We\u2019ll learn pretty quick if Phil Jackson is serious about constructing a championship contender at the Garden.<\/p>\n
If he re-ups Carmelo or lets him stick around one more season on a player option, it\u2019s a clear sign Phil is here only to cash in on Jim Dolan\u2019s desperation.<\/p>\n
If Phil ushers Melo and his expiring contract outta here at season\u2019s end – or does a sign and trade, you know Jax is earnest about this difficult endeavor to restore some order to a franchise in disarray.<\/p>\n
I have no clue what\u2019s motivating Jackson to jump into such a horrible mess created largely by an owner famous for fostering toxic operational structures. For Jax, maybe it\u2019s a Larry Brown-like grab-the-dough and go. If that\u2019s what he\u2019s doing, I think it dents his 11-ring coaching legacy. I strongly disagree with Harvey Araton\u2019s contention in the Sunday paper that this is a no-lose prop for the Zen Master.<\/p>\n
Wrote Harvey: \u201cIf things do not go well and Jackson\u2019s celebrity fades in Dolan\u2019s easily jaded eyes, the inevitable war will break out, chaos will ensue, and history tells us that most of the blame, in the final analysis, will fall on Dolan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yeah, but a coach who has so carefully calibrated his career moves will be scrutinized intensely given the understanding he\u2019s getting unprecedented autonomy from MSG. If Jackson doesn\u2019t make the Knicks better – and flounders without fight or effort – he risks tainting his nearly unblemished body of work.<\/p>\n
I trust Phil\u2019s vision of team-building will start with the removal of a maxed-out player contract failing to gain consistently maxed-out effort in return, especially on the defensive end. If Melo gets a new deal, it\u2019ll be Phil who makes that call. And it\u2019ll be clear then that it\u2019s about the cash – not the Zen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We\u2019ll learn pretty quick if Phil Jackson is serious about constructing a championship contender at the Garden. If he re-ups Carmelo or lets him stick around one more season on a player option, it\u2019s a clear sign Phil is here … Continue reading