If Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek plans on installing any leftover triangle principles from the failed Phil Jackson regime, it hasn’t happened yet.
Jarrett Jack, newly signed veteran Knicks point guard, said at a Tuesday press conference that during voluntary workouts the past two weeks Hornacek hasn’t mentioned the T-word and has only talked up his high-speed offense that he ran in Phoenix. (Coaches aren’t supposed to be instructing the players until training camp officially begins Monday).
During July’s summer league in Orlando, days after team president Jackson was canned, Hornacek indicated he could keep some triangle principles going into the coming season but said he wanted the offense to be high tempo.
The summer-league team ran mostly triangle since there was no time to adjust. However, during the joint press conference for president Steve Mills and Scott Perry in mid-July, there was no mention of Jackson’s beloved offensive system. Mills wrote a blog for the club website recently, in which the triangle was not addressed.
“If there are, he hasn’t implemented them yet,’’ Jack said regarding whether Hornacek has mentioned the triangle. “So far, it’s a lot of much more fast-paced offense, moving, cutting, more ball movement. From what I understand, that’s the crux of it for now.’’
Jack, who signed a non-guaranteed pact last week partly to help rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina’s development, said he’s “having all sorts of conversations’’ with Hornacek on “what he expects from the team now.’’
“[It’s] the transition from not playing in the triangle to this new offense he’s putting in, so all of that has been real fun, real enlightening, So I’m waiting for one of these Jerry Sloan training camps, from what I understand,’’ Jack said.
Ironically, Michael Beasley had his best year with Kurt Rambis in Minnesota in 2010-11, when the current Knicks assistant ran Jackson’s triangle. But he likes Hornacek’s style better. Hornacek blended the two offenses last season, but the results were disastrous. A week before the All-Star break, Jackson ordered a movement back toward the triangle.
“I love the way Hornacek coaches,’’ Beasley said. “I love his fast-paced style of play. As far as how I fit, as far as who’s here, I can play with anybody.”
With Jack’s signing, the Knicks now have four point guards on the roster. Coming off a series of knee problems, Jack, 33, doesn’t appear a mortal lock for the 15-man roster. Veteran Ramon Sessions was signed in late July to join Ntilikina and Ron Baker, re-signed to a lucrative deal for the $4 million room exception.
However, Sessions has yet to report to Tarrytown to be with the 19-year-old Ntilikina, the Knicks’ lottery pick, for voluntary workouts. Jack said at least 15 players have arrived. Kristaps Porzingis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Willy Hernangomez have yet to return following the European Championships and on-the-block Carmelo Anthony is hosting his own scrimmages in Manhattan.
If he’s healthy and Sessions doesn’t recover well from last year’s season-ending knee injury, Jack could vault into the starting lineup. However, Jack has appeared in 34 games combined the past two seasons — with just two last year in New Orleans — because of a torn ACL and torn meniscus. There is a distinct possibility the Knicks’ point-guard situation could turn into a mess.
“Whatever job capacity they need, I feel I’ve been in all of them and done well in all of them,’’ Jack said. “If that’s what it is, that’s cool. If it’s not, that’s cool too. There’s a lot of ways to make a significant impact on a team. It’s a long season, long journey. Who knows how it shakes out when all’s said and done. I think I’m a well-rounded player.”
Already Jack, a former Net, is impressed with the rookie Frenchman and his defensive potential, at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan. Jack was given credit for being a mentor to Stephen Curry in Golden State during the 2012-13 season.
“I’ve gotten a chance to work out with Frank for the past couple weeks and he’s a solid kid, man — really, really can play, really long arms, really active defensively,’’ Jack said. “Great size. Just looking forward to giving him all the game that I’ve gotten over these 13 years and I think we’ve got a pretty solid stable of players at that position with a bunch of guys able to contribute when and if their number is called.”
If he’s more mentor than player, Jack will be fine with it.
“For sure he has a lot of tools that you can’t teach but just the cerebral side of it, that’s where I come into play,’’ Jack said. “Just try to hip him to some little tricks of the trade as the season goes along and just understanding what it means to be a starting [point guard] in this league.”
According to Jack, Perry had contacted him in July when the executive was trying to recruit him to California. Perry kept in contact after being hired by the Knicks.
“I remember when I first got to Golden State all the writers and experts gave us a zero percent chance of getting to the playoffs and we know how that season turned into,’’ Jack said. “ You never know what it could turn into.’’
At least the Knicks know there will be next to no triangle.
First Rose, now Beasley.
