Phil Jackson has apparently relented on his triangle offense directives.
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, sources close to the Knicks believe that new coach Jeff Hornacek will not be forced to run Jackson’s preferred triangle offense, and will instead be given the freedom to install his own offensive system.
This, as Begley notes, comes as a surprise, though there have been whispers that it would be the case over the last few days. When Derek Fisher tried to tweak the triangle, Jackson disapproved, and it was cited as a reason for Fisher’s firing back in February. Jackson has apparently had some sort of change of heart on his preferred offense within the last three months or so.
There could be a couple of reasons for that. Sources told Begley that some Knicks players had become tired of the triangle and became aware of how it was perceived around the rest of the league. That second point may be an important one: the Knicks will be active in free agency this summer, and Carmelo Anthony doesn’t think that the elite ones would be interested in forcing themselves to fit into Jackson’s preconceived offense. Given one potential free agent’s comments on it, he probably has a point. Jackson may have realized that the only way he’ll attract the caliber of player that the Knicks need to become contenders would be to let his new coach have the freedom to institute an offense that suits the team’s personnel.
