N.Y. Knicks: Triangulation Exacerbation

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

Another deflating moment in the Knicks 16-year rebuilding process.

New York Knicks: Derek Fisher turned into just another social misfit lost in a Triangle of love.

There was little justification for hiring Derek Fisher in the first place, so, firing him was a layup.

He was brought in to help teach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, but instead became ensnared in a bizarre love triangle gone public.  As coach, his affect on the team was just as ineffective - and as we're learning, maybe even toxic.

For a change, there's no dumping on Carmelo Anthony for this one.  He's clean.  In fact, Melo has been more of the solution this season, than the problem.  His willingness to work with Kristaps Porzingis and the rest of his newer mates elevated the Knicks into a .500 team (to date) - not Derek Fisher's coaching per se, or lack thereof.  Lest we forget the Knicks were a woeful 17-65 last season.

Therefore, all this (and Kurt Rambis) must be taken with a grain of salt.

I've seen more prominent coaches torn apart by this town's media, for exercising greater command of their craft, and committing much lesser offenses than those of which Derek Fisher was essentially given a slap on the hand for.  It goes without saying he has Phil Jackson to thank for his initial employment, as well as any benevolence experienced from said media.

Luckily for Derek Fisher, Phil Jackson is the alpha.  All eyes are on him, and always were.  Everyone looked at Fisher, but saw Phil Jackson.

Hiring Fisher was not as negligent as generally characterized.  Giving Derek Fisher an opportunity to get his feet wet was a nice gesture on Jackson's part.  Sure, it came at the Knicks expense, but, the team was in do-ever mode again, and going nowhere.

So what becomes of this acute Triangle now?

Phil Jackson's next hire will go a long way towards answering that question.  We're also going to learn, one way or another, how stubbornly committed he is to this twisted geometry of his.

At some point, this system, or Phil Jackson himself will have to go.  And it's my opinion that Phil Jackson knows exactly when the latter will happen.

Knicks and Nets: The Not Ready For Prime Time Cagers

From the desks of:  

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

If futility ignited rivalries, 

this one would be a 3-alarm fire.

Like Two Bottle Rockets in the New York Night...

Remember how Carmelo Anthony's haste for leaving the Denver Nuggets, and seeking a max-contract before the league's new CBA kicked in (that would have otherwise reigned in his earning potential as a free agent) almost got him traded to the New Jersey Nets?

Remember how the Carmelo Anthony tug-o-war between the Nets and Knicks unfolded, or rather, how James Dolan trampled over Donnie Walsh in his own haste to intercept Carmelo?

Both teams were prepared to show Melo the money, so to say.  But the Knicks ultimately offered more players than could the Nets, and so on Feb. 22, 2011, Carmelo Anthony became a Knick.

That seemingly set the next day's headlines in stone - until the Nets secured guard Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz under cover of night.  In an astonishing turn of events, the Feb. 23rd morning tabloids proclaimed New Jersey's trade for a top point guard trumped New York's acquisition of a high scoring small forward.

Then came the Nets move into Brooklyn (Knicks' turf, the land of Bernard King), and an inevitable clash between owners James Dolan and Mikhail Prokhorov.  You might say Prokhorov stuck Dolan with a hot cattle prod when he first purchased billboard space two blocks from Madison Square Garden, and again when he decreed the Brooklyn Nets would win a championship within three short years.

The hardwood battle, however, was supposed to feature supreme two performances - the respective abilities of Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams in leading their respective teams, and boroughs, to postseason glory.

In 2012-2013, the city got a small taste of what could potentially still become a furious inter-city rivalry (perchance to dream....).  The Knicks and Nets finished one and two atop the Atlantic Division:

• Knicks (54-28); Carmelo Anthony led the league with 28.7 points per game.  His team advanced passed the Boston Celtics in the first round of playoffs, then bowed to the Indiana Pacers in Round 2.

• Nets (49-33); Deron Williams averaged 18.9 ppg. and 7.7 assists.  In their inaugural season playing in Brooklyn, the Nets fell to an undermanned Chicago Bulls team.

