New York Knicks: B.J. Armstrong Mentoring Derrick Rose
Three-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong is helping New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose for his experience with team president Phil Jackson.
Phil Jackson is an 11-time NBA champion head coach who won an additional two titles as a player for the New York Knicks. Now team president of the Knicks, Jackson is attempting to win a 14th championship.
Whether or not you believe in Jackson’s vision, it should be encouraging to know that he isn’t alone in facilitating its construction or execution.
B.J. Armstrong played for Jackson and the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1995. He won three NBA championships, made the 1994 All-Star Game, led the league in 3-point field goal percentage in 1992-93, and played in 94 playoff games under Jackson.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Armstrong sees a critical similarity between Jackson and his new point guard: Derrick Rose.
Both Jackson and Rose care about nothing more than winning games.
"“There’s a lot of things said — jargon — but one thing Phil and I share is simplicity, keep it simple,’’ Armstrong said. “The one thing simple is to win. Nothing else is really going on. One thing you know about Derrick, B.J. and Phil, we share that. We just want to win games. That’s the one thing Phil knows about Derrick. This kid plays to win.’’"
That’s the only similarity that truly matters in this discussion.
Armstrong’s three NBA championships are evidence of how much he knows about winning with Jackson. Rose isn’t nearly the shooter that Armstrong was, but he still has enough burst in his legs to make his mark on both ends.
If Rose is willing to play two-way team basketball, he can help the Knicks achieve a noteworthy level of success, as well.
Rose will start alongside six-time All-NBA honoree and 2013 scoring champion Carmelo Anthony. He’ll also play with longtime friend and teammate Joakim Noah, young phenom Kristaps Porzingis, and sharpshooter Courtney Lee.
Throw in career starter Brandon Jennings, who will be the Knicks’ sixth man, and Rose has an abundance of options to create for as a facilitator.
As for the vaunted triangle offense, Armstrong believes it’s misunderstood. The triangle isn’t necessarily about offensive execution; it’s about three critical points of emphasis.
Per Berman, Armstrong singled out defending, rebounding, and passing the ball as the three ends of Jackson’s triangle.
"“Here is the triangle — I don’t like to waste my time,’’ Armstrong said. “I find it funny. Here’s the staple of a team that wants to win: They defend, they rebound and pass the ball. All of Phil’s teams have those three elements. That’s the triangle. My conversations with this particular client is you have to be prepared to make a commitment to defend, rebound and share the ball. All the triangle things, you’ll figure that out. The triangle offense is a distraction to what excellence is. It’s just [a media] conversation.”"
It’s not hard to believe that the conversations about the triangle offense have been more media-driven than based in reality.
Jackson won 11 championships by running Tex Winter’s patented triangle offense and connecting with his players on an incomparably level. Beyond the X’s and O’s, however, Jackson was a master motivator who found something within his players that motivated them to work to achieve greatness.
With Armstrong’s help, Jackson will attempt to do the same with Rose.
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