Phil Jackson rips Knicks via Twitter after loss to Cavaliers

Phil Jackson apparently wasn't too happy with the Knicks' performance during a 101-83 blowout loss to the Cavaliers Sunday night. And afterwards, the Knicks president tweeted his feelings about the team he helped dismantle after the embarrassing defeat.

Late Sunday night, Jackson tweeted that the game gave the basketball gods " heartburn." He ended with the acronym "smh" — meaning "shake my head."

Today's game vs Cavs gave bb gods heartburn and those that know what "it" takes/means a smh.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) February 23, 2015

It's especially ironic since the superior Cleveland team they lost to featured a couple of players Jackson traded away in January and who were making their first return visit to Madison Square Garden.

Adding to the Zen master's agita was the sight of those two former Knicks, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, hooking up on a spectacular alley-oop dunk:

The Knicks fell behind by 19 points in the first quarter and trailed by as many as 30 in the Pepto-inducing beatdown.

Madison Square Garden photo book features a nude Phil Jackson (PHOTO)

If any big event happened at Madison Square Garden over the past six decades, there is one man who can say he was there and has the pictures to prove it.

Photographer extraordinaire George Kalinsky —  the official lensman at the famed venue since 1966 — has created a special book, “Great New York Moments,” with his wife, June, to send to his friends.

Included in the book were images of such icons as Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Miles Davis.

But, according to Page Six of the N.Y. Post,  the one photo that is getting the biggest reaction these days is a nude shot of Knicks President Phil Jackson, in the team locker room back when he was a player.

Photo: George Kalinsky

Hey. It was the Swinging Seventies. Too bad the only thing exposed at MSG these days is how bad the Knicks team really is.

Phil Jackson defends Tyson Chandler trade to Mavericks on Twitter

Phil Jackson's mellowness, which has been put through the ringer in recent weeks, got tested just a little more on Thursday when the Knicks president responded to three separate reply tweets to a link about a story suggesting that he “got hornswoggled in his first big move” in trading Tyson Chandler to Dallas in June.

“Negative, I'm okay with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our 3 players, Jose (Calderon), Sam (Dalembert), and Shane (Larkin) are on the court,” the Zen Master tweeted at @sheridanhoops from his @PhilJackson11 account on Thursday afternoon. 

@sheridanhoops negative, I'm okay with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our 3 players, Jose, Sam, and Shane are on the court.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

“Our season got off to a rocky start-injuries-Tyson could not have changed the outcome. Trades are judged in 4-5 year terms," he responded in a second Tweet.

@sheridanhoops our season got off to a rocky start-injuries-Tyson could not have changed the outcome. Trades are judged in 4-5 year terms.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

“Remember how Pop (San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich) et al complained about the Pau (Gasol) trade (to the Lakers)? How does that trade look now? Just relax...and be patient” Jackson added in a third and final tweet.

@sheridanhoops remember how Pop et al complained about the Pau trade? How does that trade look now? Just relax...and be patient.
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) December 18, 2014

Later, that philosophy sounded like gibberish after the short-handed Knicks fell to the Bulls, 103-97,  for New York's third straight loss and 13 of 14.

Carmelo Anthony will consider waiving no-trade clause: Report

Just when you thought it couldn't get any darker for the Knicks — with that worst start in franchise history and all — Carmelo Anthony says he'd be willing to take his game out of New York.

Just five months after all the hoopla surrounding the All-Star's free-agency and finally signing a five-year, $124 million contract with the Knicks, the N.Y. Post is reporting that Anthony would be open to dropping his no-trade clause if team president Phil Jackson strikes a deal with a team the high-scoring forward would like to play for.

Part of Anthony’s deal included the rarely used no-trade provision.

Anthony claims he has no desire to be traded, but his willingness to consider giving up the no-trade clause shows how frustrated he has become with what looks like a long season for the Knicks.

"He thought things would be better than this, but he still wants to stick it out for now," a source told The Post. "He trusts Phil, but I think he’s afraid of Phil."

The Knicks have lost 10 straight games — two shy of a team-record — and at 4-20 have the most losses in the NBA.

Combine Melo's failure to adjust to coach Derek Fisher's triangle offense and Wednesday's on-court scuffle with teammate Tim Hardaway and you know things at Madison Square Garden are falling off the rails.

Anthony, who is currently nursing a sore knee, can be traded beginning Monday — the unofficial start of trade season when all free agents and draft picks signed over the summer can be moved.

Knicks fans might suggest a few choice words for Carmelo's branding expert to label his client — including quitter.

