The Knicks would be smart to build around Kristaps Porzingis and go from there, but Phil Jackson is busy getting his Jerry Jones on; meddling from the sidelines, force-feeding the team to once again adopt the triangle offense that most modern NBA players seem to hate.
Carmelo Anthony skipped Phil Jackson’s triangle offense summer-school, and Derrick rose doesn’t seem to give a damn what the Knicks are running as long as those checks keep clearing. When asked by the NY Daily news what he thought of reverting back to Jackson’s preferred offense, he had this to say:
“Shit, do I have a choice? Do I have a choice?” Rose said when asked if he’s warming up to the triangle. “I just want to win games. Winning takes care of every category for an athlete.”
Porzingis, who is good enough to fit into any system; also gave his thoughts on the Knicks going back to the triangle:
“We should’ve been playing it from the beginning of the season,’’ Porzingis said. “We’re a little behind. I don’t know when we can finally start using it properly and making an impact.
“The whole first season we played nothing but the triangle. I know it pretty well. I like the offense. It can only work if everyone believes in it and everyone executes it the right way. We’re starting to learn it the way we should.’’
What isn’t up for debate is Porzingis is the Knicks’ best player by a long shot, and effectively their future, and he seems to be at odds with the franchise player over the base of the offense they are supposed to be running together.
With Rose on a 1-year deal, and Carmelo long past his prime, their voices should fall secondary to Porzingis, but the dysfunctional Knicks are trying their best to mess this up too.
If Porzingis ends up frustrated with losing and ineptitude playing in the big apple, the Knicks could lose him in free agency in a few years…around the same time Phil Jackson will probably be moving on.
What a legacy to leave.