New York Knicks: Pau Gasol Weighs In On Triangle Offense

Pau Gasol won two NBA championships as a star with Phil Jackson in the triangle offense. What are his thoughts on the New York Knicks attempting to run it?

Phil Jackson is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Unfortunately, the success that Jackson experienced running the triangle offense as a head coach hasn’t translated to his tenure as team president of the New York Knicks.

In response to the recent resurgence of triangle offense conversations, future Hall of Fame big man Pau Gasol has weighed in on the discussion.

For those unfamiliar, Gasol played for Jackson in the triangle offense between 2008 and 2011. During that time, he won two NBA championships, received three All-NBA nods, and made three of his six career All-Star Game appearances.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Gasol believes that the triangle offense can still flourish, but only with the right personnel—and only if that personnel buys into the system.

"“It depends on the personnel,” Gasol said. “Everyone has to buy in for any system to work, not just the triangle. The triangle has won championships. But it’s up to the players and coaching staff. ‘This is the route we’re going to go. We’re going to work at it, make it work or not.’ It can’t just be because Phil wants it to work.”“Everyone has to be on the page,” Gasol said. “And it does take a specific personnel, with the approach to the game and skill set to have a better chance for it to work. If the players are in, great. If not, run something else the players believe in and allows them to play at their best.”"

That’s a tough combination to find, but one would like to think the players, coaches, and team president will find common ground.

Gasol is the latest in a relatively long line of players who have spoken out in defense of the triangle offense. While Shaquille O’Neal was critical of the players, Gasol has taken a more all-inclusive tone in terms of what’s gone wrong in New York.

In Gasol’s eyes, it’s a matter of the players and coaches truly embracing the system rather than running it because Jackson wants them to.

It’s also a matter of Jackson acquiring the proper personnel to run the now polarizing system.

The ideal personnel would have skill sets that properly fit the roles they’d be playing in the system. Perhaps even more importantly than the skill set would be the manner in which they think and approach the game.

The triangle offense requires players to remain in constant motion when working without the ball. Those with the ball must react quickly to what the defense gives them—and the system inherently creates multiple options.

Without players who can read the game and make the right decisions, the Knicks will continue to fail in their attempts to run the triangle offense.

Must Read: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Final Four Edition

The question is: will the players, coaches, and Phil Jackson come together and commit to a singular vision before it’s too late for the New York Knicks?