The words “triangle” and “Knicks” are already synonymous with each other (and the word “failure”). The Knicks have been running a little more triangle offense lately, and Phil Jackson intends to build on it. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley Jackson, the team president, worked with the guards on the triangle offense prior to an informal team practice. According to Begley’s sources, Jackson was hands-on instructing.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek acknowledged that the team has been using the triangle more and intends to continue doing so. Hornacek says he is happy to have Jackson’s input, but a team president teaching an offense is definitely not normal around the NBA. Jackson has been trying to implement the offensive system for several years now, with limited success. While the triangle has been a proven strategy in several championships, the NBA is vastly different now.
Derrick Rose recently spoke about the triangle offense and his comfort level in running it, but feel like he has much of a choice in the matter. Carmelo Anthony has had mixed feelings about the triangle offense as well, though his relationship with Jackson is so strained that it may not even matter.
Quite frankly, the Knicks can run whatever offense they want and it may still not work. The players are unwilling to buy into the system being laid out by Phil Jackson, and Jeff Hornecek is just an innocent bystander in this situation. The front office, coaching staff and players are not on the same page, a problem that has seemingly been going on for years.
