NEW ORLEANS — Knicks legend Willis Reed knows what ails the franchise — not having Phil Jackson as its head coach.
Attending the Hall of Fame press conference Saturday, Reed, a Louisiana resident, told The Post that Jackson has assembled enough talent to win but needs a great coach. A coach like Jackson.
Reed never mentioned coach Jeff Hornacek by name, but said the Knicks aren’t getting the most out of their roster. It appeared a coded slap at the coaching staff that has stumbled to a 23-34 record at the All-Star break. Reed also endorsed Jackson’s December remarks that maligned Carmelo Anthony needs to move the ball more and take fewer contested shots in big spots.
“Unfortunately for us as Knicks fans, if Phil Jackson had been coaching all year, we would’ve won more games,’’ Reed told The Post. “His toughness and ability to make guys concentrate, that’s what I loved about him as a coach. He got guys to play harder and smarter.”
According to Reed, it is less a health issue with Jackson, 71, and more an 11-rings mindset of “Let the record stand for itself.” Reed said he thinks Jackson still can reach modern players.
“When I was a young player, the most impressive coach for me would’ve been Red Auerbach because of his record,’’ Reed said. “Same thing with Phil Jackson with his record in Chicago and L.A. I’d want to play for Phil Jackson. He’s got a history with Kobe, Jordan and Shaquille and made them champions.”
Reed, who talks to Jackson often after playing with him on the Knicks’ only two title teams in the 1970s, said the Zen Master’s biggest regret is he hasn’t found a coach like him. Jackson has had four during his reign: Mike Woodson, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis and now Hornacek.
“At this point, he wishes he had been able to do is create another Phil Jackson,’’ Reed said. “That would be the most satisfying thing. With all the rings he has, he’d like to transfer all that knowledge and ability to get people to play at a certain level.’’
A Hall of Famer who lives 250 miles from New Orleans in Ruston, La., Reed said the Knicks should have a winning record with Jackson’s roster.
The level of talent isn’t as bad as their play,’’ Reed said. “We don’t get the best out of the talent all the time. When a guy plays, are you getting him to play with 90 percent of his talent level or all of it. You can get carried away in wanting to score and not make the team better.’’
Asked about Anthony, Reed talked about the Knicks’ fourth-quarter woes, then later told The Post: “[Carmelo’s] a scorer. You got to have movement. The basketball has to move. People have to move. All the big shots shouldn’t be hard shots.’’
Jackson talked recently about Anthony being a ball-stopper — a central reason he has explored trading him. The Knicks have suffered eight defeats since mid-December on the final possession of a game.
Reed said poor late-game play has been a Knicks downfall, indicating Anthony has to be the leader.
“That’s a great offensive player,’’ Reed said. “They play well for three quarters. The fourth quarter everybody should be stepping up. They don’t step up. They get concerned about their shot and start to play the game differently. I don’t know if it’s lack of confidence or maturity. When we played in the fourth quarter, that was it. That’s when the big guys came to play and earn their marks.”
Caught in the middle of the Charles Oakley arrest and the Knicks great’s feud with team owner James Dolan, Reed said he is broken up over it.
“It saddened my heart,’’ Reed said. “I love Charles, I love the organization. Mr. Dolan has been a good owner. He’s tried. It’s not because [Dolan] didn’t try. He’s tried to get the right people and you guys [the media] make it hard. … I don’t want to know the whole story [but] I’d love to see Charles working for the organization.
“He brings a level of toughness I’d like to see in players.”
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