If you think less than 15 games into the NBA’s regular season is too early for a team meeting, you’re wrong.
The New York Knicks are proof, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com:
Phil Jackson, the players & coaches met Saturday & talked about different issues surrounding the team. Carmelo said it was productive.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 20, 2016
What was discussed during said meeting? We don’t know. But we do know, courtesy of Carmelo Anthony, that team president Phil Jackson kept his mouth shut:
Meeting w/players, coaches & Phil lasted about an hour. Did Phil talk? "Nah, he actually just listened this time. Which is good," Melo said.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 20, 2016
Well, this is new.
Jackson isn’t known for his quiet disposition. Yes, he’s chock full of Zen, but he speaks his mind, often to a fault (see: the inexplicable LeBron James fiasco that Jackson has no one to blame for but himself). Perhaps by listening to his team, he better understands his players, and where they’re coming from, and what the concerns might be.
Then again, we cannot be sure, because the context of said Saturday meeting remains unknown.
All we know is that the Knicks came out and pulled off a victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday while playing pretty good defense, a mere day after said meeting took place. And while that may not mean anything, it could, in the end, mean something.
So the Knicks will take it.
