Knicks president Phil Jackson views J.R. Smith as the Knicks’ best athlete, is worried about Amar’e Stoudemire’s and Jose Calderon’s defense and Carmelo Anthony’s passing, acknowledged Iman Shumpert resided in Mike Woodson’s “doghouse’’ last season and sees center Samuel Dalembert as a “10 and 10’’ guy this season.
All of those observations were contained in Jackson’s often critical player-by-player scouting report given to biographer and confidant Charley Rosen during a sitdown at West Point on the third day of training camp. Rosen, a former assistant coach on Jackson’s Albany Patroons staff, lives in Ulster County and has published a new book on the Sixers’ 9-73 season titled “Perfectly Awful.’’
In the piece published Wednesday by ESPN.com, Jackson gave his most detailed review of Anthony in the triangle offense.
“Passing has never been a great strength of his, but in the triangle he’ll be able to have check-off reads like a quarterback looking for his first-option receiver, then his second and then his third,’’ Jackson told Rosen. “There’ll be plenty of iso opportunities for Melo, and in the triangle it’ll be very difficult for defenses to double-team him. It won’t be like last season where he had to take clutch shots with a gang of defenders in his face. Also look for Melo to get a bunch of post-up looks.”
Anthony struggled last season at the end of close games and many blamed it on Woodson’s iso system.
As far as his point-guard pair of Calderon and Pablo Prigioni, Jackson said they “are heady and steady. Neither of them will have any trouble figuring out the triangle [offense]. … The task for both of them is to be much better on-the-ball defenders.”
Smith, who had shot just 39 percent during the preseason, was cited by Jackson for his poor shot selection — an old theme: “He’s easily the best athlete on the team. But J.R. has to learn the difference between a good shot and a bad shot.’’
Jackson knocked Tim Hardaway Jr.’s defensive know-how, claiming big-time college programs such as Michigan don’t emphasize D because they want to “outscore’’ teams. Jackson also noted Hardaway has “trouble finishing with his left hand.’’
Jackson pointed out Dalembert’s foul-trouble issues, but called him the lone true center on the club and hopes he can average 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 26-minute-a-night role.
The Zen Master finally acknowledged a myth about Andrea Bargnani, saying the 3-point shot is “a bit out of his range.’’
Clearly, Jackson has major plans for Stoudemire, saying he is “one of the keys to the season.” But he added that “playing adequate defense is a real challenge for him and he’s also got to improve his rebounding.”
Regarding surprise power-forward starter Quincy Acy, Jackson said: “If Quincy is not always a stopper, we can count on him to always be tough, quick-footed and energetic on defense at both the 3 and 4 positions.’’