As of Day 1, Anthony is buying in to the triangle. (USATSI)
The New York Knicks are in the process of changing their basketball culture from one that is a laughingstock in the NBA to one that is actually competing for NBA championships. After winning 54 games and looking somewhat promising in the 2012-13 season, the Knicks were a comedy of errors and injuries last season and won just 37 games. It resulted in the team hiring Phil Jackson as the president of the organization and hiring Derek Fisher as the coach to implement the fabled triangle offense.
On Knicks' media day before training camp opens, Carmelo Anthony is saying the right things about the implementation of the triangle. He told the media he wants to help his teammates by playing in the triangle system that focuses on sharing and movement, and wants Fisher and Jackson to believe he's bought into the system.
Melo says he hopes to be able to help his teammates more in the triangle. Says he wants Fisher & Phil to know that he has fully bought in.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 29, 2014This is a change for Anthony, who re-signed with the Knicks for five years and $124 million this past summer. He's worked as more of a passer at times under Mike D'Antoni, but that was mostly running pick-and-roll sets that make him the playmaker. The triangle is based more on overloading sides of the court to create spacing, player movement, and passing opportunities that keep the defense on their toes, not knowing where the shot is coming from. It's a read-and-react offensive system that can change based on how the defense is shading.
Anthony would be asked to sacrifice shot opportunities he's used to getting, but if he and his teammates are able to pull it off and really buy in to the triangle, they could have one of the best offenses in the league. That doesn't solve how they play defense and their issues with defending based on the current roster they have, but perhaps they can be the 2014 Mavericks of the East this season and just outgun opponents every night.
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Scott Brooks and Russell Westbrook agree: Thunder star is NBA’s best point guard
Is Russell Westbrook the NBA’s best point guard?
Let’s go to one of the least objective sources we can find, someone happy to blurt out his opinion.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks, via Royce Young of ESPN:
“I believe Russell is the best point guard in basketball,” Brooks said, unprompted. “That’s happened over time. I’ve seen Russell every practice, every game, every film session, and he’s really put a lot of time into being the best point guard in basketball.”
As you’d expect, though, Westbrook concurred with his coach’s statement.
“I do,” he said. “I’m very honored to hear him say that, but that’s how I feel. I mean, I don’t know what to tell you.”
This is not Brooks being asked a question then sticking with his guy. The statement was unprompted. This is a motivational technique.
Who knows what Brooks actually believes? Heck, he might not even know what he thinks. Coaches don’t necessarily spend a lot of time ranking players by position.
But Brooks has no incentive to give an accurate assessment of Westbrook and other point guards. Brooks has incentive to bring out the best in Westbrook.
How does praising Westbrook accomplish that? Westbrook is already – perhaps too – confident in his own abilities. Maybe it’s as simple as Brooks building trust with Westbrook.
Or maybe Brooks is banking on public disagreement to his comment.
If so, I’ll indulge.
My point guard rankings:
1. Chris Paul
2. Russell Westbrook
3. Stephen Curry
Tony Parker, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe follow in some order after that.
Paul is a better passer, better defender and better 3-point shooter than Westbrook. Westbrook is more athletic, and that shows near the rim. But overall, Westbrook doesn’t quite translate his athleticism to Paul’s production.
Westbrook has the highest upside of any point guard in the league, and he’s just 25 – three years younger than Paul – and already ranks No. 2. Westbrook could overtake Paul soon, and maybe Brooks’ press conference ultimately adds the fuel that gets Westbrook over the hump.
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