to compete in the foreseeable future...

wargames wrote:Also can I say this too. Who is the Logo to critique anyone about helping another team through a trade. He sent LA Pau Gasol so they could win more championships with Kobe.

The writer should of mentioned that in his article too.

He got Marc Gasol in return. That ended up being a pretty great trade for Memphis.

wargames wrote:Also can I say this too. Who is the Logo to critique anyone about helping another team through a trade. He sent LA Pau Gasol so they could win more championships with Kobe.

The writer should of mentioned that in his article too.

Ha! I had forgotten that

VCoug wrote:

wargames wrote:Also can I say this too. Who is the Logo to critique anyone about helping another team through a trade. He sent LA Pau Gasol so they could win more championships with Kobe.

The writer should of mentioned that in his article too.

He got Marc Gasol in return. That ended up being a pretty great trade for Memphis.

That was a fluke- no one anticipated arc gaol becoming what he did.

West was credited with building the great Laker dynasty of the 80s..He traded Divac for Kobe..

very petty and unbecoming

Still smarting over the fact that he lost 2/3 finals against the Knicks as a player, and would have lost the other one if DeBusschere had not had not been limited by nagging injury after the Knicks blew LA out in game one.

Nalod wrote:Yes, he helped cleveland "This year"........

And we got picks for the future. We got rid of Tyson who was done here, and got rid of Felton. For larkin, Sam, Calderone and Early.
Dallas was helped "this year".

We got two 2nd round picks, not exactly a king's ransom. Calderon and Dalembert were supposed to help this year. Instead, Dalembert was waived and Calderon was terrible. Larkin was a throwin to make the salaries work; we declined his option almost immediately after the trade and he won't be back next season.

VCoug wrote:

Nalod wrote:Yes, he helped cleveland "This year"........

And we got picks for the future. We got rid of Tyson who was done here, and got rid of Felton. For larkin, Sam, Calderone and Early.
Dallas was helped "this year".

We got two 2nd round picks, not exactly a king's ransom. Calderon and Dalembert were supposed to help this year. Instead, Dalembert was waived and Calderon was terrible. Larkin was a throwin to make the salaries work; we declined his option almost immediately after the trade and he won't be back next season.

Actually a complicated situation, IMO.

Keep Tyson and we might very well be drafting 8th or above, even if we trade him at the deadline.

Would have been nice to get the Cavs picks, but would the Cavs have taken him over Mosgov?

Blatt coached Mosgov and he has a team option for next year at a decent price, but you figure James might have wanted Chandler.

Remember, though, unless the Cavs gave up 1's not belonging to them, their #1 is basically an early second round pick. Is the 4 we have this year more valuable than a later lottery pick this year and 2 late 1's?

Still, the real killer move for me as the team now stands is still the Bargs deal and the #1 we will lose next year.

Even though i like phil kinda agree with the article. Obviously one of the best coaches but being a good GM is a entirely different animal and it could take a while. So far phil hasnt had much luck making good moves. However the draft and free agency will make or break him

Ha, this summarizes how I feel perfectly:

When the regular season concluded, I figured that was the end of all the compelling Knicks analysis I enjoyed on national broadcasts and social media. No, sir! Even far out of the actual picture, New York is a frequent topic of conversation -- thoughtful, incisive, informative conversation. Here are some things I've learned:

1. Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, who are on the Cavaliers, used to be on the Knicks.

2. The Knicks traded J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavaliers.

3. The Cavaliers are going to the NBA Finals, while the Knicks, who traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to them, are not.

4. Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith once played for the Knicks.

5. The New York Knicks. The bad ones.

6. The Knicks, who used to employ Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, are bad, while the Cavaliers are quite good.

7. Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith are on the Cavaliers because Phil Jackson traded them there. From the Knicks. Who are bad.

8. Timofey Mozgov is on the Cavaliers, too! He played for the Knicks.

9. The Knicks are bad. The Cavaliers are not bad, as is evidenced by their trip to the NBA Finals with Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith.

10. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert are going to the Finals. The NBA Finals.

11. If the Knicks did not trade J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavaliers, they would also be in the NBA Finals and not sitting at home getting absolutely no production from those guys except concerns over one's expiring contract and the other's player option? [citation needed]

12. Steve Kerr coaches the Warriors, who are going to the NBA Finals, unlike the Knicks, who are not going to the NBA Finals.

13. Steve Kerr came close to signing on to coach the Knicks, who are not the Warriors. One notable difference between the Warriors and Knicks is that the Warriors are great and going to the NBA Finals, while the Knicks are not.

14. Steve Kerr is probably happy that he is coaching a team, the Warriors, that is going to the NBA Finals, instead of coaching the Knicks, who are bad.

15. Steve Kerr coaches the Warriors.

16. Not the Knicks. He could coach the Knicks, but he does not. Steve Kerr.

17. Phil Jackson, who runs the Knicks, who are bad, tried to hire Steve Kerr to coach the Knicks but Steve Kerr decided to coach the Warriors instead.

18. The Knicks are bad.

19. The Knicks are not coached by Steve Kerr, who coaches the Warriors, who are much better than the Knicks

http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2015/5...

As nixluva says, Phil and the Knicks are easy pickings right now. We're bad and the only way to go is "up". West was trying to be diplomatic but it's no secret that he and Phil did not get along in LA. Unfortunately, there is that anti-NY sentiment from across the media and markets outside of NY. No secret - it all stems from the jealousy of the big city markets. The Lakers have been spared because of their success. I remember the championship era 69-73 and the strong, contenders in the 90's. Growing up as a NYC ballplayer - we took pride in the Knicks representing our city and basketball playground culture. That's why it hurts so much to see all the Knick bashing with the media treating the team as a joke and outsiders reveling in their mistakes. Dolan can't understand that kind of pride and pain from Knick supporters.
As for Phil and Fisher, the jury is still out. I think he felt Dalembert would be a reasonable replacement for Chandler and Calderon an upgrade over Felton. He felt there would be a more unified locker room but he underestimated the lack of talent on the roster. With the JR/Shumper fire sale, he got boxed-in timing wise with the need to free up future cap space. Given their value at the time, I don't think he would have gotten a 1st round pick - but he should have been able to get at least one or two more 2nd rounders. I do think he did well to get two 2nd rounders for Prigioni. Let's hope he improves in negotiating future deals. Phil is so arrogant that it annoys peers like West. I only hope his arrogance does not affect his judgment or work ethic. He is purposely vague with the media so they really don't know what he's thinking or doing behind the scenes. It will all play out with the draft and free agency. Come August, we will all have plenty to discuss and second-guess on this site. Do any of you guys actually attend the draft? I was at one way back in 1987 when the Knicks picked Mark Jackson. It was a lot of fun - and much cheaper than now!