The 4-18 New York Knicks have lost eight straight, and are off to the worst start in the franchise’s 69-year history.
Team president Phil Jackson ripped his squad Monday in a chat with reporters, saying they have to overcome their “loser’s mentality”.
The Zen Master put in a vote of confidence for embattled first-year head coach Derek Fisher, saying that he thinks Fish will turn things around in Gotham.
Per Newsday:
“Obviously, we’re disappointed,” Jackson said at the team’s practice facility. “I think guys understand what we’re trying to do … There’s some resistance to discipline and order and culture change and things like that. […] I will call it a crucible for what we’re going through here. The process, maybe the heat, is going to refine some of the stuff so that we come out and be a pretty good team after all is said and done.”
“It’s about a loser’s mentality,” he said. “It’s not about the skill or the talent level.” […] “I did end up having the urge to yell during the course of the game,” he said when asked how he was feeling Sunday night while watching the Knicks’ loss to the Trail Blazers. “Get back on defense. Just simple, stupid stuff that a coach could yell to his players. I do know that there’s some part of me that still has that in his game. But there’s no desire to be down on the floor.”
Jackson also was frank in admitting that he fears that all the losing could sway what potential free agents think about the team. […] “Yeah, and I’m not happy about that,” he said. “We have players that are part of our long term that must consistently perform at a level in this system of offense to demonstrate they’re progressing and what the advantages are to what we’re doing.”
