To say it’s been bad for the New York Knicks would be an understatement.It’s been a nightmare.
The Knicks head into this week as losers of eight in a row. They are 3-12 on the season. If the NBA Atlantic division wasn’t so bad overall, there will be very little discussion of this team still being able to turn it around and make the playoffs.
How bad is the division? All five teams in the division have losing records, combining for a 27-56 record.
Head coach Mike Woodson says he’s not worried about his job status… well he needs to be. This team has looked horrible on both sides of the ball, and with every loss the thought of Carmelo Anthony leaving for free agency after the season grows — no matter what he says otherwise.
Anthony has done his part, as he’s been the team’s leading scorer in every game this season. The Knicks just have not given Anthony much help on offense. JR. Smith and Iman Shumpert are struggling, and Tyson Chandler‘s injury exposed the limited depth the team has on the frontcourt.
I’m tempted to cosign Amar’e Stoudemire on his theory that the Knicks are not moving the ball enough on offense. It’s definitely one-dimensional now, as all the Knicks do is give the ball to Anthony and get out the way. However, Anthony’s belief is that it’s the lack of defense as the main problem is also valid.
At the end of the day, it’s what Woodson feels is the problem and reportedly he’s more in line with Anthony’s take. Woodson is a defensive-oriented coach, and he believes winning starts and ends with tough defense. Anthony is doing his part on offense, however the team's defense has not been there this season.
Unless that improves, the struggles will continue.
You can’t win them all back overnight, so the best thing going for the Knicks now is that it’s no longer November. The December schedule starts with a home game against New Orleans and then across the bridge to play the Brooklyn Nets.
I thought it was crucial for the Knicks to get off to a fast start this season, and instead it was the complete opposite of that. They need a fast start to the month of December, or else it won’t matter how bad the division is.
Because they’ll remain at the bottom of it.
