Jackson's advice to Melo? Read my book!

NewYork

Benchwarmer
Perhaps with his 29th birthday celebration this week, Carmelo Anthony should treat himself to Phil Jackson's book, "Sacred Hoops."

That's what Jackson hopes Melo, whom he called a "terrific player," purchases to learn what it takes to become an NBA champion.

"He's one step away from getting there and having that opportunity," Jackson said on Thursday during an interview on Bloomberg Radio's "Taking Stock" with Pimm Fox and Carol Massar. "Having had [a championship] as an NCAA player, it's something he must crave."

In "Sacred Hoops," Jackson describes coaching the greatest player ever, who also needed some motivation from the "Zen Master" himself.

"It's a book in which I address the fact that Michael Jordan's a leading scorer, he's got the capability of being a terrific scorer," Jackson said, "but that he's got to get his other teammates involved and he's got to make it a team game."

"Sacred Hoops" was published in 1995, two years after the Bulls won three straight titles. Jackson has written several other books, including "Maverick: More Than a Game," "The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul" and "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," which was released earlier this month. During his legendary coaching career, Jackson was known to give his players books to read for teaching and inspiration.

Recently, in an interview with The New York Times, Jackson also took a jab at the Knicks, saying they're still missing championship pieces.

"The Knicks still have to find some accommodating group of guys that know how to play ball together, move the ball and play the game the right way," he said.
This is exactly what I've felt. It's on Melo to make this team work out. The one he has. If he can't make the team that he has right now work out, adding a new piece won't help. If he wants to be the main offensive threat on this team, he is going to have to learn to get everyone else involved and facilitate more. He has to learn how to distribute the offense and create more space for himself and everyone else on the team. You have awesome players on the team Melo. The problem isn't that the Knicks are missing another scorer, the problem starts with you. You're the leader Melo. You wanted the position. You get the glory but you also have to shoulder the blame and responsibility. Now make it work and get everyone else involved on offense. You don't need to be taking 25-30 shots a night. You don't need to be making 30 points a night. Get everyone else involved and make it easier for them to get their buckets too. Not only will it make it easier on your own shots, you'll motivate others to go hard on offense AND defense. They'll reward you with their efforts on defense granted you go hard on defense too. If you facilitate others on offense and trusts others to get their points, you'll have more energy to expend on defense as well.
 

Ghostowl

Benchwarmer
Exactly. Melo needs to become like Lebron, pass off to his teammates, and learn to play teamball. Knicks will not win a championship as long as he hogs the ball.

He also needs to get in shape.

1:25 Melo
 

Kiyaman

Legend
This is exactly what I've felt. It's on Melo to make this team work out. The one he has. If he can't make the team that he has right now work out, adding a new piece won't help. If he wants to be the main offensive threat on this team, he is going to have to learn to get everyone else involved and facilitate more. He has to learn how to distribute the offense and create more space for himself and everyone else on the team. You have awesome players on the team Melo. The problem isn't that the Knicks are missing another scorer, the problem starts with you. You're the leader Melo. You wanted the position. You get the glory but you also have to shoulder the blame and responsibility. Now make it work and get everyone else involved on offense. You don't need to be taking 25-30 shots a night. You don't need to be making 30 points a night. Get everyone else involved and make it easier for them to get their buckets too. Not only will it make it easier on your own shots, you'll motivate others to go hard on offense AND defense. They'll reward you with their efforts on defense granted you go hard on defense too. If you facilitate others on offense and trusts others to get their points, you'll have more energy to expend on defense as well.



:agreed::agreed::agreed:
It's a book in which I address the fact that Michael Jordan's a leading scorer, he's got the capability of being a terrific scorer," Jackson said, "but that he's got to get his other teammates involved and he's got to make it a team game."
 

pat

Starter
If he Melo responded to this criticism (which has been around for many years) I'd be very surprised. Somehow he tends to fall back into old patterns in difficult situations. There were promissing games this year but somehow he does not seem to trust the idea of team ball.
 

New New York

Quiet Storm
Read between the lines...Phil thinks he can win with Melo and is putting a bug in Knicks Managements ear. James Dolan got his first non Viagra induced erection in years upon reading this report

This time last year Phil said were clumsy now Melo can be a winner if he is coached by him...oops I mean if Melo "reads his book"!
 