Popovich blows off Phil Jackson's 'dynasty' diss with a little humor: Report

Shortly after Phil Jackson was named Knicks president, he was discussing Carmelo Anthony's impending free agency and mentioned how Tim Duncan took less money to give the San Antonio Spurs more financial flexibility. Jackson went on to say that he didn't consider the Spurs to be a true dynasty despite having won four championships — now five after adding another in June — since 1999.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had remained pretty quiet about his longtime rival's subtle diss until it was mentioned Wednesday night before his team played the Nets in Brooklyn.

When reminded about Jackson's claim, the normally humorless Popovich came through with a response dripping with sarcasm.

“Ooh, that makes me mad,” Popovich said with a scrunched face — drawing laughs from the assembled media.

“Just write whatever you want, and I’ll say I said it. Make it good, though, so you get a promotion. Juicy, ugly, and I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I said it and I’m really sorry.’ … Have fun with it.”

Later, Pop asked about Phil's claim that the Spurs were not a dynasty. Pop scrunches his face, says "Ooooh that makes me mad."
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) December 3, 2014

Before that exchange, Popovich was asked about the challenges the new Knicks honcho is facing while trying to turn the team around.

“That’s his problem,” Popovich said. “I will spend no time thinking or wondering about that. I have a job. Why would I care about his job?” 

Thats more like the Pops we've all come to know and love.

Tim Howard wants to play for the Knicks (PHOTO)

U.S. World Cup goaltender Tim Howard wants to take his game from the pitch to the court and if you believe the international soccer star, he's ready to help the Knicks.

Howard wore a Knicks jersey and offered his athletic skills to the team via Twitter as Phil Jackson tries to rebuild the team with re-signed Carmelo Anthony and new coach Derek Fisher.

And if any team could use some serious D, it's the Madison Square Garden boys.

#TBT Knicks got any cap space left? pic.twitter.com/PV486UA9gQ
— tim howard (@TimHowardGK) July 17, 2014

And it's not just a hoops dream.

Howard was a standout New Jersey high school basketball player and has a sort of six degrees of separation connection to NBA experience. 

The soccer star used to match up against Jay Williams, a blue-chipper for a rival high school before he went on to play at Duke and in the NBA. 

Although, someone might have to remind Howard that goaltending in his new sport isn't allowed.

Lamar Odom packing on the pounds during divorce proceedings (PHOTO)

Lamar Odom might have shed tons of publicity-hungry Armenians after separating from reality show star Khloe Kardashian, but it looks like the former NBA star has been packing on the pounds since the divorce proceedings have begun.

Odom is a far cry — well maybe a few tears — from his slim playing days with the Lakers — when he and his fame-starved ex-wife were the picture of camera-ready happiness.

Now it appears the stress of his pending divorce with Kardashian is getting to him after Odom was spotted sporting a noticeably larger gut on Saturday, reported the Daily Mail.

The Mail wrote:

Although he was coming back from a workout in Sherman Oaks, the 6 ft, 10 in basketball player appeared to be heavier around his mid-section compared to his normally much- leaner frame.

As he walked, he looked tired and out of breath.

Carrying a couple of sweatshirts over his left shoulder, the 34-year-old was wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt, which was tucked into a pair of shorts. 

After battling a reportedly out-of-control drug addiction, Odom is apparently feeling the strain of his on-going, public divorce from his ex-wife. Kardashian is reportedly frustrated with him as he continues to drag his feet when it comes to signing divorce papers almost five months after she filed to dissolve their marriage.

In May, Khloe tweeted: "It still hurts... Maybe it always will."

While Lamar is yet to move on in the relationship department, he signed with the New York Knicks in April — a suspect deal that was seemingly made more out of compassion than necessity by his former coach and new Knicks president Phil Jackson.

Mark Jackson thinks he has right personality for Knicks job: Report

Contrary to earlier rumors, Mark Jackson called the Knicks' vacant head-coaching position “an incredible job’’ and seemed to suggest he would have legitimate interest in the gig despite word on the street.

A member of Jackson's inner circle said Jackson may be leery of a situation in which the team president is very hands-on with the coach —  ala Phil Jackson. 

When Phil Jackson does hire his new coach, he will be surely be pulling the strings from behind the scenes — something Mark Jackson would never stand for. Which leaves Derek Fisher as Phil Jackson's familiar and logical top choice plus a better fit in the new Knicks president's system.

But don't count out the former-Warriors head coach.

Mark Jackson, who is doing the NBA Finals for ABC, said in a conference call, it takes "a special personality" to coach the Knicks and everyone’s "not made for New York City."

