New York Knicks: 50-1
Whatever debate there was about Phil Jackson’s ability to institute a culture shift in New York is over. He did it and to a larger degree than anyone could have possibly foreseen.
J.R. Smith has seen the light.
“Trying to think about the rest of the group over myself or my scoring is something which I never actually had to do before,” Smith told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “I have been in a position to dent, [now I'm] able to take my time and let the game come and let my teammates succeed over myself, I believe that’s the ultimate triumph.”
As the year progresses, transformations from the preseason have a means of reversing themselves, but for the time being, it seems Jackson has performed magical.
Obtaining Smith to buy into the equal-opportunity tenets of this triangle offense is enormous, and everything after that–figuring out how to coax defense out of a frontcourt rotation involving Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire, convincing James Dolan to maintain kazoos from the locker room–must be cake.
The Knicks are far removed from a 54-win year in 2012-13. Jackson’s influence alone ought to help them get closer to that total compared to 37 wins season was amassed by them.
Still, don’t expect a championship chase–Carmelo Anthony gets some help and maybe not before 2015 is sloughed off in by the undesirable contracts on the novels.
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