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Tony Jones on the NBA: Ex-Jazzman Jeff Hornacek is finding success with the Knicks doing it his way

New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek reacts during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

A rise back to respectability is so complex, and yet so simple for Jeff Hornacek.

The man holding him back from coaching the New York Knicks the way he wanted and deserved no longer is involved with the organization. Hornacek won’t say it, so I’ll say it for him.

Phil Jackson is gone, a team president no more, which means his directive to run the dated triangle offense also is gone. That means Hornacek is free to be a coach, not a robot.

The coaching reins have been loosened.

“I think last year, our style, we were trying to mix it with the triangle style,” Hornacek said. “This year, we aren’t trying to mix it. That’s the biggest difference.”

The Knicks are 8-7, including 1-4 on the road, so they haven’t yet learned how to win away from Madison Square Garden. Their roster still has a lot of growth remaining, and that may take a few years.

But the Knicks no longer are a laughingstock. They no longer are the punchline of the NBA. They no longer are the comedy on Broadway.

And Hornacek deserves credit for that.

The former Utah Jazz shooting guard is blessed to have Kristaps Porzingis as his best player. The 7-foot-3 power forward has taken a significant leap and is one of the best 15 players in the NBA. Porzingis is averaging 27.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He’s averaging 2.3 blocked shots per game and certainly will make the All-Star team for the first time.

Hornacek is playing him inside and on the perimeter, putting him in positions to produce in half-court sets and allowing him to get out in transition. Porzingis is experiencing the same freedom as a player that Hornacek is as a coach after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I think the biggest thing is Kristaps has learned how to score when the game slows down,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “He’s a special talent, and he’s blossomed this year.”

But New York’s relative success is about more than Porzingis. Hornacek has taken Enes Kanter and made him very productive in the paint. He’s taken Jarrett Jack and once again made him a viable NBA starter at point guard. He’s found a role as a bench scorer for Doug McDermott. Tim Hardaway Jr. is at least somewhat justifying the huge contract the Knicks inexplicably gave him over the summer.

The bottom can fall out over a long season. There isn’t a lot of youth and talent on the roster outside of Porzingis and rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina. Kanter is a starter, so the Knicks only are going to be so good defensively. And there isn’t much depth.

But at least the Knicks are competitive. At least MSG has a pulse. The Garden was rocking as the Knicks rallied for a win over Utah this week. The crowd was on its feet, the mood was festive. Basketball felt right again. This hasn’t been the case in past years. There hasn’t been hope for basketball in the NBA’s most visible market. Changing that is good for everyone for the Knicks and the NBA.

Allowing Porzingis to continue growing is the biggest priority. He has a chance to be the best player the franchise has had since Patrick Ewing. Leading New York to a playoff berth would be a great start for him in his first year as the No. 1 option.

Keeping the Knicks relevant — that’s quite the feat for Porzingis and Hornacek. They’ve done for a month. Can they do it for five more?

NBA POWER RANKINGS <br>1. Boston Celtics (14-2) • Lost their first two games of the season and haven’t suffered defeat since. <br>2. Golden State Warriors (11-4) • Came up short in Boston on Thursday in the NBA’s best matchup so far this season. <br>3. Houston Rockets (12-4) • James Harden is your early MVP leader. <br>4. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-5) • Unbeaten in the Northwest Division so far, a meaningful feat. <br>5. Toronto Raptors (10-5) • Former Utes point guard Delon Wright hurt his shoulder and will miss time. <br>6. San Antonio Spurs (10-6) • Chugging along without Kawhi Leonard. <br>7. Detroit Pistons (10-5) • Lost a huge lead Friday night in Indiana against the Pacers. <br>8. Denver Nuggets (9-6) • The young talent is coming together. <br>9. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-7) • They’ve won four straight but still are too reliant on LeBron James. <br>10. Washington Wizards (9-6) • Suffered bad home loss to the Heat on Friday. <br>11. Philadelphia 76ers (8-6) • Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are the future of the league. <br>12. Milwaukee Bucks (8-6) • The trade for Eric Bledsoe already paying off. <br>13. Orlando Magic (8-7) • Have cooled after hot start. <br>14. Portland Trail Blazers (8-7) • They have a mediocre record with a good net rating (plus 5.1). <br>15. New York Knicks (8-7) • Jeff Hornacek, Kristaps Porzingis leading mini-resurgence. <br>16. Indiana Pacers (8-8) • Have hope with young core playing well. <br>17. New Orleans Pelicans (8-8) • Anthony Davis injured yet again. <br>18. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-8) • Russell Westbrook shoots 5 of 22 in loss to Spurs. <br>19. Memphis Grizzlies (7-7) • Star point guard Mike Conley not at 100 percent. <br>20. Miami Heat (7-8) • Much like the Jazz, they need a go-to scorer. <br>21. Brooklyn Nets (6-9) • They lose D’Angelo Russell indefinitely to knee surgery. <br>22. Utah Jazz (6-10) • have lost seven of their last eight. <br>23. Los Angeles Lakers (6-10) • Forget best rookie. Kyle Kuzma may be their best player. <br>24. Los Angeles Clippers (5-9) • Ravaged by injury. <br>25. Charlotte Hornets (5-9) • Have lost six consecutive games. <br>26. Phoenix Suns (6-11) • Devin Booker has improved significantly. <br>27. Sacramento Kings (4-11) • A mere 1-8 on the road. <br>28. Chicago Bulls (3-10) • Scoring just 94 points per game, worst in the Eastern Conference. <br>29. Atlanta Hawks (3-12) • A franchise essentially starting over. <br>30. Dallas Mavericks (2-14) • Lost to Minnesota by almost 30 on Friday night.