The legendary coach understands the game is heading in a new direction
Phil Jackson has won 11 championships as a head coach in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, in the front office of the New York Knicks, he is hoping to build a championship franchise in New York after the years of failure they have endured. Jackson is one of the greatest minds in the game, having won so many championships, and understands the game is evolving.
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With the game of basketball changing to an environment where jump shooting teams, who excel at three-pointers, are taking the league by storm, the game has changed from Jackson’s title teams.
In an interview with the New York Times, Jackson discussed some of the potential changes and the evolution of basketball.
One of those changes he wouldn’t be opposed to, is a four-point line.
"Jackson argued that the triangle was not an inflexible system. As much as he disliked the emerging overreliance on the 3-point shot, he saw the game moving in that direction, and “we did more with it during the last two championships in L.A.” Now, he said, he would even endorse a 4-point shot being implemented a few feet behind the 3-point line."
People are hesitant to change, and basketball purists would probably hate the notion of a four-point line. A second line would certainly make the basketball court look interesting and it would also creates curiosity as to where the line would be.
The NBA would see new scoring records and high scoring games with a four-point line and the dynamics of the game would certainly change.
Now, this is Jackson’s hypothetical thoughts and in no way, shape or fashion has a four-point line been discussed. The moral of the story here is that the dynamics of the game have shifted from strong post presences and fundamentals to the flashiness and excitement of fast-paced offenses that throw up shots from beyond the arc.
Jackson is right when he talks about the game is evolving. Whether or not, there should be a four-point line, is a completely other story.
[H/T: New York Times]
[H/T: Complex]
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