Phil Jackson understands this has been a tough year for the New York Knicks. The team has seen their share of highs and lows this year, but a recent win streak has optimism flying. Newly anointed team president Phil Jackson picked up the Knicks in a sorry state and even witnessed one of the worst losses in franchise history. However, the turnaround has Jackson excited, crediting Carmelo Anthony as the reason.
Anthony has carried the weight of the Knicks all season. The free-agent-to-be has put his best foot forward despite the losses while constantly being hounded by questions regarding his future. Jackson is praising the veteran and noting that other players are rising to the occasion because Anthony is. Jackson even went so far as to compare the guard to some of the greats.
"Carmelo's really stepped into another level of trying to help players," Jackson said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "I think that's one of the things that we see that Carmelo can do and that he's grown as he's gone along. Those are issues that are not only on the basketball court. They're off the basketball court, they're in practices, they're in the training room, in the locker room, where players learn to lead and push the team forward with their energy. And I've been fortunate to have coached two of the great ones who have been able to do that in Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant."
The Knicks are now in playoff contention, battling the Atlanta Hawks for the final Eastern Conference spot with five games left to play. Improvement in the lineup with JR Smith and Amar'e Stoudemire inserted in as starters is certainly a reason for winning and also a changed attitude has put the team on a better path.
"Well, with J.R. [Smith] playing at the level he's playing at now, yes," Jackson said. "When Carmelo had to carry the load in scoring, a lot of times on his own back, and other people weren't stepping into helping him carry that load, which Amar'e [Stoudemire] and J.R. have done, it could be a struggle. But now they have more than one option out there on the floor, and I think that we'll give teams trouble."
New York controls their own destiny when it comes to the postseason. Tyson Chandler and Smith have spoken out in belief that the playoffs will happen and New York will play well in them, now they just have to see if that comes true.