Kiyaman

Legend
If he Melo responded to this criticism (which has been around for many years) I'd be very surprised. Somehow he tends to fall back into old patterns in difficult situations. There were promissing games this year but somehow he does not seem to trust the idea of team ball.




u mention the most talk about subject in 2009-10 in all the Denver Nuggets forums "Melo went back to his old ways" losing in 6 games to Utah Jazz in the first round, with the same teammates the team went to the WCF the season (2008-9) before.

This is why I was shocked by the Denver Nuggets organization when Melo refuse to renogiate his contract that offseason, and Denver organization raised their offer close to the amount of Kobe's contract (highest paid player $24M), and Melo still refused.
 

Weissenberg

Grid or Riot
Well, there is some proof behind that statement, we're a .590 team with Melo taking 25 or more shots... and on the other hand a .700 team with Melo dishing out 5 or more assists.
 

NewYork

Benchwarmer
Read between the lines...Phil thinks he can win with Melo and is putting a bug in Knicks Managements ear. James Dolan got his first non Viagra induced erection in years upon reading this report

This time last year Phil said were clumsy now Melo can be a winner if he is coached by him...oops I mean if Melo "reads his book"!
Actually I think what Phil is saying hits the bull's eye. Yeah you can read "in between the lines", however don't you think when Phil was saying that the Knicks were clumsy, it was because of the way Melo and Stat plays ball? Melo doesn't pass much and runs down the clock while Stat is best when he is fed the ball in the paint and especially in transition when there is ball movement. There isn't much ball movement because of the way Melo runs down clock. He doesn't set much screens for other people. Also, the way Stat plays, he doesn't know how to pass the ball out either so the pairing of them is "clumsy". I mean Phil's point was basically proven in the playoffs this year. I think his insight is actually dead on accurate and he might be able to put the offense together better than Woodson but we all know Woodson is still going to run the show.
 
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smokes

Huge Member
Read between the lines...Phil thinks he can win with Melo and is putting a bug in Knicks Managements ear. James Dolan got his first non Viagra induced erection in years upon reading this report

This time last year Phil said were clumsy now Melo can be a winner if he is coached by him...oops I mean if Melo "reads his book"!

He just said a couple of days ago he will not return to coaching under any circumstances.
 

CoolClyde

Moderator
Well, there is some proof behind that statement, we're a .590 team with Melo taking 25 or more shots... and on the other hand a .700 team with Melo dishing out 5 or more assists.

so fuc*king true, ex-DZWon-Son!

this is one of the best threads i've read concerning Melo's game play, not that every other KOL team member hasn't been saying the same thing since day one. the Melo at the beginning of the year saw the court, passed the ball, and had way more assists than during the playoff run. it's the low bball IQ that keeps Melo from becoming one of the best; leave it to Phil Jackson, ex-Knick, and coach of some of the greatest NBA players of all-time, to hit the nail on the head. team ball. fu*ck that iso-BS.

watching LeBone and Tony Parker/Duncan make the right plays most of the time, rarely isolating unless they're really feeling it, actually makes me sick that the Knicks do not play the same ball. if they did, they'd be playing for championship this year.
 

NewYork

Benchwarmer
so fuc*king true, ex-DZWon-Son!

this is one of the best threads i've read concerning Melo's game play, not that every other KOL team member hasn't been saying the same thing since day one. the Melo at the beginning of the year saw the court, passed the ball, and had way more assists than during the playoff run. it's the low bball IQ that keeps Melo from becoming one of the best; leave it to Phil Jackson, ex-Knick, and coach of some of the greatest NBA players of all-time, to hit the nail on the head. team ball. fu*ck that iso-BS.

watching LeBone and Tony Parker/Duncan make the right plays most of the time, rarely isolating unless they're really feeling it, actually makes me sick that the Knicks do not play the same ball. if they did, they'd be playing for championship this year.

Yeap. Couldn't agree more.
 

skisloper

Starter
so fuc*king true, ex-DZWon-Son!

this is one of the best threads i've read concerning Melo's game play, not that every other KOL team member hasn't been saying the same thing since day one. the Melo at the beginning of the year saw the court, passed the ball, and had way more assists than during the playoff run. it's the low bball IQ that keeps Melo from becoming one of the best; leave it to Phil Jackson, ex-Knick, and coach of some of the greatest NBA players of all-time, to hit the nail on the head. team ball. fu*ck that iso-BS.

watching LeBone and Tony Parker/Duncan make the right plays most of the time, rarely isolating unless they're really feeling it, actually makes me sick that the Knicks do not play the same ball. if they did, they'd be playing for championship this year.


