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New York Knicks’ Triangle Offense is More Complicated Than You Think

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By @AnthonyBeers

New York Knicks Fans

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Fans of the New York Knicks breathed a sigh of relief as James Dolan handed over all presidential power of the team to NBA mastermind Phil Jackson. Every fan associates the highly-successful triangle offense with Jackson. And while fans commonly understand the success it’s capable of, very few truly understand all aspects of the scheme.

That could not have been more evident then during interviews of, “What Is the Triangle Offense: A Spike Lee Orange and Blue Skies Joint,” in which Lee interviewed numerous New Yorkers on the spot and asked them of their knowledge of the triangle offense. Very few really had any idea what to say other than the obvious, “the players make a triangle.”

If the film explained anything, it revealed that the offense is difficult for fans to understand. The good news is that’s probably a good thing, considering the most recent Knicks offense consisted of isolation plays, and very little offensive creativity. What’s key to having a successful triangle offense is what players who don’t have the ball are doing. The quick ball movement and running after passes keeps the triangle pivoting, creating shots for playmakers.

The position most vital for scoring is the weak-side shooter. In the past, that has been Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Jackson is integrating Knicks premium scorer Carmelo Anthony into this role.

Many Knicks fans grew concerned over the fact that Anthony will likely be playing the three. Last year, he often showcased great success at the four getting many rebounds with his usual scoring numbers. In Jackson’s offense, the fact that he’s playing a three won’t matter too much. In fact, in the documentary, Jackson didn’t refer to any of the positions as the standard 1-5 as all basketball fans do. He used phrases such as “strong side,” “weak side” and, naturally, the main point guard.

A big part of Jackson’s hiring of Derek Fisher as coach exceeds the fact that they have won five rings together. Fisher is a former NBA point guard, and, more importantly, one who understands the triangle. The relationship between Fisher and players like José Calderón, Pablo Prigioni and Shane Larkin are crucial in the development of this offense in New York. Fans should be delighted to see the amount of ball movement and basic basketball fundamentals that they haven’t seen in far too long.

While the buzz on the streets of New York is the triangle offense, Fisher has preached one thing: defense, which will be the central focus for the Knicks this season given that the offense may take more time to master than fans realize. The common mantra is that “defense wins games,” and in New York’s case, can bail out the Knicks on nights where the offense is struggling from the field or with turnovers.

Defensive prowess, ball movement and the ability to create open shots for your best players — these qualities are what make Jackson a legend known as the “Zen Master.” As his system becomes second nature to the players, the next factor that can propel this team to the next level is team chemistry. The players have to respect one another and egos must be set aside for the betterment of the team’s success. Large egos tend to be notorious for getting in the way of success, and though some big egos have brought championships to cities — obviously Jordan and Bryant come to mind — the core concept is how the team carries one another is what can truly make them great.

Tomorrow night, the triangle offense makes its return to the Mecca of Basketball for the first time since Red Holzman roughly 31 years ago. Lee’s documentary featured interviews with historic Knicks legends Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Senator Bill Bradley and Earl Monroe, among others. All of these New York City heroes felt that things had come full circle since their heyday of winning championships. The return of Jackson and the triangle brings back the golden feeling of winning a championship that any Knicks fan under the age of 50 has never felt.

The hunger for a championship in New York City is real. The presence of Jackson triggers beloved memories for older fans as they tell stories of when “The Garden was Eden” to the younger ones. Upon the conclusion of Lee’s documentary, current Knicks players and retired ines were all asked a simple question: “Do you see the Knicks winning a championship within the next five years?”

All players former and current answered with an emphatic, “yes.”

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