Knicks frustrated as losses pile up
Tyson Chandler wipes his face during a game against the Miami Heat. (Jan. 27, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
Tyson Chandler sat with both feet in a bucket of ice, but it didn't totally cool him off.
Across the locker room after the Knicks' ninth loss in 10 games Saturday night in Houston, Amar'e Stoudemire said the only thing that could put a smile on his face was seeing his children, and that they weren't around.
With every Knicks defeat, the anger and frustration grows, as does the pressure on coach Mike D'Antoni.
The lockout-shortened season is nearly one-third over, and the 7-13 Knicks have dropped more games than all but seven teams. For Chandler, who won a championship in Dallas last season, winning one game in almost three weeks is maddening.
"I refuse -- I refuse -- I refuse to have a losing season," Chandler said.
Then something -- everything -- needs to change for the Knicks.
They've had one of the league's easiest schedules: 11 of their 20 games have been against teams with losing records. The Knicks face another Tuesday night against the Pistons at Madison Square Garden.
They hope Carmelo Anthony returns after a two-game absence to rest wrist, thumb and ankle injuries. The Knicks also had hoped Baron Davis (herniated disc) would play Tuesday night, but reportedly, his Knicks debut might not come for another week or two.
Regardless, Tuesday night could be a very important game for D'Antoni and the Knicks. The Garden crowd will be ready to boo and call for the coach's dismissal if the Knicks have another uninspiring performance. Their 3-6 home record includes losses to the Raptors, Bobcats, Bucks and Suns, who are 25-55 combined.
And the rest of the week will get much tougher. The Knicks will play three games in three nights starting Thursday -- against the Bulls, at Boston and versus the Nets.
The organization might want to see how the Knicks play at full strength before making any changes on the bench. But if the losing continues, a move could be made before then.
"Everybody has to get better," Chandler said. "I've got to focus on what I can do. And everybody needs to man up and do that. We all need to take a look at ourselves and figure out what we can do better to help the team."
The Knicks' troubles go beyond their offensive woes.
Anthony is banged up and has shot miserably, which led to the decision to give him a rest. Stoudemire has been inconsistent and not nearly as explosive as he was last season.
The Knicks' backcourt is one of the worst in the league. Shooting guard Landry Fields has made little impact and D'Antoni already has started Toney Douglas, Iman Shumpert and Mike Bibby at point guard.
The bench also ranks as one of the NBA's least productive. The Anthony acquisition depleted the Knicks' depth and talent, as Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov were sent to Denver.
Stoudemire said the Knicks have to stay together and gave D'Antoni an endorsement, saying everyone needs to listen to the coaching staff more.
"We have to start reading the board before games," Stoudemire said. "We have to prepare ourselves better as individuals. The coaching staff gives us a game plan. We have to be ready to execute that game plan. If we're not ready to execute that game plan, then we're not helping our teammates."
They're not helping their coach, either.
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