New York Knicks: 50-1
Whatever debate there has been about Phil Jackson’s ability to institute a culture shift is finished. He did it and to a greater degree than anyone could have possibly foreseen.
J.R. Smith has seen the light.
„Trying to consider the rest of the team over myself or my scoring is something which I never actually had to do before,“ Smith told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk. „I’ve been in a position to dent, [now I’m] in position to take my time and let the game come and let my teammates succeed more than myself, I believe that is the ultimate triumph.“
Transformations in the preseason have a means of reversing themselves as the year progresses, but for the time being, it appears Jackson has performed magic.
Getting Smith to purchase in the equal-opportunity tenets of the triangle offense is enormous, and everything then –figuring out how to coax defense from a frontcourt rotation between Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire, convincing James Dolan to maintain kazoos from the locker room–should be cake.
The Knicks are far removed from a 54-win season in 2012-13. Jackson’s influence should help them get closer to that total compared to 37 wins they accumulated last year.
Don’t expect a championship chase–maybe not until 2015 is sloughed off in by the undesirable contracts on the books and Carmelo Anthony understands some real help.
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