To make matters even worse we now have JR who does the same thing as Melo but on a lower level......So its almost Coach Woodson/ Knicks organization is not just accepting this Melo-Ball but reinforcing by a more erratic player do the same thing as Melo when he in the game.....

Woodson is not the man for this job because he runs scared...I do not think its Dolan because he did the samething in Atlanta....He falls back on whats most comfortable the exact thing that Melo does...........

Woody is not the guy for Melo.........Mark Jackson ( who I did not want since he is an " unknown" when it came to coaching ) would have been the right man for the job.......

The big question is Melo willing to adjust his game........
 

New New York

Quiet Storm
Actually I think what Phil is saying hits the bull's eye. Yeah you can read "in between the lines", however don't you think when Phil was saying that the Knicks were clumsy, it was because of the way Melo and Stat plays ball? Melo doesn't pass much and runs down the clock while Stat is best when he is fed the ball in the paint and especially in transition when there is ball movement. There isn't much ball movement because of the way Melo runs down clock. He doesn't set much screens for other people. Also, the way Stat plays, he doesn't know how to pass the ball out either so the pairing of them is "clumsy". I mean Phil's point was basically proven in the playoffs this year. I think his insight is actually dead on accurate and he might be able to put the offense together better than Woodson but we all know Woodson is still going to run the show.

You misunderstand what I was saying. I was not saying Phil was right or wrong about his clumsy reference on The Knicks or any other opinion he has on our roster.

I feel there is a hidden motive behind what he is saying about reading his book.

His mention of us being clumsy came after he did not get consideration for the job clearly had motive behind to keep from looking rejected.

His mention of Melo needing to read his book comes after a disappointing end to our season also reeks of this same type of indirect speaking. Phil has played in NY, he knows the demanding nature of The Knicks fanbase, he realizes regardless of how Management feels or what they are saying currently about Mike's job being safe Woody's seat just got a little warmer with an earlier than expected playoff exit and I think he was planting a seed there.

Could I be reaching...sure I've been wrong plenty of times in my life. But I do find it interesting that he would choose now to say that. He addressed our team when he mentioned the clumsy comment last offseason did Melo need his book any less last year than he does this year?

He was asked about Melo and The Knicks when we commemorated the old Championship Knicks no mention then either. At that time we were on a long win streak and Woody was as safe as ever.

Now does Phil actually want to coach our team? Maybe, maybe not! But Phil is an ego maniac he loves the idea of being courted if only to reject a team (probably enjoys that best).
 

CA7

Scoring Champ
When will you guys realize Melo will run whatever the coach calls

its not like he's out there just taking the ball and not passing

also remember what Ronnie Brewer said when he signed "you can't watch Melo you gotta move without the ball"

How about the lack of a facilitator to run a quality NBA offense, how about the coach not even putting in a quality offense at all

its funny because people always assume everything is about ball movement or ISO ball

they look at his FGA and say he's a chucker but in essence it's all wrong

players play the system installed if we ran an offense that dictated finding great shots instead of good ones and had a facilitator no one would be talking about this

get a facilitator and install a real offense and then see how much things change
 

jimkcchief88

All Star
When will you guys realize Melo will run whatever the coach calls

its not like he's out there just taking the ball and not passing

also remember what Ronnie Brewer said when he signed "you can't watch Melo you gotta move without the ball"

How about the lack of a facilitator to run a quality NBA offense, how about the coach not even putting in a quality offense at all

its funny because people always assume everything is about ball movement or ISO ball

they look at his FGA and say he's a chucker but in essence it's all wrong

players play the system installed if we ran an offense that dictated finding great shots instead of good ones and had a facilitator no one would be talking about this

get a facilitator and install a real offense and then see how much things change

Bingo.....look at the Eastern Conference Finals....Even Crybaby Bron can't win by himself with no help....Bron has been dishing as well as scoring but with when he gets no help...Heat lose. Basketball simpletons just blame "iso-ball" in essence blame the best player(not even the highest paid STAT) instead of looking a little deeper. And as was stated above "Zen-Master" lobbying for a job....I like Woody but would LOVE to see Phil roaming our sidelines
 
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