Since losing Tyson Chandler to a fractured right fibula, the New York Knicks are 2-5. Their record when playing at home is ever worse. The team appeared to be on their way to a win over the surging Indiana Pacers until a fourth quarter meltdown saw the losing 103-96. JR Smith says if players were not panicking before, they need to start.
"We're frustrated," Smith said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "Like you say, it's too early to panic, but me personally, I'm panicking. I don't like this. I don't want to play 3-8 basketball. I don't want to play 50-50 basketball. If we're going to be a championship-caliber team and call ourselves that, then we've gotta play like that. It can't be no other way."
The Knicks remained competitive until Iman Shumpert was called for a foul on a Paul George 3-point shot. He made all three free throws, sending the game into overtime where New York could not get by with the win. The loss was the sixth in a row in Madison Square Garden and fourth in a row overall. Smith believes if the Knicks are going to change things around, they must get over the loss of Chandler and start playing smarter defensively.
"Lack of intensity," Smith said. "I hate to say it, but our defense's backbone is on Tyson and Tyson's not here right now and we know that and he's not going to be available for a few weeks now, so we've gotta step it up individually. It's team game but individually we've got to take pride in guarding the ball, guarding our man. We have to enjoy stopping the other team."
Woodson believes the effort by the team had improved compared to recent games. He remained adamant that he was certainly proud of the way the team played, but was disappointed after getting "snaked" in the end.
"I'm proud of how we competed," Woodson said. "That's something I hadn't seen a lot this early season and that was New York Knick basketball. Unfortunately we're a little snake-bitten right now in terms of getting over the hump."
Arguments are now being made that the slow season being put together by the Knicks could push free-agent-to-be Carmelo Anthony right out the door. While the forward continues to stress that he has no intentions of leaving New York, his laboring efforts this season have come up short so far. Injuries are stacking up for the team and he is getting on help from anyone on the court. While everything is purely speculation at this point, the idea must be brought up with the approaching summer.