It appeared Jackson was questioning whether Fisher or Steve Kerr, both from other cities, had those special ingredients.

"Obviously you hear the talk even if it’s the New York Post reporting my inner circle made a statement and I have no clue because my wife and kids haven’t spoken to The Post. To counter that, it’s an incredible job. It’s an incredible opportunity and I’m sure that Phil Jackson will do an outstanding job of finding the right coach to get that organization and that team headed back in the right situation."

Fisher, a product of Little Rock, Ark., was asked on Sunday whether he liked New York City. He said his first visit as a Lakers rookie he "locked myself in the hotel room" because he was fearful. Fisher added the city "kind of grew on me."

Mark Jackson, from his game to his accent, is as New York as they come.

"As a kid that grew up in New York City, a fan of the Knicks, everybody’s not made for New York City," said the Brooklyn native, ex-St. John’s and Knicks star. "That’s whether you’re management, whether you’re playing, whether you’re coaching.

"To be quite honest, everybody is not built for it. It’s a different animal. It takes a special personality and a person understanding the things that come into play. I’m biased, but I thought Jeff [Van Gundy] did an incredible job juggling all of them."

Phil Jackson hasn’t spoken directly to Mark Jackson, but it’s believed general manager Steve Mills and assistant GM Allan Houston, who are close to Mark Jackson, have been in contact.

"I do look forward to coaching one day if it presents himself again," said Jackson, who was fired by Golden State last month. "Right now I’m having a blast with my crew."

Derek Fisher will wait a few days before deciding future: Report

Derek Fisher is pretty sure his NBA playing days probably ended Saturday night after the Thunder were ousted from the playoffs. But now the doors have possibly opened for new career as head coach of the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers. Again — possibly.

The 17-year NBA veteran, who lingered on the court after the Thunder loss, said he had too much respect for his teammates to talk about any coaching job, adding he’ll need a few days to make up his mind.

“I can’t go there tonight,’’ Fisher said in the Thunder locker room. “It’s too fresh of a wound. It’s possible this truly symbolizes the end of a very long career. I don’t think [with] the emotions I’m feeling now it’s smart to bet on what I’m going to do next. I’m definitely going to take it seriously and consider my options, consider what’s best and go from there. There’s a right way to wrap this season up and show it the proper respect.’’

Fisher has been projected as a coaching candidate with his former team in Los Angeles and with his former coach, Phil Jackson, in New York since the playoffs began.

The Lakers and Knicks could move forward with any plans to interview him now that the Thunder's season has ended. Fisher said he has not directly talked to Jackson or any other NBA executive. Jackson told New York media members last Friday that he had not spoken to Fisher.

“There are a number of people who will be impacted by the decision I do make,’’ Fisher said. 

“Whether I continue to play or do something else within the game, there’s a lot at stake.’’

After Steve Kerr turned down the Knicks' coaching job to go to the Golden State Warriors, one NBA source said the Knicks would likely stop its search until Fisher was available. The Lakers have already interviewed several coach candidates.

The Thunder still hope he comes back, possibly as a player/assistant coach, but that seems doubtful if a head coaching job is on the table.

Phil Jackson prefers Brian Shaw over Derek Fisher: Report

Being spurned by Steve Kerr in the New York Knicks coaching hunt hasn't deterred Phil Jackson from kicking a few other tires on his old coaching bus. But the Zen Master may be setting himself up for another flat if he goes after Brian Shaw — the Nuggets coach who keeps insisting that he is content in Denver.

All the talk these days seems to be focused on Derek Fisher taking over the reins — although he won't comment until the Thunder season is over — and that chatter seems to be coming from the media rather than then Knicks president himself.

Now we might know why.

It seems Jackson prefers Shaw over Fisher, said a source according to the N.Y. Post.

Prying his former assistant from the Nuggets would require the Knicks to pay compensation. That appears to be a bigger roadblock to getting Shaw out of his Denver contract than Shaw’s reluctance to come to New York. It’s unclear whether Jackson has formally asked the Nuggets permission to speak to Shaw.

Jackson hasn’t given up total hope he somehow can woo Shaw from Denver, especially if the Fisher scenario falls through.

Coincidentally, the Nuggets showcased Shaw on the dais of Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery. And although e finished his first season in Denver without a playoff berth amid some rumblings the players weren’t thrilled with him. The Nuggets didn’t improve their lottery position and will have the 11th pick.

“I’m happy where I am,” Shaw told The Post on his way out of the lottery room Tuesday night. “I have a job here, so all the speculation that’s out there, that’s just speculation.”

