Phil Jackson: 'Not humored' by Adam Silver's comments about Triangle
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson wasn’t too happy about NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments about the triangle offense, even if he was joking.
Silver was asked how he thought the Knicks were doing so far this season after New York was beaten by the Detroit Pistons last week.
“Clearly, they’re still learning the triangle,” Silver said with a laugh, according to the New York Daily News. “I still don’t understand it, but they’re learning it. But that’s what the game is all about. You have a new coach, you have a new president of basketball operations in Phil Jackson; you have a couple new players on the team.”
Jackson, who was hired by the team in March, gave his own thoughts about Silver’s comments even though he wasn’t asked.
“I wasn't so humored by the commissioner actually jumping in on top of that, too," Jackson said to ESPN.com. "He doesn't need to get in on that. There's enough focus on [the] triangle. It's not anything. It's a system. It's simple basketball. Just play the game. We're over the triangle; let's get to business and play the right way."
Jackson has said that the team will be a work in progress, after he said the team was "not ready for showtime" when the Knicks were blown out by the Chicago Bulls in their season opener two weeks ago.
The Knicks—who have allowed opponents to shoot an NBA-high 42 percent from the three-point line—have lost five straight games after a 91-85 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
The Knicks (2-6) are averaging a league low 91.1 points, even though forward Carmelo Anthony has played more minutes and taken more shots than any other player in the NBA this season. Jackson said Anthony is "upbeat" despite the team's struggles so far this season.
New York next plays the Orlando Magic (2-5) on Wednesday.
- Scooby Axson
