New York Knicks: It’s Time For Phil Jackson’s Circus To End

The Empire Strikes Back

Firing his hand-picked coach less than two seasons into the job. Signing an injury-plagued center to a $72 million contract because he is a good locker room/team chemistry guy that plays well off of the point guard you acquired as an expiring contract.

Acquiring a point guard who doesn’t share or move the ball all that well to run a system predicated on sharing and moving the ball. Installing your friend and protégé to help guide the team in the area of its greatest weakness when you know full well the components of that team have long ago tuned out that very individual.

All of these moves have Jackson’s fingerprints all over them.

Yet, up until late last week, absolutely none of the above mattered. For all of the handwringing and poking fun by the greater basketball community at Phil Jackson’s and the Knicks’ expense, not a single one of the above moves had much effect on the eventual viability of the team.

They were embarrassing, sure, but ultimately inconsequential.