The New York Knicks: Here We Go Again | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

The New York Knicks: Here We Go Again

The Knicks' coaching carousel continues with the hiring of Jeff Hornacek.

8
The New York Knicks: Here We Go Again

There’s a new sheriff in town.

After weeks of deliberation and interviews, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has chosen Jeff Hornacek to be the team’s next head coach. Hornacek, a former player best known for his time spent with John Stockton and Karl Malone on the Utah Jazz, comes to New York after serving as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for two and a half seasons.

Reactions to the Hornacek hire have been mixed. He is without a doubt a proven coach, having led the Suns to 48 wins in his first season. Moreover, many Knicks, Carmelo Anthony most notably, have praised Hornacek and his resumé.

Nevertheless, I, like many Knicks fans, am not super excited about Hornacek’s arrival. While I respect Hornacek and think he can be an elite coach in the NBA, I do not think that he is the right fit for this team.

Anyone familiar with the Knicks in recent years knows that Phil Jackson calls the shots. As a member of the last New York Knicks team to win an NBA Championship in 1973, the Zen Master returned to Madison Square Garden in 2014 to restore New York to its former basketball glory. Part of Jackson’s master plan to right the ship has been to implement the legendary triangle offense.

Although the triangle offense has proven to be successful in the NBA, Jackson used it as a coach to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Los Angeles Lakers, it has yet to change the Knicks’ losing ways. Part of the issue has been the lack of proper personnel, but the addition of Jeff Hornacek doesn’t make things much better.

In Phoenix, Hornacek ran an up-tempo offense with a major emphasis on guard play and running in transition. This is essentially the antithesis of the triangle offense, which is methodical and relies heavily on ball movement and basket cuts. Hornacek’s lack of familiarity with the triangle offense is the biggest mystery surrounding his hire. Why hire a coach who knows next-to-nothing about the system you want to put in place?

Nevertheless, maybe I’m missing something here. Maybe Phil Jackson has realized the triangle won’t work in New York and has decided to take a new approach. Besides, if Jackson wanted a coach well-versed in the triangle, he could have just promoted Kurt Rambis, Jackson’s assistant in Los Angeles for eight seasons, from interim head coach. He didn’t do this, however, which has only raised more questions.

The only thing certain at this point is that Jeff Hornacek is here to stay. As a lifelong Knicks fan tired of the losing, I just want to see success. If Phil Jackson thinks Jeff Hornacek is the guy who can bring that success, I have no choice but to trust him.

Worst case scenario: Hornacek gets the boot in two years and we get to have this same conversation again.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2089
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1263
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200490
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21069
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments