The New York Knicks should have a completely different offensive approach next season. Coach Jeff Hornacek has discussed his offense philosophy at length before being hired by the Knicks. Marc Berman unearthed this quote:
In a Q & A with Grantland in July 2013, after getting hired by the Suns, Hornacek spelled out his favored principles.
“I compare a lot of things to how it was when I actually played in Phoenix, back in the day, with Kevin Johnson,’’ Hornacek told the website. “We got into the offense really quickly. If you can get it in the post, or penetrate and kick out, and get that early shot in the first seven seconds or maybe eight seconds of the shot clock …”
The Knicks could benefit from early offense if it leads to easy baskets or good quality shots. The Knicks have early offense experience already and have shown it is successful with the players they have now.
Exhibit A to Z
Sasha Vujacic has the ball and Jose Calderon is nearby. Carmelo Anthony, Robin Lopez, and Kristaps Porzingis all begin at the top of the key.
As Vujacic crosses mid court, Lopez dives down and then comes back up to make himself available for the ball.
Lopez receives the ball and immediately Kristaps Porzingis cuts to the basket. It is an easy pass and an open lane for the Knicks.
The Knicks have early offense does even better with Jose Calderon. The knowledge from playing and court vision is obvious. Here the Knicks are already in position as Calderon crosses mid court. All eyes are on him.
Kristaps Porzingis moves into position for a pick.
Calderon does not use the pick and attacks the basket with a simple dribble.
The defense collapses on him and Derrick Williams is open for the lob inside. The Suns probably could have done more to attempt to stop the play but this early offense shows off how simple and easy the baskets can come with the right reads.
As this offseason has progressed both Phil Jackson and Jeff Hornacek have talked with the media about their offensive approach next year. From John Schmeelk:
Back at his introductory news conference two years ago, Jackson said that the triangle isn’t as important as playing system basketball. The Knicks are not going to be that team that runs isolation ball or even a bunch of high screen-and-rolls while the other three guys stand around.
Both Hornacek and Jackson want team play, with a lot of off-the-ball motion, cuts and passes. That can be done with the triangle, or with some of the stuff Hornacek did under coach Jerry Sloan in Utah.
Knicks Have the Players They Need
The Knicks have the personal to make baskets easy and compete under an offense led by Hornacek.
Here early initiation by Arron Afflalo has the Knicks in a 2 on 3 situation. Had Langston Galloway simply posted up his man and Afflalo looked for the inside pass this play could have ended with an easy layup.
Instead Afflalo goes to his favorite low block post up move. A streaking Calderon sets up for a quick three.
Afflalo keeps his man deep in the post and throws the pass to Calderon for the shot. Calderon also has an open Carmelo on the opposite side.
Will Coach Motivate the Knicks?
Hornacek can get through to the Knick players and get them to play unselfishly and look for early offense opportunities. The Knicks can capitalize and be much more unpredictable. Former coach Derek Fisher alluded to the problem of coaching away bad habits when he was coach of the Knicks.
“When the pressure goes up, the stress goes up, the tendency to revert to old habits and not sticking with what you’re developing now [happens]. It’s understandable to be that way, but we just have to continue to stretch out the amount of time that we believe in what we’re doing.”
Last year’s problems extended beyond game play and habits, even pace was a problem. The pace problem was there long before Kurt Rambis became coach, as Marc Berman pointed out:
The Knicks’ offense, especially under Kurt Rambis, was turtle-like. The Knicks were last in fast-break points the past two seasons.
Properly Using Carmelo Anthony
Hornacek can be the guy who motivates the Knicks players into sticking with the plan. He can show how savvy he is by utilizing the excitement of the biggest leader on the team, Carmelo Anthony. Anthony has already openly expressed how excited he was to speed the offense up with the new coach. Anthony’s excitement in quick offense and Hornacek’s ability to deliver that offense might finally kick start the Knicks. Anthony discussed his excitement in the offense with WNBC-TV:
Everybody knows he likes to play an uptempo pace of game, likes to get out in transition, likes to speed the game up a lot. So from that standpoint, I’ll definitely be looking forward to that.
The Knicks were strong at the start but then came the frustrating slow crash of the Knicks 2015-2016 season. The Knicks are almost 70 years old, and the median win number of all those years is 39. The current Knicks finished with 32 wins and 50 losses. Still, it was a big improvement over last year’s 17-win season (their lowest all time). What will the offense do to change that?