If you missed it, too bad, because that's as good as things got.  If futility ignited rivalries, this one would be a 3-alarm fire.

The Knicks quite literally fell off a cliff, forcing Dolan into somewhat out-of-the-box thinking.  Alas, he called on 1970's Knickerbocker hero/1990's Bulls nemesis Phil Jackson to help clean up the mess, despite a glaring lack of front office experience.

The Knicks failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.  In 2013-14, they posted a sub-par 37-45 record.  Then came last season's record breaking disaster, in which the Knicks posted a 17-65 record, that some might argue was solely authored by the man (Phil Jackson) whom help the Knicks win their last championship over 40-years ago.

On July 13, 2014, the Knicks ponderously re-signed Carmelo Anthony to another max-pact, which totally flew in the face of Phil Jackson's rebuilding effort.

Brooklyn's rate of regression wasn't as shocking as that of the Knicks, but has been no less methodically painful to watch.  The Nets made the playoffs in 2013-2014 with a 44-38 record, and again last year with a sub-par 38-44 record.

While Melo was in full effect at Madison Square Garden, Deron Williams was incredibly ineffective during most of his time with Brooklyn.  Never able to shake the injury bug, he struggled mightily after accepting the role of franchise player.

On July 11, 2015, Deron Williams was mercifully waived by the Nets.

Like two bottle rockets on a mid-summer night, the fireworks demonstration over the East River anticipated by Manhattan and Brooklyn alike fizzled out.

Even the owners stopped taking cheap shots at each other.

Now what?

Brooklyn Nets: The unraveling realm of Billy King.

As noted, the Nets are in regression.  After posting 49 wins during their inaugural season in Brooklyn, they slipped to 44 wins in year two, to only 38 wins last year.

Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson are still here, but the player formerly known as the franchise, is not.   Deron Williams plays for Dallas now, waived by Billy King.  He follows Gerald Wallace, Paul Pierce, Alan Anderson, Kevin Garnett, and the seemingly hundreds of other players Billy King has brought in and out of Kings County.

With Williams gone, Jarrett Jack takes over the lead point guard role this season, but will not be available when the Nets host the Bulls in Wednesday night's season opener at Barclays Center.  Until Jack's hamstring gets jumping again, Shane Larkin will open the season at point.

Mason Plumlee is gone too.  Not happy about that!

Re-signing Brook Lopez was one small step for the Nets, but two giant feet of trouble for Brooklyn-kind.  The free agent opted to stay with the Nets - the only team he's known since 2008.

Brook played 82 games in each of his first three seasons, but not since.  His history of on and off again foot issues screams beware in 2015-2016.  He was limited to just 5 games in 2011-2012, then followed up with 74 games in 2012-2013.  He only appeared in 17 games during 2013-2014, then followed up again with 72 games played last season.

Will this turn into another problematic season for Brook and the Nets?

While his feet say one thing, Coach Hollins says another.  Remember how Lionel Hollins effectively benched Lopez?  Last season marked the first time Brook failed to start in any game which he played going back to his rookie season.  Last year he only started 44 of his 72 games played.

Joe Johnson is entering the final season of his contract.  That's nice, but the upcoming season won't be.

Lionel Hollins will make them play defense, but this does not strike me as a top eight Eastern Conference team.

That said, can someone explain to me why Billy King is still in charge?

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony, Phil Jackson, and Derek Fisher; a Triumvirate of Dysfunction.

Either they change the Knicks narrative together, or not at all...

Why re-sign Carmelo Anthony?  Last season, he played with a knee injury that would ultimately require surgery.  He played injured since opening night, yet only cared long enough in order to play in the all-star game before shutting down his season.

The Knicks entered the all-star break with a 10-43 record.  They ranked either last, or next to last on both offense and defense.  So why was he playing in the first place?

Exactly!

Robin Lopez gets to playing the same city as his brother, though.  That's nice.

Not so nice - Carmelo Anthony's reaction to Phil Jackson drafting Kristaps Porzingis.  Way to make the kid feel welcome.  If Melo knew the Knicks were in rebuilding mode, why re-sign with them?   I'm sure it had nothing to do with the Knicks ability to pay more than all other suitors...

