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New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony Has Enough Help To Win

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Knicks 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Knicks 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson looks on during a stop in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks general manager Phil Jackson looks on during a stop in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Phil Jackson: Building Around ‘Melo

The biggest knock on Phil Jackson as team president has been the absence of a sense of urgency with Carmelo Anthony on a roster. 2014-15 was a tanking year and 2015-16 was a season of underachievement.

According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, The Zen Master has made winning while Anthony is still a star a priority.

"“One of my questions to Carmelo was, you know, we haven’t made the playoffs and now this is three years, two years, since I’ve been here — are we moving quickly enough for you and your anticipation of trying to be into a competitive playoff situation?” Jackson said. “I think that was our conversation and established the fact of his desire, the idea that he is getting into an age where things have to happen for him. So we decided to activate ourselves.”"

In other words, the current team has been built around Anthony.

Jackson isn’t your average head coach turned executive; he’s a 13-time NBA champion who won 11 rings as a head coach.  He’s a master at managing egos and motivating players to play for something bigger than themselves.

If Jackson and head coach Jeff Hornacek are able to do that with the hungry veteran team that is the 2016-17 Knicks, victory should be attainable.

The roster has been built with the specific intention of helping Anthony do so.

Anthony is a dynamic scoring threat who can do it all in isolation. He’s also a lethal catch-and-shoot marksman who’s at his best when given the opportunity to work off-ball and shoot in rhythm.

Jackson created an offense that will enable Anthony to do so and a defense that will both mask his flaws and stabilize his responsibility.

Next: The Coach

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