Knicks coaching rumors: Triangle not required, Mark Jackson could be in the mix
The triangle reportedly isn’t a requirement for Phil Jackson, which means a certain former Warriors coach with the same last name could be an option.
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Phil Jackson and the triangle have had a lot of success, but the New York Knicks' next coach won't necessarily need to specialize in that style of offense, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post. That could put former Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who is reportedly "on Jackson’s tentative list," in the running.
With the Knicks still trying to rebound from their failed attempt to lure Steve Kerr, dozens of names have been speculated as possibilities. Some of those suggestions were related to Jackson's love of the triangle, a strategy he typically deployed as a longtime coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Hook
However, Jackson may not require his first coaching hire to mirror that style, although Berman says it’s possible he hires “an experienced coach willing to adapt to the principles of his triangle offense — or at least a facsimile.” So we may be talking a quasi-triangle here, instead of an outright departure from the schemes.
That leaves the possibility of making a serious splash by adding the other Jackson, who was fired by Golden State despite leading the team to 51 wins in 2013-14. Assuming the issues that popped up in his last gig -- where he reportedly had a stubborn, sometimes dismissive approach to others -- don’t continue under Phil, the partnership could have some serious potential.
The former Warriors coach remains just one possibility though, and other names, such as current Thunder guard Derek Fisher, remain in the mix. Berman says the search won't be completed any time soon, so expect New York to be thorough in locating its next coach.
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