Schmeelk: 5 Takeaways From Jeff Hornacek's News Conference
By John Schmeelk
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As is common with Phil Jackson news conferences, what he said Friday left more questions than it gave answers. Here are the takeaways:
1. Are The Knicks Still Forming A Triangle?
Yes? Both Jackson and Jeff Hornacek downplayed the importance of the triangle. What they said, in abstract, was factually accurate. The triangle is a set that you can run a bunch of different plays out of. A bunch of teams use a lot of triangle sets in their offenses, such as the Warriors, Spurs and even the Bulls under Tom Thibodeau. Hornacek talked about how the triangle is basic spacing that helps create room for players to play. All this is correct, but only in abstract.
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The Knicks did not play like that last year. They ran plays through the post as much as any team in the league. They shot more mid-range shots than most teams. They shot fewer 3s than most. They did not run the high screen-and-roll out of the triangle. They did not push the ball. They didn't do any of the things Hornacek did in Phoenix. In fact, Derek Fisher lost his job because he went too far away from the triangle.
The triangle is going to be there. If the Knicks use the triangle the way Golden State's Steve Kerr and San Antonio's Gregg Popovich do, that's fine. If it is an element of their half-court offense that also includes more modern elements, that's great. If the offense is what Kurt Rambis ran when he was interim head coach, it is not. Hornacek said he created his offense around his young talent in Phoenix, and if he is smart he will do the same with the Knicks. We will have to wait and see what it looks like.
2. Using Kristaps Porzingis
Hornacek was asked at the tail end of the news conference how he plans on using Kristaps Porzingis, and his answer should be music to Knicks fans' ears: high screen-and-roll. He talked about how Porzingis is the perfect player to set the screen and fade to the 3-point line. Of course, the Knicks need a point guard to execute that type of play, but based on his work in college and at the end of the year, Jerian Grant is at his best in the pick-and-roll.
Hornacek also mentioned that at 7-foot-3, if teams decide to go small against Porzingis, they would use him in mismatches in the post. This is necessary to keep teams from putting wing players on him that would negate his athleticism and jump shooting. Hornacek seems to have a good feel as to how to use and develop the Knicks' greatest future asset. He basically said the sky is the limit for him.
3. How About Defense?
The Knicks have had the worst defense in the NBA for the better part of 15 years. Hornacek didn't get into the deep X's and O's about his defensive philosophy, but he said a few things that should at least be slightly encouraging. He said that a team cannot be elite unless they put the proper effort and focus on defense. He also said you cannot rely on Robin Lopez and Porzingis to protect the rim, and the guard defense has to be better. Those are absolutely true.
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Finally, he said that he likes his defense to create opportunities for his offense to run and get easy baskets. The Knicks have not done that in years, and it might point to a faster-paced offense, something the team desperately needs. For a team to be good in this league, they have to generate easy baskets and pushing the ball is the best way to do it.
4. The Rest Of The Roster
Hornacek talked about Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis, and only mentioned the point guards when he was asked specifically about them. It would seem as though the rest of this Knicks roster is very fluid. I would expect Jackson to look to bring in new players via free agency, and also look for trade situations since the free agent class isn't very strong. Jackson is going to try to make this team look very different than it did last year, if the realities of NBA player acquisition allows it.
5. Don't Listen Or Believe Anything Phil Jackson Says
These news conferences seem to be a way for Jackson to simply mess with people. He doesn't answer questions and likes to be vague to prevent people from really knowing what he is thinking. Most things Jackson said at his news conference when he fired Derek Fisher and at the end of the season turned out not be true.
Whether Jackson misspoke, was misinterpreted, purposely lied or is simply having fun with the media is unclear. But he did not hire someone he "knew." Hornacek said at his news conference they never said anything more to each other besides "good game" in handshake lines. They had no prior relationship.
Jackson stressed the importance of his coach running the triangle on multiple occasions this year, but then Friday he downplayed its importance. Hornacek is not a triangle coach, and though he may incorporate elements of it in his offense, there's nothing to indicate he will run the offense in its "pure" form.
Jackson did indicate that he and Hornacek had a great talk about "millennials," "teaching" and "traveling to Cuba." It seems like he liked Hornacek as much for his personality and philosophical leanings than anything else in terms of basketball X's and O's. That, more than anything else, seems to be make it a "Phil hire."
Finally, Jackson dodged the question he got about Rambis. When asked about him, Jackson made Steve Mills answer the question. It indicates that Jackson wanted Rambis, but Mills (or Dolan) was the one who talked him out of Rambis. Do we know that's true? No. But the way Jackson declined to speak about Rambis indicates that. Once again, that's why you never know with Jackson. He might have just been having fun forcing people to speculate.
We also don't know if Rambis will be on the staff. They said they will "figure it out." The fact that they weren't ready to announce he will be on the staff tells me there's a chance Hornacek will decline to add him.
So that's what we know: not much. We'll have to wait and see how the Knicks play in the summer league, and that may indicate a little as to how they will play in the regular season. But in truth, we won't know much until the preseason games next November. And frankly, what Hornacek does doesn't mean a whole lot unless the backcourt talent gets better. The Knicks can start to address that in July.
Friday was a start, but the real answers and solutions for the Knicks are yet to come.
For all things NBA, please follow John on Twitter at @Schmeelk
