Phil Jackson to be more involved: “I stepped back too much”
September 25th, 2015 11:00 am
Keith Schlosser, Lead Writer
Coming into last season, there was much to be said and speculated about
Phil Jackson’s involvement with the Knicks. Would he merely be using
Derek Fisher as a mouthpiece? Was the incoming head coach simply brought in to be a “yes man?”
Many believed that Jackson would be overbearing and not allow Fisher to develop into his own sort of coach.
Having said that, it seems as though the opposite may have happened. Speaking to the media on Friday, Jackson admitted “Maybe I stepped back too much last year” as he watched the Knicks struggle mightily.
“I wanted Derek to be his own person and have his own feel for this. I think that was multiplied in different ways. But Derek’s asked me to be a little more present this year, actually,” he explained. “Not in the coaching aspect, but just being around and talking basketball. Being influential with observations. I think I’ll be more involved than I was with being suggestive and watching film with Derek at times.”
It’s clear that Jackson and Fisher each have their own respective roles on the team. There will be a line drawn in the sand that is likely to still be well recognized. Still, Jackson’s success as a coach and overall knowledge of the game should still be considered a huge asset. The Knicks could undoubtedly benefit from all that, as evidenced by the void his absence in the team’s on-the-court identity created last season.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time away from the team, talking basketball and talking shop,” Fisher said about working with Jackson more closely. “Just learning more from one of the greatest basketball minds that we’ve ever seen.”
It’s safe to say that it sounds as though Fisher may have been the one to push for some added involvement from Jackson. In revealing a bit of a lack of communication last season, the coach said, “I do think there were times last season, we didn’t want to bother each other or overload each other with too much information and conversation.”
Phil really gonna take the ship to paradise
Man why u gotta talk that bullshyt. Getting people scared in here.
droppin Sublminals during our presser
, I can Phill It
