WEST POINT — New Knicks point guard Jose Calderon admits learning the triangle offense is “complicated.” But at least Calderon no longer has to deal with the complications of facing the scrappy, hard-nosed point-guard defense of Derek Fisher, now his coach and triangle professor.
Last season, the veteran point guards Calderon and Fisher squared off in Western Conference battles between Dallas and Oklahoma City. Fisher, too, is glad he’s coaching Calderon and not defending the former Maverick.
“It wasn’t always fun playing against him because he can shoot the ball so well,’’ Fisher said after Thursday’s training-camp practice at Christl Arena. “He never turned the ball over. He’s always had a composure and poise about himself. That was always impressive as a competitor.
“Now having an opportunity to coach him and work with him, I’m excited to have that on my side. He’s a shotmaker and a great decision-maker, a quiet leader and [has] a brand of toughness that doesn’t require a lot of words.’’
As much as Knicks fans toasted the end of the Raymond Felton era following the blockbuster trade with Dallas on the eve of the draft in June, the concern is Calderon isn’t considered any better a defender than Felton. The 33-year-old Spaniard never has been fleet of foot.
But Fisher isn’t worried.
“Defense is about five guys on a team,’’ Fisher said. “I was persecuted in a sense in L.A. for many years that I couldn’t play defense individually. And it’s always about how five guys play defense. In the NBA, it’s really not the one-on-one, just-cover-your-man type of defense. I think Jose will be fine. He competes hard. I’m not concerned whether he can play defense. It’s whether we can play defense.’’
There’s also worry Calderon will need time to master the triangle. He said he has been working overtime to learn the system.
“It looks easy but it’s not,’’ Calderon said. “It’s complicated. If it wasn’t, more people would be playing this way. But we’ll be all right. That’s what training camp is for.
“I know more today than yesterday, I know more now than early this morning. Every day we learn a lot. We’re trying to get used to it, adding movement, adding passes. Like anything, it’s repetition.’’
It’s also quick, instinctive passing and cutting and reading the defense to create a triangular formation. Calderon’s ability to bury 3-pointers figures perfectly into the system.
“I think that’s going to be important to open up more space, make the defense make decisions,’’ Calderon said. “Shooting ability will help. It will make the guys [defend] closer to me and other guys will have more space one-on-one.’’
Calderon recalls facing Fisher, who turned 40 in August, last season. Calderon said he always had “respect’’ for Fisher because he was dogged but not “dirty’’ and always “played hard.’’ Calderon is surprised how seamless his coaching transition has been.
“It is strange, but at the same time it’s been really nice and normal,’’ said Calderon, who played last month on Spain’s World Cup club that got bounced in the quarterfinals. “It looks like he’s been coaching for years now. The way he talks and makes himself understood, it’s been easy. I know I look at him and played defense on him last year, but he’s been great. He’s confident.’’
It’s no small factor Calderon and Italy’s Andrea Bargnani have a close bond after being teammates in Toronto for 6 ½ seasons, from 2006 to 2013. Calderon could serve to save the career of Bargnani, whose play dipped since his favorite point guard was traded from the Raptors to the Pistons during the 2012-13 season.
“I played with him basically my whole NBA career,’’ Bargnani said. “He’s very experienced and really knows how to run a team. It’s always been great to play with him. I know how he plays. He knows how I play. I was glad.
“The main thing is, what he wants to do first is run the team. Run the team and look for the right, good pass. It’s his first priority and he’s a great jump shooter. … But running a team is first priority.’’