New York Knicks: Pick and roll should be a key on offense

5. Learning From The Best

For those unfamiliar, Jeff Hornacek experienced a long and rewarding NBA career. He was an All-Star in 1992, lasted 14 years in the Association, played in two NBA Finals, and reached the Conference Finals on five separate occasions.

There were more factors than a single play that led to Hornacek’s success, but establishing the pick and roll was a key strategical point for the offenses he played in.

Two of the greatest coaches whom Hornacek played under are also two of the most influential minds in basketball history: Cotton Fitzsimmons and Jerry Sloan. Fitzsimmons pushed the pace with Hornacek and Kevin Johnson, and Sloan pick and rolled teams to death.

Striking a balance between the pace of an uptempo offense and the efficiency of the pick and roll is exactly what Hornacek is attempting to do with the New York Knicks.

In terms of pick and roll execution, no one has utilized the play to greater success than Sloan. He helped John Stockton, Karl Malone, and Hornacek reach back-to-back NBA Finals, and overachieved with Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams in the 2000s.

In addition to learning from the best as a player, Hornacek has already proven that he knows how to run an offense that values the pick and roll.