PHILADELPHIA – A big smile gives it away. Mark Jackson is a bad liar. He tries to offer the company line to the next round prospect of the Knicks: “It’s another job. Itdoesn’t make a difference who it is.”
But make a face at him and his face can’t stay straight.
Jackson knows good theater. No matter how much he loves Indianapolis, and how the people there embrace him, he’ll always be New York. Knicks and Pacers again, again, again. It won’t get any better in Post Jordan time.
Jackson still laughs about last year’s Shimmy at the Garden – and nods approvingly at how the series ended, with him having one of the games of his life and being so gracious afterwards. His father had scolded him after his behavior in New York.
And so, with dad having now passed to cancer, it’s no surprise that Jackson gives the Knicks his backing these days. Speaking before last night’s Game 3 with the Sixers, Jackson is not lying when he says he wishes them continued success against the Hawks. He soft spot for the Knicks became more pillowy after they forced him to take the team charter back to New York following a game in Indy on March 31. Jackson refused several times, but the Knicks insisted.
“I remember how they treated me during my family tragedy,” he said. “I kept saying no. But one by one all of the players came up to me and said to come on the plane. They said they wanted me to, that I had to. They made sure I wouldn’t feel funny about it. That’s class.
“Now how can I not be pulling for them?”
Life really does extend beyond basketball. This was a tragedy for Jackson. He was close as close can be with his father. People remember kind gestures during rough moments like that. Jackson remembers. And he’s the type that will always remember. “Some things are more important,” he said.
Of course, should each series go as expected, and the Pacers find the Knicks once more, Jackson will be posting up Charlie Ward and Chris Child and being that point thorn all Eastern Conference Finals. That goes without saying. What’s worth saying is that Jackson watched the Knicks Game 2 in Atlanta in a Philadelphia hotel room and really came away impressed.
“They’re playing well,” he said. “Man, they’re playing with a lot of confidence. (Latrell Sprewell) has fit in there perfectly. He’s done a great job. It’s working for them. I’m really happy for that group of guys. Truthfully, I’m happy for them, especially for coach Van Gundy.”
Not that it matters, but Jeff Van Gundy gets a strong vote of job support from Jackson. “He’s a great basketball coach,” he said. “He’s so under appreciated. It’s not right. I spent five years with him. He’s the hardest worker. He spent many hours chasing balls for me – and I’m a little better shooter. He lost a lot of weight for me.”