Exactly!

This is still Melo's World.  We just get to live in it and watch.  Although, I'm still terribly interested to see who prevails as Knicks alpha-male - Phil Jackson or Carmelo Anthony.  Coach Fisher will be their battleground personified.

Team projections?  Don't make me laugh.  The Knicks will be lucky to win 25 games.

This non-burgeoning rivalry is still in search of better days.  

Their Dec. 4 clash will be nothing more than a pillow fight, 

as both contend for a second division participation trophy.

N.Y. Knicks: Set Your Clocks According To Melo Time

From the desk of: DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

NBA worst 10-43 (.189)

New York Knicks: With the All-Star game out of the way, and Amare gone, Carmelo declared no mas.

Dutch pants can't jump, and apparently neither can Carmelo Anthony.

Blame James Dolan...

I do.

He took away Donnie Walsh's proverbial corner office with a view, stripped Mike D'Antoni of his key to the executive bathroom, and handed them both to Carmelo Anthony with haste.

Remember?  In an effort to secure Melo before the Nets did, Dolan stomped all over them like Godzilla through Tokyo.

Once in the fold, Melo has been calling the shots ever since.  He won a scoring title, and also led the Knicks to their worst start in history (of which, the debacle continues).

He certainly didn't want to be coached by D'Antoni, and wound up throwing Mike Woodson under a bus.  He didn't want to play with Jeremy Lin or Tyson Chandler, and he doesn't seem to care much for Tim Hardaway Jr.  If anything, Coach Fisher and the Triangle offense have become merely the latest inconvenience and hindrance to Melo Ball.

When he first hurt his knee, it was said that by playing he would not hurt it further.  Fine.  It was said to be a matter of Carmelo Anthony's pain threshold.  Okay.

But, but...., BUT, you just can't bide time, play 30-minutes in the All-Star Game, which just happened to be played at MSG this year, then decide the pain is too much to continue.

C'mon man!

He knew he would inevitably need surgery (and not a minor procedure at that).  Waiting till after the all-star game was flat-out selfish (IMO), if for no other reason that his recovery may potentially interfere with his ability to participate in the next preseason.

Phil Jackson said the surgery entailed a near 6-month recovery - key word being recovery.  His conditioning is likely to be compromised heading into September and October.

The Knicks were already in the midst of a historically bad season, with Melo in the line-up.  That tells me there was a potential lack of communication, urgency, or willingness to address a lingering situation, on everyone's part.

Here's a lesson learned on the Knicks first time executive: sometimes you have to communicate with players in their language.  It seems with many players, all they understand are money and minutes.  In lieu of a clear plan, Phil Jackson should have initiated a proactive approach by having Coach Fisher curtail his minutes.  In saying Melo dictated the timing of the surgery, Phil Jackson really meant to say that he fell in line like everyone else not named Dolan.

That said, I don't think Phil's Jedi mind tricks are going to work with Anthony.  Melo is focused on Melo - always has been.  Phil's "loser mentality" speech seemingly fell on deaf ears.  This could eventually become a battle of the force (70-yr. old) Phil of the Future might lose.

That's just the way I see it.



Mike

N.Y. Knicks: Phil Jackson's Deconstruction Plan Moves Forward

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

This man is no doubt next on Phil Jackson's list

NEW YORK KNICKS: The NBA Lottery - Phil Jackson Decided Ya Gotta Be In It To Win It.

After starting the 2014-15 season a neat 2-1, the Knicks then lost 7 straight.  Shortly thereafter, they endured another 10 game losing streak before finally defeating Boston on December 12th.

To date, that was the last time the New York Knicks won a game.

Since then, the New York Knicks have dropped another 13 games in a row, to include Wednesday night's road loss to the Washington Wizards.

It hasn't really mattered whether Carmelo Anthony has been in or out of the lineup.  The losing has been consistent throughout.  So, if his knee is bothering him, why not shut him down?  Mind you, this is just year one of Carmelo Anthony's 5-year extension, and it's not like Phil Jackson doesn't already have buyer's remorse.

