Rope a Dope

The MSM and armchair Knicks pundits are having a field day with Phil Jackson's latest interview with Harvey Araton in the Times.  Jackson discusses many things including his disappointment with how the team has performed, his faith that between he and Fisher the team will eventually succeed with some form of Triangle offensive scheme, and he assumes responsibility for the flaws of the team thus far.

For critics, this is the raw meat that they had craved. Jackson, who Knicks fans had so long dreamed of making a return to the Knicks was back AND a failure.  Yes, he had been a great coach. Yes, he had been a player.  Yes, he had been a powerful basketball influence.  And the critics, pick-axes in hand, were here to bury him.

These critics never quite understood the Triangle but understand the win-loss columns could now proclaim loudly, "TOLD YOU SO!"  These critics who enjoy having the Knicks to kick around could keep happily kicking.  The countdown to a Phil Jackson departure from the Knicks is their only agenda.

Call me a fool if you like but these critics who mock Phil Jackson for his Zen trajectory, don't know much about Zen either.

I have followed Jackson's maneuvering and I come to very different conclusions. While I believe Jackson's surprise and disappointment is real, I don't believe for a second that it has paralyzed his ability to recover and co-ordinate subsequent strategies.  I have never once read or heard him disparage the trades he's made, yet his critics make it sound as if he dismantled a contending team for a bag of crumbs.

Fact of the matter is that the Knicks organization is far healthier today than its been since the Ernie Grunfeld/Pat Riley era.  Jackson's periodic updates are sincere, open, and honest.  Let me add two more attributes - they are mindful and purposeful.  Fisher is a pleasure to listen to before and after games.

The Knicks organization is on a mission.  The league, agents, and media who once took advantage of the organization can feel it and they hate it. The Knicks are no longer signing and extending dubious talents to rich, long term contracts.  The Knicks are no longer a dumping ground for fat failing contracts.  Six months into running the organization, the Knicks have cap space, flexibility, keen scouting, patience, intelligent and thoughtful feedback loops, and a handful of young, hungry players to complement Carmelo Anthony.

The win-loss column - the only thing that matters to many critics - is misleading. jackson's latest interview, rather than being defeatist is mindful and purposeful.  Jackson is performing an act of sporting Jiu-Jitsu that is so seamless and natural that the critics enjoy being thrown for the fall. Jackson's dialog with fans is clear and honest and it accomplishes a host of objectives.

First, he creates space for Fisher, the coaching staff, and his advisors to take shelter in.  Jackson's critics will mistake all of this as ego and Jackson sells it as such to the willing fools who want that to be the case.  But what Jackson is really doing is investing the goodwill and good name he's earned over the decades into a trust relationship with the fans.  He is saying, "Take your pot shots at me.  I have the wherewithal to withstand them and while you waste your time trying to bring me down, my staff can go about doing the rebuilding business I was brought here to complete."

Not so many years ago, this was known as "Rope-A-Dope".  Reason won't silence the critics.  Knowing that, he gives them room to howl.  In the meantime, the Eastern Conference teams can feel their window of opportunity shrinking.