Knicks blown out by Spurs as Long Island's Danny Green scores 24
J.R. Smith looks on from during a game against the San Antonio Spurs. (Nov. 10, 2013) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Mike Woodson unfolded his arms more than a few times during Sunday's game, only to put his hands on his head in disbelief or disgust.
The Knicks fans who paid to attend this game apparently felt the same as they watched arguably this team's worst performance under Woodson and easily its poorest at the Garden with him on the sideline.
The Spurs handed the Knicks their third straight home loss, a demoralizing 120-89 thumping that drew several choruses of boos, prompted some chants of "Fire Woodson" and had many of the fans heading to the exits early. Woodson indeed could face an early exit if the Knicks continue their uninspired play, especially at home.
"This city and this organization is not known for being patient," Carmelo Anthony said. "But right now, we have to figure it out. There's no panic button being pushed right now. We have to figure it out."
When asked about the fans' chants, Woodson said: "I don't worry about things like that. I got a team to coach."
The Knicks trailed the defending Western Conference champs by as many as 37 points. If that wasn't alarming enough, Woodson was disappointed that they didn't show any pride.
"It's something that will be addressed," he said. "It's just unacceptable. It's my job to push them through it and try to get them over the hump. I know we're a better team than what we've shown.
"We didn't compete. That's just unacceptable."
The Knicks looked lifeless and ill-prepared early and were out of sync all game. J.R. Smith's season debut after a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy did little to help. He predictably was rusty, but the teammates who had been playing all season were, too.
The Knicks shot 37.8 percent and fell to 2-4. Last season, they took their fourth loss on Nov. 26. Their third home defeat didn't come until Jan. 1.
"It was embarrassing for us to come here on our home court and lose a game like this," Anthony said. "We didn't compete."
Anthony and Andrea Bargnani each scored 16 points for the Knicks. Bargnani, the starting center, grabbed one rebound in 26 minutes. Smith missed his first six shots and finished 1-for-9 with five points and four turnovers in 21 minutes. He forced several shots and threw up a couple of air balls.
North Babylon's Danny Green led the Spurs (6-1) with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Green shot 8-for-11, including 6-for-9 from three-point range. Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and Tony Parker had 17.
The Knicks won both games against the Spurs in 2012-13, but this is a different season and a different team.
For the third straight home game, the Knicks trailed by double digits in the first half. The Spurs scored the game's first 10 points. The only time the Knicks cut it to single digits was on their next trip. They fell behind 21-4 just over six minutes into the game and trailed by at least 10 points the last 44:12 of the game.
"I'm surprised," Anthony said. "I'm surprised that we haven't been coming out on our home court taking care of business on our home court. But I keep saying it, we will figure it out. I believe that."
The Knicks hit seven of their last eight shots in the first half but still trailed 61-45.
Their woes continued in the third quarter as they started 0-for-4 and missed six layups or tip-ins in the quarter. They scored only 15 points, and Green had 13 in the quarter.
"We've just got to stay together," Smith said. "We can't get down on one another, we can't point fingers. It's too early in the season for that. Fortunately, all we have is time, and time is on our side right now."