Not incidentally, chants of "fire Fisher" had recently been gaining mild momentum in the stands at MSG.  That's why earlier this week Phil Jackson offered those fans an abrupt correction.

There will be no blaming the coach this year; certainly not Phil Jackson's coach.

Instead, Phil of the Future abruptly pulled the plug on this sickly season (the worst start in franchise history), by trading J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, and pink slipping Samuel Dalembert.

They join Raymond Felton and Tyson Chandler on the list of players given one way tickets out of town by Phil Jackson.  The same goes for the three non-nondescript bodies acquired in return for Smith and Shumpert.  Phil Jackson made them instantly disappear too.

This also means Amare Stoudemire, who has an expiring contract, is no doubt next on his list.

At this point, we can forget Donnie Walsh, Mike D'Antoni and Mike Woodson.  For a change, we can also leave the owner out of this too, although he is the one most responsible for the situation Jackson inherited.  Phil Jackson is stripping it all down.  He owns this.

This season is all about the ping pong balls now.  With an already promising draft to look forward to, Phil Jackson has also cleared over $30 million of cap space to work with.



Mike

N.Y. Knicks: The Shots Heard 'Round The Garden

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

Losing Streak Hits Seven

NEW YORK KNICKS: Derek Fisher Might Be Retired From Playing, But He's Still Quick On His Feet.

....and then the losing streak reached seven,

but just barely.

For a fleeting moment, Melo's game tying 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left in the game was the biggest shot of the Knicks season, that is until Trey Burke nailed his own last second, game winning, buzzer beating 2-pointer from the far corner to give Utah a 102-100 victory at a silent Garden.

The Knicks played without the still missing Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani, a resting Amare Stoudemire, and Iman Shumpert (who injured his hip in the opening minutes of Friday's game).

Yet, they managed 100 points for the first time this season.

Perhaps that's why Coach Fisher was so giddy afterwards when speaking with the media.  I call it smartly getting away with putting up a strong front after blowing a very winnable game.

The last minute of play was indeed thrilling.  As Coach Fisher put it - that was New York City out there.

He's right; the crowd was electric and Melo was on fire.

And there's the rub....

In truth, Friday's game looked a lot like something from last season, which is a bad thing.  Just ask Tim Hardaway.  It was a regression back to Melo Ball - when an inept team put the ball in his hands and hoped for the best.

The obligatory thrilling finishes might be good for ticket sales, but not much else.

Carmelo Anthony scored 46% of the Knicks points, and pulled down a team high 7 rebounds while his mates predominantly stood around and watched.  That also explains why Melo also made 16 attempts from the stripe while the rest of the team combined on just four free throws.

The Knicks collectively watched Utah shoot 51.4% from the field, and bury 10/22 from beyond the arch, while also allowing them 42 points in the paint.  You can't let a team have it both ways; certainly not the Jazz, man.

Utah additionally blocked eight shot versus just one for the Knicks, whom also got out-rebounded by a 39-31 margin.

Wait, there's more:

Once again, the Knicks suffered from poor ball distribution (regardless who's in the line-up).  The Knicks only had 15 team assists (vs. 25 Jazz) led by Shane Larkin's four, and Pablo Prigioni's three.   The Knicks two point guards at least combined on 20 points in support of Melo.

J.R. Smith, not so much.  He was not the second best Knicks player on the floor the way he should have, especially after Shumpert's departure.  Smith scored 9 points in 21 minutes off the bench, and was defending Trey Burke during the game winning shot.

Coach knows his best player scored 46 points and they still lost.  He knows they recovered from a faulty 1st quarter to build a 72-65 3rd quarter lead, but blew the game with flaky defense particularly in the paint.  He also knows the Jazz never once double-teamed Melo, thus allowing the Knicks to hang around in the first place, and that J.R. Smith failed to step up and make a difference.

So when the media failed to pounce with their post-game opening line of questions, Coach Fisher was able to preach how inspiring the undermanned effort, and the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden were.

