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Phil Jackson: Carmelo Anthony 'upbeat' despite Knicks' struggles

New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson said forward Carmelo Anthony is "upbeat" despite the team's slow start to the season. Jackson and first-year head coach Derek Fisher have installed the triangle offense and the team is last in scoring through eight games, averaging 91.1 points during a 2-6 start.
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New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson said forward Carmelo Anthony is "upbeat" despite the team's slow start to the season, the Associated Press' Brian Mahoney reports.

Jackson and first-year head coach Derek Fisher have installed the triangle offense and the team is last in scoring through eight games, averaging 91.1 points during a 2-6 start.

Anthony is averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season and leads the league in both minutes and shots attempted. Jackson said his star player is staying positive during the team's struggles.

"I think that the frustration's going to be there at times, especially when the tide turns in the third quarter and he wants to step up and help the ball club at that time with what he's known for and what his genius is, which is scoring, that sometimes it's frustrating to not be able to get there and do that. But he seemed very upbeat today when I talked to him."

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Jackson, who addressed the media for the first time during the regular season prior to New York's 91-85 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, said he has seen positive signs from his team.

"I see growth in this team and I'm optimistic that, it's not always the final score, it's sometimes how you play. I think we're playing the game much better and getting some activity that we like to see."

New York has faced criticism for using the triangle offense, and Jackson said he was "not humored" by commissioner Adam Silver's weighing in on the subject.

The Knicks host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

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