According to Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal, Knicks head coach Derek Fisher revealed that Melo is now fine physically; however, he and the organization are weighing their options with regard to how much he should be pushed when training camp begins Tuesday.
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“Maybe I stepped back too far past year”, said Jackson. “I think that was multiplied in numbers of ways”.
“I’m not going to say that I’m going do that all the time, but there are going to be times that we’re going to do that because Derek’s kind of insinuated to me over the summer it’d be nice to have a little bit of that conversation as we go through this year”.
Jackson said he would occasionally stick his head into Fisher’s office last season after games and talk about specific plays, but said he never really sat with the staff and watched a game from beginning to end, which he said was his usual protocol as a coach. “I think I’ll probably be even more involved than I was previous year as far as being here and being watchful and suggestive, watching film together with Derek at times”.
“We hope to do a little better this year to the start of the season”, Jackson said.
“We feel like we found a better rhythm”.
“I think out of respect for each other’s titles, there were times where the president and head coach were not wanting to bother each other, or overload each other with information”, he said. “But for sure, looking forward to spending more time away from the team, talking basketball, talking shop, learning from one of the great basketball minds we’ve ever seen”.
Franchise player Carmelo Anthony is rumored to be in the Knicks’ trading block when the new season begins this October. Fisher, meanwhile, took heat for his management of close games.
Jackson said it wasn’t just his idea to get more hands-on with the team either, but also Fisher’s. “Does that say something to you?”
The Knicks signed Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, Kevin Seraphin and Kyle O’Quinn in free agency. “I know that a lot of focus is on talent – here, being in New York, the name of that talent”. “Although there were questions about what he thought about decisions being made over the offseason, I think he actually enjoys and likes working with these guys and being around them”. Obviously, it’s a results-oriented business so until you win some games none of it makes sense.
One thing neither Fisher nor Jackson would do is make a prediction.
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“I want to stay away from expectations”, Jackson said. “It is such a long season”. “And it really is impossible to do that”. Jackson needs to help this team in any way he can, or else he may be out of a job quicker than people might believe. “I think we’ll still gauge how much we want to put him under in terms of workloads and stress”. Get the most out of who we are.
