'Tude for thought
A noticeably changed prez eats own words
I’LL have some humble pie with that triangle.
This was not the Zen Master we know and love and some resent. There’s enough NBA executives and coaches who don’t dig Phil Jackson’s arrogance, his “Eleven Rings” series of books and marriage to the triangle.
Thatwas not the same guywho stood behind a podium in the Garden’s interview room Saturday afternoon before his Knicks summerleague team got blown to bloody bits by the Hornets, 11082.
Jackson wore a black suit and black tie — funeral wear — to watch his team fall to 535. They take a 15game losing streak into London for an NBA showcase game against the Bucks.
The Knicks president spoke with a humbleness we haven’t seen since he started winning championships in Chicago in the 1990s, in what he called “a mea culpa.’’
Jackson, five days after gutting the roster, emerged fromhis Twitter feed to face the media and say he blew it by predicting a playoff berth on Day 1 of training camp.
“I take responsibility for it and the fans,’’ Jackson said. “I want them to leave Derek [Fisher] alone in this regard. It’s not his fault.’’
“Obviously I didn’t do the right thing in picking the group of guys that were here,’’ Jackson added.
So he cut his losses, ridding them of J.R. Smith, Samuel Dalembert and Iman Shumpert for an abstract set of assets, including $6.4 million extra in 2015 cap space.
“It was the right thing to do,’’ Jackson said.
It only will be right if he wins the lottery and grabs center Jahlil Okafor, then rides that momentum to using his $33 million of cap space wisely. The 198485 Knicks lost 12 straight — a record these Knicks have shattered — and turned that into winning Patrick Ewing. The Hornets assistant got his usual standing ovation when shown on the videoboard.
For nowit’s even uglier towatch, with Saturday’s addition of Lance Thomas, a onetime New Jersey high school top recruit, raising the number of 2014 summer leaguers on the roster to eight.
Jackson’s moves assured the 201415 Knicks will finish with the worst record in team history.
“I’ve lost some sleep about it,’’ Jackson said. “I wake up in the night thinking about how I can help this team out.’’
The fans on hand for the matinee were unforgiving, booing them often after falling behind by 31 points at halftime, 8944 after three. When Andrea Bargnani’s baby picture was shown on the scoreboard — even that visage was booed. To start the second half, the entire celebrity rowbecame barren.
This was not an afternoon to extoll the triangle’s virtues. Instead, Jackson tried to minimize it.
“I think a lot of the focus was contributed to the amount of negativity around the socalled triangle, which is much bigger than it seems,’’ Jackson said. “People like to put a lot more emphasis on it than is necessary. It’s just an offensive system, and I thought it really stilted our guys’ acceptability to being the learners Iwanted themtobe.’’
Smith advanced the antitriangle sentiment this week when he told The Post: “It’s too much thinking.”
Smith’s view underscored why he’s a Clevelander.
“Anything good or great is supposed to make you think a little bit,’’ Fisher said. “If it was easy to do and then you didn’t have to think about it, anybody could do it. That’s notwhowe are and that’s not who we’re trying to become.’’
The purge is not over — it’s only the start. Swollenkneed Amar’e Stoudemire and Bargnani could be waived after the trade deadline to open up two more roster spots for youngsters. Tim Hardaway Jr. has trade value, though his defense has been devalued — benched 39 seconds into the second half. Pablo Prigioni, whoplayed4:16? Adios, amigo.
“I just think that no one should be surprised at what we do from here on out,’’ Jackson said.
The Zen Master gave a vote of confidence to Fisher. Jackson already has one from owner James Dolan.
“Jim Dolan has been very supportive in this process and it gives me the ability to relax and be patient,’’ Jackson said.
That “losing mentality’’ he spoke of one month ago, Jackson said, is now “embedded.” But don’t knock the coach.
“He’s patient with the players,’’ Jackson said. “He hasn’t lost his temperament.’’
Jackson left the room in his black suit. At halftime, a 10yearold girl sang during a kiddie talent show: “Highway to Hell.’’ But first it’s a Knicks flight across the pond.