Fisher Today, Zen Junior Tomorrow

Has Derek Fisher thought this out?  By becoming the New York Knick’s head coach, any success will be widely viewed as another by-product of Phil Jackson.  Jackson has targeted two former players.  Specifically, he has targeted his two most widely known cerebral, clutch sharpshooters.  Steve Kerr resisted the siren’s song of New York but Derek Fisher could not resist it.

To be clear, Fisher has the right constitution to move from player to head coach without any experience as an assistant.  Jason Kidd made the same transition this year and guided Brooklyn to the playoffs.  Once Brook Lopez was injured, Kidd utilized a small ball lineup that featured Kevin Garnett at center.  Garnett’s skill set resulted in this lineup moving the ball and attacking from the perimeter instead of focusing on interior touches for Lopez.  Kidd coached to his strengths as a former NBA point guard.

Fisher will do the same.  The problem is that what Fisher knows is Jackson’s Triangle offense.  If Carmelo Anthony stays in the Big Apple, that will be a big adjustment for the NBA’s most dangerous volume shooter.  It is apparent Kerr considered this issue and knew that Golden State would give him the freedom to solve it.  Kerr has met with David Blatt to be his lead assistant coach.  Blatt is widely regarded in coaching circles as today’s foremost offensive innovator.  Combine this with Kerr’s stated intention to have the Warriors run more and to emphasis Andre Iguodala’s talents by getting him out of the corner and it all comes into focus.

            Kerr recognizes that the NBA is now a perimeter league.  The Triangle will not be as effective as an up-tempo perimeter attack that focuses on efficient three pointers and transitions opportunities.  Jackson is arguably the most successful coach in NBA history.  The likelihood that he would hire a former player with no coaching experience and then allow him run a system counter to his own doctrine is slim.  Kerr wanted elbowroom and an offense that does not rely on the elbow.  Personnel and cap structure issue plague the Knicks.  Those issues will be resolved.  The question is if Jackson will allow Fisher to make strategy adjustments that run counter to Jackson’s philosophy.