When Phil Jackson first arrived at Madison Square Garden to assume control of the Knicks, he did so preaching patience, process and transparency.
Most of what Jackson said then has held true. Most importantly, he hasn’t been invisible, hiding behind a crazy-strict media policy. But he hasn’t been incredibly visible either. Or rather, chatty. He hasn’t been chatty.
Until now.
Jackson talked about the Knicks’ disastrous 4-18 start that, truthfully, many didn’t see coming. Some of the snippets he had to offer can be seen below, courtesy of ESPN New York’s Ian Begley:
“It’s about a loser’s mentality,” Jackson said on Monday. “It’s not about the skill or the talent level.” …
… “Obviously, we’re disappointed,” said Jackson, who has won a record 11 NBA championships as a head coach. “… I think guys understand what we’re trying to do. Hopefully, they’re getting to be more compliant. There’s some resistance to discipline and order and culture change and things like that. I will call it a crucible for what we’re going through here. The process, maybe the heat, is going to refine some of the stuff so that we come out and be a pretty good team after all is said and done.” …
… “I’m not going to make movement for movement’s sake. There is sometimes addition by subtraction but I don’t see anybody that doesn’t want to be part of this organization, doesn’t want to play with his teammates, doesn’t want to learn,” he said. “… What we have to do is protect our future. … If we evaluate a player and see he’s going to be a long-term player who is going to fit in our organization, we’ll do that.” …
… “I’m not happy about that,” he said. “We have players that are part of our long term that must consistently perform at a level in this system of offense to demonstrate that they’re progressing and what the advantages are to what we’re doing.”
That last part is the most important. The Knicks aren’t rebuilding conventionally. This season’s dumpster fire isn’t about securing a top-five or even top-three pick. It’s not about developing young talent. The Knicks have little in the way of young talent. And, no, this season wasn’t about winning a championship either. But it was about impressing the players who can help them win a championship.
Clinching a playoff berth would go a long way in catching Marc Gasol’s or Goran Dragic’s or anyone else’s attention. They may still be unlikely to sign in New York, but they’re even less likely to join the Knicks while they’re stuck in the throes of a restructuring era nearly devoid of definitive direction.
To that end, there is still time. The Knicks are *only* six games back of the East’s final playoff spot. Teams tend to be who they are 25 percent of the way through a season, but if they can put together a sizable winning streak and build from there, hope is not lost.
For now, though, it is missing. The Knicks are not a good basketball team. Their defense is overrun with disinterest and incompetency and their offense is hamstrung by archaic shot selections and the absence of ball-screeners and slashers. Unless they remedy their obvious flaws soon, it’s only a matter of time before all immediate hope is, in fact lost for good.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
