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New York Knicks: Summer League Set Early Tone For Culture Change

By Jonathan Wagner

Jan 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) shoots the ball during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 110-103. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) shoots the ball during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 110-103. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks new president Phil Jackson sits in the stands during the first quarter of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks new president Phil Jackson sits in the stands during the first quarter of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The hiring of Phil Jackson as the New York Knicks’ new team president four months ago signaled an impending, much-needed culture change on the horizon for a franchise that was in disarray.

Although one of Jackson’s first decisions while being in charge of the Knicks — going after, but failing to land Steve Kerr as the New York’s head coach — didn’t work out, his backup move of placing Derek Fisher in the same role seems to already be paying dividends long before the Knicks’ rookie coach leads a training camp for the first time.

That much was evident during the Knicks’ recently completed run to the Las Vegas Summer League quarterfinals.

While they could get no further, as the Charlotte Hornets eliminated New York, 82-79, on Saturday, the Knicks learned a lot about their younger players and Fisher as they started the Summer League with four straight victories.

An infusion of youth and a different way of playing took hold in Las Vegas, and gave Knicks fans some reasons for optimism as they look ahead.

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