When Phil Jackson joined the organization during the offseason, many wondered exactly how quickly he could turn the Knicks around. Jackson wasted little time, pursuing Steve Kerr as his coach, and swooping in to hire Derek Fisher after Kerr joined Golden State.
Many had expected Jackson to hire a coach that he could rely on to install his beloved triangle offense, and Knicks fans surely dreamed that the triangle might unleash Carmelo Anthony the way it once did Michael Jordan.
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Eight games into the year, and they look like the Knicks of 2013 again. The team is off to a 3-8 start and appears to be headed toward a high lottery pick. The triangle offense has yet to start clicking, and the Knicks are averaging a paltry 93.9 points per game, good for 24th in the NBA.
Help may be on the way, however, as New York point guard Jose Calderon is expected to return to practice this week according to the New York Post. Calderon will look to provide a spark to the Knicks once he returns, and Fisher is counting on him to provide stability running the offense as well as outside shooting help. Calderon is one of the better-shooting guards in NBA history, coming in at just under 48 percent for his career. He is over 41 percent for his career as a 3-point shooter.
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The triangle is arguably the most complicated offense in basketball, so it should come as no surprise that the Knicks are taking time to adjust. The triangle is the ultimate ball-sharing scheme, and it requires that players know and understand the movement patterns of their teammates.
Having previously played in the isolation-heavy schemes of Mike Woodson, it is no surprise that New York has experienced a steep learning curve. Perhaps with the return of Calderon, the team can begin to jell, and that chemistry will start to manifest itself in the form of on-court success.
See a breakdown of how the Knicks are faring with the triangle offense below.
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