KING OF THE GARDEN
Once again Dolan shows that Phil matters more than Melo, the team or wins
James Dolan took all the suspense out of Carmelo Anthony’s exit meeting when a story surfaced early Thursday that Dolan has already picked up the final two years of Phil Jackson’s contract.
Dolan isn’t necessarily taking sides in a potential Melo vs. Zen Master Battle for the Ages, but Dolan, the Chairman of Madison Square Garden, essentially picked sides. He’s riding and dying with Phil.
Therefore, if Anthony wants to remain with the Knicks, from this day forward he will have to abide by Jackson’s rules. They’re fairly simple; we’re running the triangle and I will criticize you in the media where and when I like it. Take it or leave it. In the end, Jackson wins despite doing nothing but losing as a Knicks president. Over the last three full seasons on the job, Jackson’s teams have lost 166 games. That is historic losing. And yet, he’s still rewarded.
Jeff Hornacek probably saw this coming back in February when he went against his instincts and started following Jackson’s orders to re-dedicate himself to the triangle offense. This did not make Hornacek very popular in the locker room but it bought him at least another year.
This is the way it works at Madison Square Garden. It’s about self-preservation first, everything second. And that includes winning. The Knicks are not the only organization that operates this way. They’re just one of the most visible and best at it. Winning hasn’t been a top priority at Madison Square Garden for nearly two decades now and the Knicks have the record to prove it.
Jackson has the contract extension to prove it. No questions asked. No playoff games needed.
Jackson will address the media on Friday for the first time since last September. The timing of his option being picked up should provide clarity for Anthony, who is going to lose his fight with Jackson to be the last man standing at the Garden. If Melo went into the final weeks of the season thinking that perhaps Dolan would side with him over Jackson he is sadly mistaken.
Carmelo is just a name. Jackson is Dolan’s human shield, an expensive one at that. Jackson’s presence allows Dolan to stay free and clear of criticism. It falls under Dolan’s “Ask Phil” management style.
The positive is that Dolan, for the most part, stays out of the day-to-day operations of the club. The downside is that Dolan handed the keys to the kingdom to an inexperienced executive who may not have the chops to get the job done. Worst of all is that Jackson thinks that the answer to everything is the triangle and more triangle.
Other teams see it. Most of the players on the current roster, starting with Carmelo, see it. But not Dolan. Or maybe he just chooses to ignore it.
When Jackson produces successive seasons of 65, 50 and 51 losses and is rewarded with a two-year extension it’s fair to suggest that maybe Dolan’s commitment to Jackson takes precedent over winning.
Jackson has not brought stability to the Garden. He’s done quite the opposite. He hasn’t built a winner. He’s failed to provide a structured environment and established a positive culture.
The Miami Heat, who lost Dwyane Wade to free agency and Chris Bosh to a career-ending illness, went 41-41 and were in the playoff race on the final night of the NBA regular season. The Knicks went 3151 this season and haven’t played a meaningful game in March during Jackson’s watch.
ESPN reported that Anthony and assistant coach Kurt Rambis, Jackson’s friend and loyalist, got into a heated exchange during halftime of a game in Brooklyn last month. According to one player, Rambis took exception to Anthony essentially calling the entire operation a clown show.
The Daily News has learned that one hour earlier, several players were angry that Hornacek told the team that with the playoffs no longer in reach to just go “out and have fun and don’t worry about winning.” That didn’t sit well with the veterans.
The Knicks have never been pulling in the same direction under Jackson. When Derek Fisher tried to be his own man, Jackson fired him. When Hornacek tried to tweak the offense, Jackson forced him to stick with the triangle. Hornacek is already the fourth coach to work under Jackson. Then there’s Joakim Noah’s contract A and those 166 losses. nd yet, Phil still got rewarded.
It’s not as if Jackson had other options. His dream of returning to the Lakers ended with his breakup with Jeanie Buss. Jackson wasn’t being pursued by other teams but Dolan still treats him like his most valuable employee.
That about sums it up. And that should tell Carmelo everything he needs to know.