Derek Fisher: I'm Not A Phil Guy, I'm A Team Guy

LALakersFan4Life · Oct 23, 2014

Derek Fisher distances himself from Phil Jackson, Knicks coach says he isn’t ‘Phil’s guy ... I am the team’s guy’

The Knicks' rookie head coach has made strides to get out of Jackson's shadow since taking the job in June. He said Thursday that he's not worried if 'people see me as Phil's guy or my own guy' and that his focus is 'on helping these guys figure out how to win games.'

BY Mitch Abramson
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, October 23, 2014, 5:25 PM

When Phil Jackson was hired as Knicks president, it was assumed that whomever he picked as coach would be nothing more than a Zen Master-clone, toeing the sideline with triangle philosophies piped in from the front office.

But in the months since Derek Fisher was chosen to lead the team in June, he has quietly tried to distance himself from Jackson, softly declaring himself his own man ('I'm not Phil Jackson") and saying he’s not necessarily a Phil disciple — even if that's sort of what he is.

Fisher did so again on Thursday, saying he doesn't really see himself as "Phil's guy," just a day before the final preseason game against the Raptors in Montreal.

"Yeah, I don't know if I can get into how other people may see me," Fisher said of whether he's OK with coaching in Jackson's shadow. "It is not a game that I probably will get into at all. So I won't necessarily see myself as Phil's guy. I am the team's guy."

It's a fascinating dance — trying to carve out his own identity while also paying lip service to the man who hired him — and it's one that Fisher has done subtly and successfully.

"In terms of whether people see me as Phil's guy or my own guy, I won't spend a lot of time on it," Fisher went on. "I have to stay focused on helping these guys figure out how to win games."

When Fisher talks, he does so with a knowing attitude. He's confident without being cocky, cagey while also being sincere.

But Fisher is a rookie. He has never coached at any level.

And he was hired in large part because he won five championships with the Jackson-coached Lakers.

Jackson won six more titles with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, establishing himself as one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports.

The perception — fair or not — is that Jackson is spoon-feeding him information as he gets his feet wet.

Fisher was asked if it is harder to establish an identity with Jackson's reputation looming over everything he does.

"No, I don't think it is more challenging to do so," Fisher said. "I think just as a new head coach, I think that's the challenging (thing), establishing your identity and this is new. My identity, I am creating it as we go along here in terms of my expectations, how to lead a team as a coach as opposed to a player."

Later, he said that he's not going to try to conform to outside expectations of him, that he's just trying to be true to himself.

"That's the No. 1 goal I think is try not to do what others expect me to do as a coach," he said. "To be the leader that I know I am and can be and just really it's about my service to the players."

He neatly described the advice he imparted to J.R. Smith, who is struggling with the intricacies of the new offense as "not just installing new software to the computer. We're building a computer from scratch and that's not easy."

He said he didn't show off his championship rings to Smith, to prove a point, just as Jackson likely isn't showing off his rings to Fisher to reinforce who's in charge.

Because of the mutual respect, Fisher says he doesn't feel the crushing weight of Jackson's reputation on his back as he sits on the bench.

He's confidently acting like he's the answer to the Knicks glitches, even if he was actually Jackson's second choice to lead the team after Steve Kerr spurned Jackson for the Golden State Warriors job.

"In terms of Phil's presence, it doesn't limit me in any way in terms of me being confident in who I am in trusting that he made the decision along with the front office and obviously ownership had to agree to it as well that I am here for a reason," Fisher said. "I am confident in that. I will get better as I go along. I don't view it as I guess more challenging to have someone like Phil around."

And in a statement that might as well go on his license plate as the first game approaches, Fisher said: "We're going places though, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...isher-distance-phil-jackson-article-1.1985201

lakerjones · Oct 23, 2014

^^ I don't envy Fish in his position right now. It's a tough one. Glad for him landing the gig though. He's going to have a tough re-do with that squad.

Perdurabo · Oct 23, 2014

Phil will help him coach them well. There is no better mentor behind the scenes.

therealdeal · Oct 23, 2014

lakerjones said: ↑

^^ I don't envy Fish in his position right now. It's a tough one. Glad for him landing the gig though. He's going to have a tough re-do with that squad.
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Seriously... Rookie coach in New York with Phil looming behind you and a HORRIBLE roster?

This could very, very easily be a train wreck. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fish on our side again pretty soon.

lakerjones · Oct 23, 2014

^^ J.R. Smith in the triangle? Good luck with that one.

XXIV · Oct 23, 2014

I have no idea how this is going to turn out but I'll keep an eye on them, as will the media, throughout the season.

LTLakerFan · Oct 24, 2014

I called it in the summer, it may get really ugly to the point where if they are losing a lot and the press is on him and on the Triangle his kids could even start hearing about it in school. That's how screwed up we've become. Just look at ESPN.

The Showtime Mamba · Oct 25, 2014

I wish the best for Dfish. He has a roster that means any success will happen after rough patches and intense media scrutiny. The little I have seen of Knicks games preseason show me it will be a herculean effort to turn the corner. If he was in the West, he would have no chance. Let's keep an eye out for him as it would be heartwarming to see him back in the Lakers in some office/assistant coaching capacity someday.

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Derek Fisher: I'm Not A Phil Guy, I'm A Team Guy

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