With so many playoff and seeding races heating up as the NBA heads into the final month of its regular season, it pains me to lead off this blog with the New York Knicks.
But that’s just how dysfunctional they have become.
They are 2-13 since Feb. 1 and continue to regress each and every game. They are 6.5 games back of the Atlanta Hawks for the 8th-seed in the Eastern Conference with 20 games to play. This season is most certainly lost, so now it’s all about saving next year, and the year after.
That usually starts with the Carmelo question: Is he as good as gone?
That remains to be seen, and right now it surely doesn’t bode well for the Knicks. But whether or not they can retain Anthony, they need to weigh their options with Tyson Chandler.
Chandler was brought in two seasons ago to anchor the defense and lead the team but has has not had the desired effect. His numbers and impact have been underwhelming considering the hype he carried after playing a key role in the 2011 Mavericks championship season, and he has failed to offer any help in the leadership category this year, let alone defense, and has recently been serving up passive-aggressive digs at head coach Mike Woodson.
And, according to the New York Post now he is questioning his future with the team. When asked about his future with the team:
“That’s something I have to visit during the offseason,’’ Chandler said. “We’re all going to have a lot of decisions to make.’’
With his contract expiring in 2015, the Knicks could shop Chandler for draft picks and another asset. Chandler eagerly signed a free-agent four-year, $65 million contract in 2011, thinking he had a chance to win a second title.
But he’s getting beyond frustrated as the Knicks are close to playing out the string.
“For me, it’s important regardless [to finish out strong],’’ Chandler said. “I got a lot more pride than this, coming in night in, night out losing, and not putting forth the type of effort it takes to win. At this stage of my career and what I’ve established, I refuse to let it put a blemish on it.’’
Chandler hasn’t sounded like a happy camper for much of the season, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody if he is playing in a new uniform next season. While he has had some injuries over the last two seasons, none have been considered chronic or detrimental to his future.
And the way things are going with his teammates, why would he want to stick around?
Between rumors of Woodson and Anthony’s future (and his own) and legal issues for Raymond Felton, the teams starting point guard, and now there appears to be another rift among teammates Amar’e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith. After J.R. Smith publicly criticized the Knicks lack of heart , Amar’e jabbed back on Monday:
“You have to look at yourself in the mirror before we make statements,’’ Stoudemire said when asked about the comments. “We got to make sure you’re playing hard first. You take care of yourself and then everyone else will follow suit. Until you do it yourself, then you can lead by example.’’
“I’ve been saying it for years’’ Stoudemire said. “But it seems when I say it, it’s not the problem. Defense is the problem. It’s a double-edged sword.’’
Trying to interpret Smith’s comments is another story entirely. Getting to the bottom of Stoudemire’s isn’t as difficult. His message is clear and he knows it.
At this point, after putting up a two-win month at this seasons most critical juncture, the Knicks may or may not have quit on their coach.
But they most certainly have quit on each other.
Onto more from around the NBA
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