New York Knicks: Phil Jackson On What Was Missing
The New York Knicks didn’t have as many holes as they seemed to in 2015-16. Team president Phil Jackson outlined exactly what was missing.
In 2015-16, the New York Knicks proved just how important it is to have consistent guard play. Despite having an All-Star and three other quality starters, the Knicks finished the season at 32-50.
Team president Phil Jackson opened up about what plagued the Knicks in the most recent edition of The Phil Jackson Chronicles.
Jose Calderon and Arron Afflalo started at the guard spots in 2015-16, while the trio of Langston Galloway, Jerian Grant, and Sasha Vujacic played in backup roles. Afflalo, Calderon, Galloway, and Vujacic were all high-quality shooters, but none consistently created penetration.
According to Charley Rosen of Today’s Fastbreak, Jackson outlined what he feels was missing in 2015-16.
"“But, really, when you come down to it, the triangle is just a way to format basic basketball. Lots of teams run many aspects of the triangle, with San Antonio being the most successful example. What we lacked that, say, the Spurs had, were guards who could penetrate and force defenses to make the kinds of adjustments that left other players open.”"
One could make a case that New York’s entire season fell apart because of that specific weakness.
The Knicks ranked dead last in the NBA with an average of 15.5 drives per game. That was 4.4 drives fewer than the No. 29 team in the NBA and 5.6 fewer than the No. 28 team.
What New York was sorely missing was a player who could create penetration and collapse the opposing defense.
During the summer of 2016, Jackson acknowledged those flaws.
The Knicks traded for Derrick Rose, who ranked No. 9 in the NBA in points via drives per game in 2015-16. It signed Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings, who are both capable of creating off the dribble.
The Knicks currently go seven established players deep, with Jackson hoping the rotation can expand to nine.
"“Ideally, you want to have a nine-man approach with two players used in special situations. A defensive stopper at a certain position, for example, or a guy who can jump off the bench and hit a quick three-pointer. Maybe somebody who’s really good at harassing an inbounds pass.”"
There are players on the roster who can help New York expand beyond the seven-man structure.
The starting lineup projects to consist of Rose, Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and Joakim Noah. Jennings is the sixth man and Lance Thomas has earned his place as a backup who can play both forward positions.
Beyond that group of seven, there’s some measure of uncertainty, albeit with legitimate upside.
Justin Holiday is expected to be the eighth man in the rotation as the backup to Lee at shooting guard. Mindaugas Kuzminskas could spend time at the 3 or the 4, with Thomas playing the other forward spot.
Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn, and Marshall Plumlee will compete for the job as the backup center.
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At the very least, New York has found the penetrating guards that it so desperately needed in 2015-16.