i don't think PJ has had much, if any, influence over decision-making, trades, hiring and firing until he signed on the dotted line. as Action Jackson has stated, the concept of offense and defense are simple ones, not relegated to letting one person run the show in iso, to win or lose based on shooting percentage. it's a team game, and Phil will hire whomever he thinks can grasp and implement the triangle or similar strategy. it doesn't look like the Knicks will win this year, as Melo still feels he needs to carry the team and is putting the pressure of the entire season on his back, even when he's hurting. I can't see him, or JR, consistently shooting the lights out to win every remaining game, and I don't see Atlanta losing most every game left. although it's easy to say this with a tragic number of 3, I do have faith in an old school mentality such as Phil Jackson to let the season play out win or lose, and take it from there. evaluating our d-leaguers ain't gonna happen until knicks are eliminated.