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Shaq Feels Knicks Don’t Have Talent to Run Triangle Offense

By Brandon C. Williams

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The Knicks lack the superstar-caliber players to make Jackson’s triangle offense succeed

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Shaquille O’Neal is never for a loss for words, so it shouldn’t be shocking that the TNT NBA analyst has a thought or two when it comes to how the Knicks can succeed running coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense.

“For the triangle to work, you need to have two superstars,’’ he said to Mitch Lawrence of NBC New York. “It’s been proven over time. Look at what Phil needed to win his championships in Chicago. Then look what he had in L.A., with me and Kobe (Bryant). You have to have two superstars playing in the triangle to win championships.’’

O’Neal won three of his four championships running the triangle with Bryant from 2000-02 with the Lakers.

The system has been the foundation for Jackson’s success, as he has won 10 NBA titles since 1991 with the Bulls and Lakers. While the Knicks currently have one near-superstar in forward Carmelo Anthony, a second isn’t currently on the New York roster.

New York is currently 2-1 in the preseason, yet their scoring has been limited, as the Knicks have averaged just 85.3 points per game. The offense managed just 44 percent from the field in Tuesday’s 84-77 win over the 76ers in Syracuse, NY, while also committing 21 turnovers in the process.

The lack of a playmaker was pronounced on Tuesday, as only Anthony (17 points) was the only starter in double figures. Neither Amar’e Stoudamire nor Iman Shumpert have the qualities that a Bryant, Michael Jordan, O’Neal or Pau Gasol provided when Jackson was hoisting titles in both Chicago and Los Angeles.

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