Charles Barkley: Knicks Running Triangle Offense Is Stupid

LALakersFan4Life · Jan 15, 2015

By James Herbert | NBA writer
January 15, 2015 7:26 pm ET

Charles Barkley joined the Doug Gottleib Show on Thursday, and he had strong words about the New York Knicks' disastrous season. He was asked how much blame president Phil Jackson, head coach Derek Fisher and superstar Carmelo Anthony deserve for what's gone wrong, and Barkley chose not to criticize Anthony or Fisher. As for Jackson and his triangle offense ... that was a different story.

"Carmelo's a terrific player," Barkley said. "He's probably the best offensive player we got in the NBA. It's not his fault they're not winning. The Knicks just don't have good players. They don't have good players, it's plain and simple. And I think Phil Jackson made a mistake trying to make those guys run the triangle. You know, a good coach, you have to work with the personnel you got. Because those guys, No. 1, they're not going to learn the triangle ‘cause they're all going to be gone next year. They're really just auditioning for their new team. So he should have known that, the triangle, that was a waste of time trying to get those guys to buy in. ‘Cause you know, to be a good team, you have to buy into it like, ‘We're all in this together.' The Knicks are probably going to have eight to nine new players next year, so to think that those guys are going to buy into the triangle for six months, that was ridiculous. They know they're not going to be there. So you can blame Phil for that.

"To bring in players that know they're not going to be there and expect them to do the triangle, that was just stupid," Barkley continued. "Plain and simple. Those guys are like, ‘I'm not going to be here, why am I trying to run the triangle? I'm trying to get some numbers so I can audition for my next team.' So he has to take some blame in that situation. But then, bottom line is the Knicks don't have good players, man."

This shouldn't be particularly surprising, as Barkley has said similar things on TNT broadcasts throughout the season. He's even campaigned for the network to stop showing Knicks games.

Barkley went on to say that New York has approached rebuilding incorrectly, as it hasn't taken advantage of the draft like other franchises have. Another way of putting it: one reason the Knicks are awful is that, before Jackson arrived, the front office didn't make finding young talent a priority.

"They haven't drafted any good young players the last 10 years, and that's why they stink," Barkley said. "They try to raid everybody else's free agents, and when they don't get free agents, they stink."
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http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...ays-knicks-running-triangle-offense-is-stupid

John3:16 · Jan 15, 2015

Phil has 11

Chuck has 0.

Hmmm.... who should I listen to?

therealdeal · Jan 15, 2015

The Triangle isn't the problem in NY.

gcclaker · Jan 16, 2015

therealdeal said: ↑

The Triangle isn't the problem in NY.
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The current squad's lack of brains perhaps?

therealdeal · Jan 16, 2015

gcclaker said: ↑

The current squad's lack of brains perhaps?
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Exactly. This roster couldn't run any coherent offense put in front of them besides "get ball- then shoot". Even then I think they'd struggle with the "get ball" part.

Weezy · Jan 16, 2015

Is Chuck the guy that said the triangle has never been successful without Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, or Kobe? If so I'm not sure he's wrong.

RasAlgethi · Jan 16, 2015

I dont like Chuck and rarely agree with him but I do in this case. The triangle requires very specific players (and superstars). Its not effective to just throw that offense on any set of players.

gcclaker · Jan 16, 2015

RasAlgethi said: ↑

I dont like Chuck and rarely agree with him but I do in this case. The triangle requires very specific players (and superstars). Its not effective to just throw that offense on any set of players.
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+1. Jim Cleamons tried it in Dallas and failed miserably even if he had the young trio of Kidd, Mashburn and Jim Jackson.

therealdeal · Jan 16, 2015

Well the question is what's more important? Setting the table with the Triangle or appeasing these crappy players that won't be around next season?

We're kind of in the same boat by the way...

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Charles Barkley: Knicks Running Triangle Offense Is Stupid

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