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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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Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher (6) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith (8) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher (6) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Fisher Already Changing The Mindset

Perhaps sooner than Jackson might have hoped, Fisher (a Jackson disciple who during his 18-year NBA career as a player, won five championships under Jackson’s head coaching guidance with the Los Angeles Lakers) got the younger Knicks to quickly buy in to Jackson’s proven triangle offense.

"“I thought these guys were great,” Fisher divulged to Ballow. “They did everything that we asked them to do. No other team [in the Summer League] asked as much of their [players] as we did in terms of learning a completely new way to play in a new system.”"

Although that learning process will take time to perfect, with a lot more yet to come, the Summer League Knicks surprised Fisher with their progress.

"“We only actually gave them a little bit of what this system provides,” Fisher said. “So when [opposing] teams start to take some things away, they didn’t have all the tricks in the bag… they executed it better in two weeks than some teams I played for… so I’m proud of these guys in terms of what they accomplished.”"

Teaching the rest of the system to the youngest Knicks while moving franchise player Carmelo Anthony and other veterans away from New York’s bogged-down isolation offense and switching defense that suffered to contain opposing pick-and-rolls, will require a lot more work.

But don’t tell Fisher, an ultra-competitor over his playing career, that it can’t be done — even before Jackson has a chance to use the Knicks’ available cap space next summer and finish the heavier lifting that will reshape New York’s roster.

"“I still don’t like to lose,” Fisher admitted. “Even though it’s Summer League, [the loss to Charlotte] is somewhat disappointing. But I’m excited about what we accomplished. I think all of our fans and people that watched us play, our players included, are excited about who we can be and what we can become.”"

Even though the Knicks’ recent re-signing of Anthony to a five-year deal was merely be the first major step toward making New York a legitimate contender beginning in 2015-16, Fisher doesn’t plan to wait that long.

"“We expect to be competitive and we want to compete in the Eastern Conference [next season],” he said."

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