Phil Jackson: Knicks' Blowout Loss to Cavs 'Gave Basketball Gods Heartburn'
After yet another loss, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson decided to speak up about his team's play.
The Cleveland Cavaliers went into Madison Square Garden on Sunday and cruised to a 101-83 victory over New York. Former Knicks J.R. Smith (17 points) and Iman Shumpert (four points, seven assists and five rebounds) each had solid games in their return to New York. The two former Knickerbockers also teamed up for a jaw-dropping alley-oop.
The loss extended New York's losing streak to seven games and dropped the team to 10-45 on the season. It also led to some critical tweets from Jackson:
Jackson won 11 rings as a head coach, so he knows what "it" takes. Hopefully he'll able to get through to his players and turn the Knicks around next season.
Knicks coach Derek Fisher has responded to Jackson's criticism, via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com:
"I'm not really taking those as specific to any particular player, players, persons. Phil is the president of the team. He has his opinions. When you guys see him, you can, I guess, talk to him or ask him exactly what they mean. From my standpoint, I think our guys are trying and giving effort. But it's a hard game. And we've been through a lot, it's been a tough year.
...
We can't predict how many more games we may or may not win. But you should be able to predict how hard you're going to try at it. That's one thing we should all be able to predict with 100 percent certainty.
And I think [if the Knicks don't do that], that's what anybody can question what I'm doing, what players are doing; what Phil means by what he's saying is if you're questioning whether or not a guy is really giving everything he has at a 100 percent level. I think our guys are, but that's not an easy thing to do night in and night out especially when you're losing.
"
New York isn't winning many games, but Fisher at least believes that his players are playing hard.
