Jeff Hornacek admits Knicks are ready for their own ‘Process’
WASHINGTON — Jeff Hornacek delved into “Trust The Process” mode at the Friday morning shootaround.
Hornacek invoked the name of Sixers coach Brett Brown, the practitioner of the Sixers’ multi-year tank job, in trying to find the right balance this season.
It’s the first time the Knicks coach overtly acknowledged there may not be a slew of victories attached to the 2017-18 season and mentioned the dreaded word “process.’’
Since 2013-14, the Sixers, with their now-famous “Trust The Process’’ motto, have gone: 19-63, 18-64, 10-72 and 28-54 last season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has changed the lottery format for 2019’s draft in response to tanking franchises such as the Sixers.
Hornacek was asked at the shootaround before facing the Wizards about the new regime’s failure to talk up competing for a playoff spot and instead emphasizing their young core’s development. The 2018 lottery is expected to be star-studded at the top, led by Michael Porter Jr. and Luka Doncic.
“It may be a slower process, but our guys are working hard to do the best we can,’’ Hornacek said at Capital One Arena. “You got to find the combination. Brett Brown has figured out a good way to do that. It’s hard as a coach because you want to win. You understand the process you have to go through.
“You try to not sacrifice what you’re trying to do to build just to win some games. Obviously you want to win, but you have to find that balance. You can’t get frustrated. You got to keep the team going, and when teams are going through that process, it’s hard, but you got to stay positive.’’
After four straight non-playoff seasons, Carmelo Anthony said earlier this week in Oklahoma he lost the ”joy” and “motivation’’ playing in New York.
“That feeling is back. That joy is being happy out there on the court, being excited, being motivated to be out on the court again is back for me,’’ Anthony said. “That feeling is back for me.’’
Hornacek was asked if he noticed Anthony had lost motivation last season.
“You can take what you want from Carmelo’s statements, I don’t know that,’’ Hornacek said. “We’re worried about what our guys are doing now. He’s in a good situation over there in Oklahoma City. We move on with our guys.”
Hornacek did not speak to Anthony after the trade happened. And Hornacek said he hasn’t heard from departed president Phil Jackson in months.
Anthony said Lance Thomas’ glowing tribute in the Players’ Tribune was “good’’ because the Knicks forward knows him “as a person.’’
Thomas, now the longest-tenured Knicks player, wrote an essay citing Anthony’s leadership, friendship and deciding he’ll be missed in the New York locker room.
“I talk to Lance every day,’’ Anthony said. “He’s one of my best friends not just in basketball, but in life in general. When I read it – I usually don’t read stuff like that – he texted me (and said) I should read it. It was good. He’s a guy who knows me as a person, more than a basketball player. He was coming from a more personal perspective friendship perspective, from a man’s perspective outside the basketball realm.”