'If you don't have Kobe or Shaq or Michael Jordan, the triangle doesn't work' - Isaiah Thomas on the Knicks' system during the 2016-17 season

When Jeff Hornacek became the head coach of the New York Knicks in June 2016, he introduced the triangle offense. This approach had previously proven very successful for a few iconic teams, although it had been quite some time since those days.

Unsurprisingly, by the mid-2010s, the triangle felt somewhat outdated. There were a few reasons for this, and one of them was bluntly pointed out by Isaiah Thomas, who was then playing as a point guard for the Boston Celtics.

"I just think if you don't have Kobe or Shaq or Michael Jordan, the triangle doesn't work," remarked Thomas, per CBS Sports.

Jackson was there to help

One likely reason Hornacek implemented the triangle offense—besides its rich past—was the presence of Phil Jackson. A little over two years before "Horny" was appointed, the Knicks had brought in the "Zen Master" as team president. With Phil, often associated with that system, just a few doors down the door, he was always nearby for assistance.

Jackson's strong connection to the triangle stems from his remarkable success running it as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998 and the Los Angeles Lakers during two separate periods: from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2005 to 2011.

While some players Jackson coached found it challenging to adapt to the system, once they did, it often led to championship titles. This is evident, as the Hall of Famer is the head coach with the most titles of all time—11 in total.

The pitfalls of the triangle offense

While the Lakers' and Bulls' success was certainly impressive, it doesn't guarantee that every team using the same strategy will succeed. To understand why, it's essential to break down the triangle concept

This system views players who focus solely on individual play as counterproductive and predictable for opponents. Instead, it encourages guards to share ball-handling responsibilities. This approach leads to effective passes to the big man in the post and allows for cuts to the strong-side corner. Visually, the arrangement of the guard, wing, and big man creates a triangle on the court and is supposed to provide key options for cutting, passing, and shooting.

However, even when a team follows this game plan closely, there will be times when, late in the shot clock, they haven't put points on the board. This is the moment when players known for their scoring talents need to take charge—just as MJ did for Chicago and Shaq and Kobe for the Purple and Gold.

Ultimately, the Knicks, led by Hornacek and Jackson, did not follow in the footsteps of those two iconic teams. In fact, they missed the playoffs entirely that year, finishing the 2016-17 regular season with a disappointing record of 31-51. The team's superstar, Carmelo Anthony, had been expected to play a crucial role in the triangle offense, but after falling short, he was traded. Meanwhile, Jackson also departed from the franchise during the offseason.