Phil Jackson hoping Sasha Vujacic can help teach Knicks the triangle
New York Knicks president and general manager Phil Jackson admitted in the middle of last season - his first at the helm in Gotham - that his attempt to install the triangle offense was failing.
"Like nothing I've seen before," Jackson said. "So far, my experiment has fallen flat on its face."
But after a franchise-worst 17-65 finish in 2015, the newly minted septuagenarian is not quite prepared to abandon his beloved system that he employed as a coach during his 11 championship seasons. He is, however, looking to outsource the teaching of it.
Enter Sasha Vujacic.
The Knicks' signing of Vujacic this summer seemed to come out of left field for a few reasons: the 31-year-old was languishing in Europe last year, has appeared in just two NBA games since 2011 (both during a 10-day run with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 2014), and averaged just 5.2 points on 30.8 percent shooting (26.4 percent from deep) in the Spanish League the season previous.
But Jackson helped explain where the former 27th overall pick, who played under the Hall of Fame coach for five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, can come in handy.
"Having played for me in L.A., Sasha knows the triangle and can help our off-guards get the hang of playing on top of the floor," Jackson said, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.
"Of course, of course," Vujacic agreed. "I was always someone that helped players on the court. We have a lot of rookies and a lot of younger players - I still consider myself young by the way - so we have a great mix of guys and I’m looking forward to teaching them and giving them help."
The Knicks finished 29th in the NBA in offensive efficiency last season - worse than every team but the walking rebuke to competitive balance that was the Philadelphia 76ers - as players complained about the complexity of the triangle. But Vujacic, who won two titles with the Lakers, has seen the system work, and believes it can again in New York.
"It's a proven offense. It's an offense that won not only games but championships," he said. "Obviously you need to have players that can mold into that offense and to follow it and I think that our personnel right now is very excited.
"Everyone is here learning what their roles are and it's exciting when you have everybody on the same page. It takes a little bit of time and a little bit of patience but once you get it in your mindset it's one of the most beautiful offenses that you can play in."