No matter how much success and fame someone achieves, most of us want to remain relevant, and Phil Jackson is no exception. I rooted for Jackson when he played for the Knicks and I admired what he did as a coach with the Bulls and the Lakers. Those accomplishments will never be forgotten, but Jackson's reputation has already been severely tarnished and if he somehow endures five years with the New York Knicks his Zen Master status will be reduced to that of a mere mortal.
The Knicks are not simply a train wreck that can be burned and swept from the tracks. They are a complex machine that is driven by a stubborn old engine -- the Carmelo Anthony model -- which has not and never will work in conjunction with other parts.
To begin with, Carmelo Anthony is not Michael, Kobe or Shaq. He may not even be Scottie Pippen. Forget about the fact that he doesn't play defense, Melo is a prolific scorer who has little regard for an offense focused on ball movement and finding the open man. This -- coupled with the fact that Jackson has been tinkering with his roster to find players who can work in his system -- has reduced the Knicks rebuilding to a snail's pace of continual mediocrity.
When Pat Riley came to the Knicks he made a realistic assessment of his personnel and built an offense around those players. It was a team whose cornerstone was defense, which not only made them fun to watch, but immediate contenders as well. Last season, defense was about as foreign as Martha Stewart on a camping trip, and despite the recent acquisition of Robin Lopez, it's naïve to assume that it will suddenly become an integral part of the current team as long as Melo remains the leader.
Jackson's forte has been managing his players personalities, but that was as a coach and he is no longer operating in that realm. It's foolish to think he can have the same impact without a regular courtside presence. I want Phil Jackson to succeed, but I fear he will leave the game like a boxer past his prime -- battered, disappointed and defeated.