Phil Jackson looks like he'll be unable to transform a 17-65 New York Knicks team in 2014-15 into a playoff team in 2015-16. And for some reason, he's taking heat for it.
Jackson is being hammered for New York falling out of contention, for firing the coach he hired and now for not staying true to his word to Carmelo Anthony that he would transform the Knicks into contenders.
And that criticism could make Jackson eventually go back to L.A. and wait for fiancée and Lakers CEO Jeanie Buss to fire brother Jim and replace him with Phil.
The Knicks have lost 13 of their last 15 games to fall out of the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
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In a column praising Anthony's loyalty to New York, the New York Daily News ripped Jackson for the Knicks' latest failures.
"But again, (Anthony) chose New York," the Daily News' Stefan Bondy wrote. "He wanted to make his money and win here. Then Phil Jackson settled into the job, placed the Knicks on a path of unprecedented losing, and now everybody is clamoring for Anthony's relocation. As if he's the problem.
Bondy went on to say that the Knicks had a legitimate chance of signing free agent LaMarcus Aldridge last summer until Jackson declared that Aldridge would have to play center to allow for the development of rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
Aldridge canceled the meeting with the Knicks.
"When I heard that, I didn't know that," Anthony said. "I took my headband and threw it."
Jackson got the steal of the draft in Porzingis, outlined to Aldridge the best way, maybe the only way, the Knicks could get better, and was blamed when Aldridge walked away. For being honest.
New York still has won eight more games than it did all of last season with its 17-65 record. He fired Derek Fisher, but who else had the insight into Fisher's personal issues before the incident with Matt Barnes over his ex-wife?
Remember whom Jackson originally wanted to hire? The guy who's about win back-to-back NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors.
But when Jackson first mentioned Steve Kerr, Knicks owner James Dolan wasn't enthused, another Daily News story indicated.
And Anthony, the player who deserves better? Maybe he should have given better as well, former Knick Amar'e Stoudemire told the Daily News.
"When you get involved in this situation you have to take ownership of it," Stoudemire said of Anthony. "You have to make sure you made the right decisions for your team and teammates. You have to become a complete player in order to bring your team out of a rut. Everyone can't do it."
Jackson may be tiring of the criticism, but it's Dolan's interference that could decide Phil's fate in New York.
"If the Knicks completely fall apart Dolan may not sign off on Jackson's next coaching hire, whether that is Rambis, Brian Shaw or Luke Walton," the Daily News reported. "Dolan wasn't in favor of Jackson's first choice, Steve Kerr, and if Dolan were to interfere again that could expedite Jackson's departure."
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