Phil Jackson says...

[LongtimeRamsFan42]

"today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle." If that's true, why the HELL does he keep insisting the Knicks use many elements of it year after year? Makes no sense...

Phil Jackson: 'Today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle'

 

[4thstreet]

Maybe Phil is out of touch?

 

[GNG]

Phil Jackson: 'Today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle'

The triangle really requires no special skills despite what Jackson says. Maybe he means the players lack the mentality to play it.

 

[GNG]

Maybe Phil is out of touch?

You may be right.

 

[LongtimeRamsFan42]

The triangle really requires no special skills despite what Jackson says. Maybe he means the players lack the mentality to play it.

Very well could be...But whether its physical or mental, if it doesn't work, isn't it time to move on and let your coaches coach the way they'd like?

 

[beardown07]

I run into him every few years....I am genuinely surprised he still gives a fuck. Seems like he'd just drift away to a mountain cabin and fish...smoke some dubs en sech. Full-time.

 

[GNG]

Very well could be...But whether its physical or mental, if it doesn't work, isn't it time to move on and let your coaches coach the way they'd like?

Phil's ego won't allow it.

 

[The Derski]

I think Phil is partially correct. Today's generation probably isn't as refined as the generation(s) he is used to coaching, at the same time this era has more talent and athleticism all around so they never had to be. Phil is becoming outdated and hasn't learned to adapt.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

"today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle." If that's true, why the HELL does he keep insisting the Knicks use many elements of it year after year? Makes no sense...

Phil Jackson: 'Today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle'

He is right - and I have seen quite a bit of talk on today's talent on ESPN - Mychael Thompson has mentioned several times that they used to run complicated plays with Pat Riley and that today's players have over-simplified it, but I think part of the reason is due to the changing nature of the game - less talented teams make up for their lack of talent by running faster. It's kind of the Willie the Coyote can't catch the roadrunner because he is too fast. It levels the playing field but has taken away setting up plays and complicated stuff. In short though Phil has lost touch with today's game which is why he has not been a good gm

 

[David_son]

Well it's obvious the Knicks lack the skill to run it. But skill isn't something that has been associated with the Knicks since the 90s

 

[wildturkey]

I take his comments were taking from a larger piece that was entitled "Grumpy Old Man Is Grumpy"

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I take his comments were taking from a larger piece that was entitled "Grumpy Old Man Is Grumpy"

He is over 70 years old isn't he? - I mean he is old and needs to retire already but it's hard to turn down a job at 10 million a year and like the rest of the world is greedy. I have not been impressed with his decisions at all and am really thankful that he did not beat out Jim Bush for the head job of running the Lakers and that is pretty bad to be worse then Jim Buss

 

[Pastafazul]

"today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle." If that's true, why the HELL does he keep insisting the Knicks use many elements of it year after year? Makes no sense...

Phil Jackson: 'Today's players simply lack the skills to play the triangle'

phil is an idiot

 

[LongtimeRamsFan42]

phil is an idiot

First of all, as a Chef, I LOVE your screeenname!!!

Second of all, yes he sure seems to be, doesn't he? I thought the Dolans were bad and yet he might actually be worse!!!

 

[Michael Richardson]

To me he is kind of right, because to me players back in the day could play triangle better than the players now.

 

[trojanfan12]

Phil's ego won't allow it.

^^^THIS^^^

Notice he didn't say that the triangle might be outdated. Instead, he blames today's players.

 

[GNG]

phil is an idiot

I wouldn't call Phil an idiot as he had success as an NBA coach but I would call him an egomaniac.

 

[flyerhawk]

I'm sure that the problem is the general lack of skill of the players today and not that, for the first time, Jackson isn't coaching a pair of Hall of Fame players.

I bet he would find that the triangle worked remarkably well if he had Lebron and Westbrook.

 

[Pastafazul]

phil should have left the game a long time ago....

 

[shopson67]

I'm sure that the problem is the general lack of skill of the players today and not that, for the first time, Jackson isn't coaching a pair of Hall of Fame players.

I bet he would find that the triangle worked remarkably well if he had Lebron and Westbrook.

Not so sure about Westbrook. The triangle is a game of spacing and patience. Not sure Westbrook understands either, lol.

I believe Phil's statement was that bigs these days lack the footwork to run the triangle. I can see that being a problem. Too many early entry players not learning the details of the game.