By Jose Martinez, Complex Sports
Is Phil Jackson hurt that he lost out on the New York Knicks head coaching position? Or is the Zen Master just giving an honest evaluation on the state of the current Knickerbockers roster? In an interview with HBO's "Real Sports" that is scheduled to air Tuesday night, Jackson discusses the one-time prospect of roaming the bench in the Garden next season. "I wasn't gonna take that job; that's for sure," the former Bulls and Lakers coach said, point blank.
Going further into his logic for why he would never assume the role of coach for the Knicks, Phil Jackson pulled no punches and simply called the team "clumsy." When asked to expand honest analysis, Jackson continued:
"They don't fit together well. Amar'e Stoudemire doesn't fit well with Carmelo (Anthony). Stoudemire's a really good player. But he's gotta play in a certain system and a way. Carmelo has to be a better passer. And the ball can't stop every time it hits his hands. They need to have someone come in that can kinda blend that group together."
People saying that Carmelo and Stoudemire cannot coexist isn't anything new for Knicks fans, but when a coach like Jackson–who has dealt with his share of teams with two star players–says the same thing, is there any hope that Melo and STAT can bring championship to New York?
[via ESPN]