After the New York Knicks fell to the Boston Celtics 106-86 in Wednesday's preseason matchup, it's fair question just how much progress this New York team has made since last season.
With Phil Jackson and new coach Derek Fisher in charge, the Knicks are expected to employ the triangle offense. But according to J.R. Smith, mastering that system could take quite a while.
"It's going to take a few months," Smith said after the Knicks' preseason debut. "Over the course of the year, understanding where everybody is going to be, [understanding that] 'some like it here, [some] like it like that.' It's going to take awhile."
Both Jackson and Fisher have stressed patience when it comes to adopting an entirely new offensive philosophy. The duo have conceded that it takes time to get comfortable in the triangle.
New York shot just 41% from the field last night and turned the ball over 28 times. This is not what Knicks fans want to see after a disastrous 37-45 season last year that cost previous coach Mike Woodson his job.
"I thought we went out there and started thinking too much instead of just playing," said Smith, who had seven points in his triangle debut. "We have to put a little more trust in our front-office people...They set this team around the type of players we are, and we have to trust our instincts a little more and just play. We all know how to get into our offense and just play the right way. It's just a matter of when we get into it if they take something away, don't get too anxious or too nervous and turn the ball over."
Smith also explained what the Knicks have to do better at on defense, as Boston shot 49 percent from the field and had 38 points in the paint.
"Keeping the ball out of the middle of the floor," Smith said. "They got a lot of dribble penetration. Sometimes, we have to hold the person who's on the ball more accountable instead of helping. That's what got a lot of the bigs open jump shots."
The Knicks are hoping the front office additions of Jackson and Fisher, along with trading for point guard Jose Calderon and other players, will help get them back in the playoff picture in a weak Eastern Conference.