Quick thinking Coach.

Of course, we see right through it.

Nothing short of personnel changes will help this team.  That's why Friday night brought back memories.




Mike

N.Y. Knicks: Did The Commissioner Poke The Bear With A Stick?

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

Patiently Waiting On Phil Jackson To Restore That Old School Feeling

NEW YORK KNICKS: Feeling Six And Queasy To Our Stomachs.

To paraphrase - We're really trying hard this year, not like last season - is the way Tim Hardaway Jr. put it.

• Translation - Mike Woodson never stood a chance.  We abandoned his dictates in the time it took us to walk from the locker room to the hard wood.  And why not?  Carmelo Anthony was the alpha of MSG, and therefore player accountability remained nothing more than a theory.   Phil Jackson, however, will delete anyone of us in a New York minute, so we better do what Coach Fisher says.

I wonder what he'll say when his minutes get converted into Jose Calderon playing time.

In Calderon's absence these Knicks have twisted the Triangle into a pretzel.  The Knicks suffer from poor ball distribution and lack of scoring; nine games into the season, they have yet to score 100 points.

Yes, yes, yes... they're learning a new system.  Start spinning of the rolodex of excuses.

Evidently, the commissioner seems to have noticed, and Phil Jackson noticed that the commissioner noticed, and didn't seem all too pleased about it.

Easy there Zen Master....  The NBA commissioner only pointed out what we all already know.  I am somewhat surprised though, Phil seemingly took Commissioner Sterling's observation personally.   Then again, Phil has never been asked to oversee this much dysfunction before.  His sensitivity is understandable.  It goes to show running the Knicks can even make someone practiced in the art of meditation a little schizo.

In the meantime, the Knicks losing streak is up to six games.  The biggest difference between this six game slide and any other slide suffered over the last 15 years, is that finally someone is looking to fire all the players responsible, because as we all know, Derek Fisher isn't going anywhere, and this is after all a rebuilding year.

Right?

On that note, the commissioner might have even done fans a favor by hastening the Knicks president of basketball operations into initiating several savvy personnel changes.




Mike

N.Y. Knicks Show Two Different Faces In Two Nights

From the desk of:  DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP

69th Season of 

Knickerbocker Basketball

NEW YORK KNICKS: In its debut, the Triangle didn't quite fit Madison Square.

No playoffs last season.

No Mike Woodson this season.  No Tyson Chandler or Ray Felton either.

Although Phil Jackson signed on late last season, and started putting his stamp on the Knicks during the off-season, the Triangle Era officially started Wednesday night and failed miserably.

The byproduct of their 104-80 defeat to the Bulls was the season's first excuse.  The Knicks played Wednesday night without Jose Calderon, who will miss the next 2-3 weeks with a strained calf.  He was brought in to execute Jackson's triangle offense.  Now they'll just have to wait.

The real problem, however, was a lack of effort.  That came out of Knicks mouths after the game,   not mine.  Someone dressed in a Knicks uniform indeed said the team quit.

No need to point fingers though.  It is better if they all understand not to say anything they wouldn't want Phil Jackson to hear.  That is now a sure way to abbreviate one's Knicks career.

Then came Thursday night's effort in Cleveland against LeBron James and the suddenly resurgent Cavaliers.

Did new head coach Derek Fisher press the right buttons?  We don't know.  But, after sleepwalking in the 1st quarter, they pulled within 2 points by the half.  The Knicks then took control in the 3rd quarter en route to a 95-90 victory.

LeBron James led all players with 43 minutes, but struggled to shoot 5/15 from the floor, with 17 points, and an uncharacteristic 8 turnovers.  He was the Cavs' third leading scorer behind Kyrie Irving's 22 and Kevin Love's 19 points.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game high 25 points and led the Knicks with 6 assists.  Quincy Acy led the Knicks with 10 rebounds.

That's it.  Until the Knicks play the Charlotte Hornets this weekend, the season is a tale of two very different games, two very different efforts (eh hem, Iman Shumpert), with very different results.



Mike