Knicks' Hornacek: Jackson doesn't want to run triangle for full 48

The New York Knicks may be transitioning back to the triangle offense, but that doesn't mean they'll be using the system exclusively.

After telling reporters earlier this week that his squad would be switching back to the triangle for the remainder of the season, coach Jeff Hornacek clarified his comments on Saturday, saying team president Phil Jackson only wants to use the archaic system when the game dictates it.

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"It's not like he's saying I want you to run this all 48 minutes," Hornacek told ESPN's Ian Begley. "He understands that part of the game (you're) able to run off that and the majority of the game it's not set plays. It's learning how to play the game, making reads, there's picks, there's random pick-and-rolls. But 30 or 40 percent of the time there's a dead ball or slow game you got to get into a set."

Jackson has faced a great deal of criticism throughout his Knicks tenure for refusing to adopt a more modern offensive approach. New York has fared relatively well when it runs Hornacek's up-tempo system this season, which helps explain why several players appeared perplexed with Jackson's decision to bring back the triangle.