Amar'e Stoudemire's rips perfectly OK with Derek Fisher
Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks looks on in the first half against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Derek Fisher, it appears, is a firm believer in freedom of speech when it comes to conduct in the Knicks' locker room.
He said before Sunday night's game against Miami that he is OK with the way Amar'e Stoudemire decided to call out the team's lack of effort in an ugly loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night.
"I think it shows some leadership from Amar'e, that he's expressing how he feels about the team and his teammates and where we are as a group," Fisher said. "I think it's correct in terms of the assessment. And guys sometimes do that.
"It's their locker room, so it's more about how they feel than about how I feel about it. As long as guys continue to do the best they can, which I think Amar'e is trying to do, then sometimes you know some things may need to be said."
Stoudemire ripped the Knicks after scoring a season-high 20 points against OKC. The problem was that no one else on the team scored more than 11 as the Knicks made only 38.7 percent of their shots in a 105-78 defeat.
"They played like they wanted it more," Stoudemire said of the Thunder. "At this point, I don't see how a team wants it more than we do. It's unacceptable. We should be in desperation mode. We're a team that's fighting for a win. Right now, we got to have a higher sense of urgency and more enthused and mentally involved."
Jax is back
Knicks president Phil Jackson was back in his regular seat at Madison Square Garden after taking two weeks off for Thanksgiving and doctors' appointments in Los Angeles. The team was 1-5 during his absence.
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