New York finally picks new D-League name and its ... the Knicks

The Madison Square Garden Company held a fan vote to name their new NBA Developmental League team, and the fans reportedly pooled their collective thoughts and came up with " The Knicks."

That's right. After two months of fan polling and contests, the Knicks introduced the minor league team to the world and the most creative name the they could come up was the oh so original: the Westchester Knicks.

What a stretch.

If the organization didn't ignore fan-inspired suggestions like the Phil Jackson Five, the Nix or the Knicks City Dancers, it must be some kind of Boston conspiracy.

The team's new logo even looks like the Patriots mascot dribbling a basketball.

Here is the #Knicks' D-League team's logo: pic.twitter.com/0aG8wlKKfG
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 14, 2014

Knicks players ripped Woodson after firing: Phil Jackson

In what sounds like the back door hitting fired Knicks coach Mike Woodson on the way out, new Knicks president Phil Jackson revealed that several players — during their exit interviews  — told him the club didn’t play as a team this season and relied solely on its talent, reported the N.Y. Post.

The Knicks finished 37-45 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10. During his 24-minute press conference Wednesday, Jackson didn’t mention Woodson’s name once but the Zen Master's comments put the team's failures pretty much on the former coach's shoulders.

“One of the messages from the players was that it was a very talented team,’’ Jackson said. “They had to have a lot of games where they forced their talent on opposing teams rather than playing with freedom to make things easy. All the wins were hard to get. They were winning with talent and not with team play, which I thought was an accurate statement.

“I think the talent’s there,’’ Jackson added. “How to blend it together is a coaching decision and a personnel decision.’’

That last sound you heard was the door slamming shut.

James Dolan: Phil Jackson 'taught me basketball in two hours' (VIDEO)

James Dolan just revealed something that New York Knicks fans have suspected all along — the team owner didn't understand the game of basketball.

At least until spending a couple of hours with Phil Jackson— the new Knicks president.

The Knicks owner confessed in a pair of candid live television interviews during the second quarter of Wednesday night's Pacers-Knicks game that Jackson initially won him over during an impromptu basketball lesson at a mutual friend's house in December.

"He taught me basketball in two hours," Dolan told MSG's Al Trautwig.

When asked what he learned during that time with the zen master, Dolan added, "That I don't know basketball." 

The normally camera-shy Dolan later spoke to ESPN's Lisa Salters from his seat and also recalled that initial meeting.

"The way he explained the game to me, I'd never actually had anybody teach me it that way," he said. "He clearly has a level of intelligence and skill in the game that I hadn't seen before, and obviously his reputation preceded him."

Dolan also told Salters the season has been "a huge surprise, a disappointment for everybody," but added of a possible playoff berth, "We're certainly playing well enough to do so, but we've got to get some breaks along the way."

Asked about Carmelo Anthony, Dolan said, "The most important thing to him is to win a championship, so our job with him to convince him to stay is to convince him that he has a great shot of doing that. Bringing on Phil certainly helps."

Here's the ESPN interview:

Pete Carroll tweets premature jubilation over Phil Jackson's return to NBA

On Tuesday, Pete Carroll seemed to be the first person to break the story about Phil Jackson's return to the NBA. One problem. The Seattle coach's excited tweet was just a little premature.

Unless Carroll was sitting in on the talks between Knicks owner James Dolan and 11-time NBA Championship coach, that's all it was — talk.

Although The New York Post reported Jackson gave the Knicks a verbal commitment on Saturday, the team still will not comment on Jackson's status.

Congrats to Phil Jackson on his new role with the Knicks! It's good to have him back in the NBA!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) March 11, 2014

But, to Carroll's credit, it looks like a done deal.

Phil Jackson blames Kardashians for Lamar Odom's problems (VIDEO)

Phil Jackson says he's concerned about Lamar Odom and his life after basketball. And thinks he knows the root of the struggling NBA player's troubles as he tries to come back from addiction.

"We thought the Kardashian arrangement, or marriage, was a terrific thing for him because it's a family, a structure, something that would give him support," the  Hall of Fame coach said on "The Seth Davis Show," referring to Odom's marriage to Khloe Kardashian.

"Maybe it wasn't," he continued. "Basically, I think he's thrown his cell phone away ... went into hibernation."

"We're very concerned about him," Jackson said. "But I understand things are looking up ... so I'm really hopefully that will happen. Basketball has been his life and without it, it's a very destructive course."

The first part of the interview ran on Oct. 28; the second is scheduled to go live Friday via the website Campusinsiders.com.