Two-and-a-half years into his role as president of the New York Knicks, Phil Jackson still hasn't stopped answering to questions regarding his revered triangle offense.
After his glory days with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers — teams that won a combined three three-peats in 12 years under the Zen Master's tutelage — the system has failed to work as effectively as it once did.
Many argue it's become an “outdated” system, but why exactly is it outdated? Jackson had perhaps the most blunt answer he's given to date on the subject.
“The triangle is a different story,” Jackson told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “How do you teach a system that requires so many fundamental skills to players that really haven’t been taught some of that basic stuff with footwork and passing and all those rudiment type of skills that are learned, that have been, that have changed over a few years? It’s a different game.”
Why Phil Jackson is completely right
His point is a strong one. Considering that the NBA has gone from allowing an abundance of players to come up from the high school level to the NBA and then moved on to the “one and done” system — the league has plenty of individual talent, but very scarce basketball savvy that only comes with years of playing team basketball.
If we look at the league as a business, it makes perfect sense. Individual talent makes highlights and highlights sell tickets and increase viewership and therefore TV revenue.
Out of the 60 players drafted each year, only a few manage to crack the league, very few are lucky to log starts, some get to have a decent amount of playing time, others are warming the bench, and a handful end up going to the D-League or overseas to further hone their skills.
There are four-year players with the tools to play the game of basketball that don't see playing time. Instead it's the lanky 6-foot-11 player who can't shoot free throws or set screens, but can jump out of the gym, that ends up logging 25 minutes a night.
Jeff Hornacek weighs in
Head coach Jeff Hornacek confirmed before Monday’s preseason game against the Washington Wizards that modern players find it more difficult to learn the triangle, as opposed to his time in the league during the '90s.
“Because they have to understand the game. It’s an offense that takes time to really figure out the reads,” Hornacek said. “I think when you go to college for four years, you’re playing on a team in college that’s running a lot of sets and you develop those reads. A lot of times, these guys are one-and-done’s that end up being the great players in this league. So it takes a little bit of time. They have to have patience to go through it. They’re going to make some mistakes when you have a relatively new team. But they’re all willing.”
Hornacek is implementing a simplified triangle offense that is more basic and faster-paced, benefiting the likes of Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings. They will look to attack and penetrate while the forwards move the ball around the post and perimeter.
If it translates into wins, the media will be quick to forget to continue asking questions about the triangle to the heads of the organization.
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