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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Phil Jackson and JR Smith: It Takes a Genius

     Like Phil Jackson to let a player who just put on a show tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final by scoring 28 points and 8 rebounds in Cleveland's 97-89 win over the Atlanta Hawks, go for absolutely nothing. 

     https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers-atlanta-hawks-2015052001/

     Ok, I'm not saying there weren't any good reasons to let Smith go, but for absolutely nothing?! Smith is declaring vindication as well he might. 

    "This, of course, comes not only after Jackson traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cavaliers this season but after Jackson was caught trolling teams in the postseason for not being good enough to win. It was the pot calling the kettle black in the most bizarre of ways, and none of it was lost on J.R. Smith."

    "Cleveland has found a real gem with J.R. Smith, as he’s an offensive production machine at times and is going to be critical in the cave quest to make it back to the NBA Finals. It’s been almost ten years since the Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals, but this is a first time trip for guys like J.R. Smith — and the trolling likely won’t stop anytime soon."

     http://fansided.com/2015/05/15/jr-smith-trolls-phil-jackson-trade-photo/

     Smith is dead right. You can justify trading JR Smith but how do you justify trading him for nothing? 

     Stephen A. Smith is also dead right in his tweet tonight.

      https://twitter.com/stephenasmith

     Jackson has a good reason for it: JR doesn't square with the triangle offense. 

      “As our journey moves through this season, we will search for the type of players that fit the style we hope to exhibit for our fans,” Phil Jackson said in a statement. “Our desire is to improve our ability to compete. In addition, these transactions improve our flexibility to the current roster and the salary cap for future seasons.” 

     http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/06/phil-jackson-says-desire-to-change-style-among-reasons-for-trading-iman-shumpert-and-j-r-smith/

     The Knicks want to win-what was Cleveland taking JR-they were robbed. 

      Ok, like most Knicks fans I'm frustrated right now. The Knicks can't even lose properly, as the Lakers stole the number 2 pick in the draft. While it's true, that the Knicks can still get a very good player in the draft-Stephan Curry went 7th-I don't get why Jackson couldn't at least be there at the lottery. 

     Larry Bird didn't have anything better to do but Jackson did? Phil was probably massaging his wife Jeanie Buff's  back as she stole the Knicks pick; she just happens to be part-owner and President of the Lakers. 

    The Knicks did get $30 million dollars in cap space and who knows what kind of free agents they can sign with. So to judge the deal you have to wait and see who they get and how these players contribute to the team vs. how Cleveland ends up this year and in subsequent years-ditto JR. 

    Right now though, the optics are just bad and Jackson could have at least been at the lottery as he was in Chicago-again, maybe watching tv with Jeanie as she took his pick. 

    Now we're hearing that the Knicks might trade down to get a player who likes the Triangle? At this point, he's borderline in Chip Kelly country: the Knicks need to improve the next 2 years or the egg is totally on his face. 

    P.S. The thing is we Knicks fans have had little to cheer about since Van Gundy left. Last year, I admit I felt honored just to have Mr. Karma here, but starting this year, we need some actual results not just the world's most impressive resume. 


     

     

     

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