Phil Jackson hoped Derek Fisher would articulate his vision to the New York Knicks' players.

Jackson could see the team but nothing was getting through.

Jackson would text Fisher observations and suggestions, and Fisher would respond in one-word answers.

When the Knicks held a coaches' retreat at The Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey at the end of summer, a meeting that sources said was meant for bonding and philosophical discussion about the team, Fisher was unable to attend.

Jackson was trying to give Fisher space to grow as a head coach.

"Trying to create autonomy for Derek kind of separated me from direct contact," Jackson said last week in Los Angeles. "[General manager] Steve Mills was [in] closer contact with Derek than I was because of our relationship in the past.

"Also, you guys [in the media] want to harp in on the fact that he was a puppet perhaps. I wanted him to have the autonomy to make decisions on his own and not feel like I was an overload."