The New York Knicks exploded out of the gates when the season began, overwhelming teams with their offensive firepower, Carmelo Anthony was even in the MVP conversation, but in recent months they’ve come crashing down to earth faster than Humpty Dumpty.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, their struggles on the court have coincided with injuries to their best players like Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Anthony had to have his knee drained after the game in Denver on Wednesday night and although, reports say that he could return this weekend, the way he’s been playing lately won’t benefit the Knicks in their quest to at least make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Knicks head coack Mike Woodson, clearly stated that he’s worried about his team and his best player’s health in a story via ESPN.
“When a key guy goes down that’s a big piece, a major piece to your puzzle, sure you’ve got to worry,” Woodson said Thursday on ESPN New York 98.7 FM. “There’s no doubt I’m worried. There’s no doubt that I’m worried about Carmelo. But I’m worried about our team as a whole with how we’re playing. Coming out of that Utah game at home these past two games have been a nightmare for all of us.”
Woodson, also made it clear that they can’t use injuries as an excuse and that other players have to step up if the Knicks intend on finishing the season strong.
“There’s some concern simply because we are a little beat up,” Woodson said of the Knicks’ standing in the Atlantic. “The season’s not going to wait on us and other teams are not going to say, ‘I feel sorry for the New York Knicks.’
“Regardless of who’s in uniform, other guys have to step up and play.”
The Knicks are in a world of hurt right now, they’ve suffered some unfortunate injuries to key players, but they were playing poorly prior to that and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a Carmelo Anthony led team will exit the playoffs in the first round for what seems like the umpteenth time.