New York Knicks: It’s Time For Phil Jackson To Shake Things Up

Keep Hornacek

Jeff Hornacek accepted Phil Jackson’s offer to come coach the New York Knicks this past offseason and was walking into a situation of severe uncertainty.

Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings, Justin Holiday, Willy Hernangomez, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Ron Baker, Courtney Lee, and Marshall Plumlee were not on the team last year.

Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle O’Quinn, Sasha Vujacic, and Lance Thomas were on the team last year, but were forced to learn a new scheme under Hornacek.

Just 53 games into his tenure, the Knicks are 22-31, and in total disarray. However, without the opportunity to establish some sort of culture, it’s way too early to give up on Hornacek.

If the starting lineup is giving up on you, fingers are usually pointed at the coach.

In New York, it happens almost every year.

If you want proof that Hornacek is a capable coach, look to his bench production. When the bench comes in, the defense tightens up, Jennings pushes the pace, and the ball movement increases.

Why? Players know if they defend at a high level, there will be opportunities to score on the offensive end, since the scheme is predicated on ball movement.

On most nights, the bench has a higher +/- than the starters. The Knicks’ last win? Against the Brooklyn Nets, when Anthony, Lee, and Noah were benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Hornacek’s second unit.

It’s Jackson’s job to give Hornacek players that want to compete at a high-level every night.

Like assistant coach Jerry Sichting said last night, “It’s hard to coach effort.”

Truth be told, it shouldn’t have to be taught. Players should want to compete.

Since they don’t, it’s time Jackson and Hornacek have a sit-down meeting and discuss potential moves that will help the Knicks in the future, starting with Anthony.

Fans who pay an arm-and-a-leg to attend a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden shouldn’t be subjected to the mediocrity that was on display last night.