Daily Knicks
Fansided

Carmelo Anthony: Team USA Creating Blueprint For Knicks

By Maxwell Ogden

Aug 12, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; United States forward Carmelo Anthony (15) looks on during the game Serbia in the preliminary round of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; United States forward Carmelo Anthony (15) looks on during the game Serbia in the preliminary round of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Dec 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek coaches against the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek coaches against the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The Hornacek Factor

Though 2014-15 and 2015-16 were underwhelming, there’s good news for New York Knicks fans. Phil Jackson has been making progress towards placing Carmelo Anthony in the role that works best for him.

The key to bringing this vision to fruition in 2016-17 will be recently hired head coach Jeff Hornacek.

When Hornacek was head coach for the Phoenix Suns from 2013 to 2016, he ran a motion offense. The key to the system was utilizing screens to create penetration for slashers and spawn openings along the perimeter for the shooters.

In other words, Hornacek’s offense should create many of the off-ball scoring opportunities that were previously alluded to.

Anthony should also receive touches in both the post and his sweet spots from 16-to-20 feet. Hornacek utilized Gerald Green to great success in that role, and with all due respect to him, he’s nowhere near the scorer that Anthony is.

Thus, while FIBA Carmelo Anthony and NBA Carmelo Anthony have always been different players, they could fuse under coach Hornacek.

must read: Five Knicks games you need to watch in 2016-17

For both Anthony and the Knicks, 2016-17 projects to be one of the most rewarding seasons in recent memory.

Home/Knicks News