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New York Knicks: 50-1

New York Knicks: 50-1

Whatever debate there has been about Phil Jackson’s capacity to institute a culture change is over. He did it and to a greater degree than anyone could have possibly foreseen.
J.R. Smith has seen the light.
“Trying to think about the rest of the group over my scoring is something which I never really had to do before,” Smith told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “I’ve always been in a position to dent, [now I am ] able to take my time and let the game come and let my teammates succeed over myself, I think that’s the ultimate win.”
Private transformations from the preseason have a way of reversing themselves as the year progresses, but for now, it seems Jackson has performed magic.
Getting Smith to purchase into the equal-opportunity tenets of the triangle offense is huge, and everything after that–figuring out how to coax defense out of a frontcourt rotation involving Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire, convincing James Dolan to maintain kazoos from this locker room–should be cake.
The Knicks aren’t so far removed from a year in 2012-13. Jackson’s influence alone ought to help them get closer to that total compared to 37 wins they amassed season.
Still, don’t expect a championship chase–Carmelo Anthony gets some real help and not until 2015 is sloughed off in by the bad contracts on the novels.

Read more: centralsportsnews.com