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| (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports) |
After
an eight game winning streak, the New York Knicks descended back to their
losing ways and found a way to lose consecutive games before earning a win last
night in Sacramento. Of their two losses, the Knicks suffered a 17 point
debacle to the Kyrie Irving-less Cleveland Cavaliers at MSG and followed that by
opening their road trip allowing the lottery bound Los Angeles Lakers to blow
you out of Staples Center with a 31 point defeat, also not to mention the
Lakers opened the third quarter and missed their first two shots. Those would be two of the rare misses in the
period, as the team converted on 19 of their next 24 field goals towards a
franchise-record 51 points.
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| Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high 62 points against the Bobcats. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) |
The
disastrous season of the 2013-14 New York Knicks isn’t just playing out on the
court, there’s the Carmelo Anthony situation as well. Anthony, now in his
11th season and fourth with the Knicks is aware that as he approaches 30 later
this year, he must make the best decision to try and win a NBA Title before he
retires. Carmelo enters this off-season as an unrestricted free agent,
which makes things even complicated for the New York Knicks. He could
either re-sign with New York, shop and sign with another team or come back one
more season and then decide. In other words, Carmelo Anthony holds the
future of his career and the state of the New York Knicks in his hands this
summer.
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| Jackson smiles as he is introduced as the new president of the New York Knicks, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in New York. Jackson, who won two NBA titles as a player with the Knicks, also won 11 championships while coaching the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan |
Now
the Phil Jackson hire. Yes, bringing in one of the most respected and
renowned coaches in NBA history was an outstanding move by owner James Dolan;
however, it’s only a benefit if the team can place themselves in position to
win a NBA Championship for the first time since 1973. I don’t feel the franchise can win a title
unless Jackson is coaching this team, not in the front office making decisions
for the Knicks. Whether he’s in Montana
on a tablet or a conference room in Manhattan, being in the front office isn't the only solution to putting New York over the top. His name alone will attract some names but
with the dysfunctional franchise that’s known as the New York Knicks, you will
need a "Phil Jackson" caliber coach to go through the hard work and
perseverance of a NBA season. Other head coaches’ names who could be up
for conversation are Steve Kerr or Derek Fisher, if he retires after this
season as Mike Woodson's replacement. New York needs a coach like Mark
Jackson, who has another year left with the Golden State Warriors; however,
although, he’s building a good contender in Golden State, there’s only one
"Phil Jackson.”
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Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. (Dec. 1, 2013) (Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke)
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As
we continue to discuss the Carmelo situation, he’s been drawing interests from
teams such as the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and
rumors of a potential four headed monster down in Miami. Anthony’s one of
the best players in the league so who wouldn't take the chance of acquiring the
small forward if he could fit in your system? Despite New York’s
struggles, Anthony is still posting All-Star numbers as he’s averaging (28.1)
points and (8.3) rebounds per game, and his rebounds are slightly better than
last season. He has also made the playoffs
every season he’s played in the NBA, despite being eliminated in the first
round but twice including last season. You can tell the burden of
carrying the whole load in Gotham is playing out and don't forget those years
in Denver with the Nuggets. In the NBA today, you need another superstar that
can contribute to a championship roster and you’ll have to take less money for
this to happen. Anthony was quoted saying that he will take less anywhere
to win a championship. If he decides to remain a Knick, the financial
difference of $33 million will be intriguing to the wealthiest people. But,
on the flip side, if you stay in New York, you could be a Hall of Famer one day
but possibly never add NBA Champion to your glorious career.
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In conclusion, as I look ahead to the future of the
New York Knicks, it’s a question mark that I don’t feel will end in positive
results. Why can't you keep your overweight point guard in Raymond Felton, or
taking an injured Andrea Bargani contract, an aging and only
"defensive" center in Tyson Chandler? Also, how about the “75
year old backup point guard”, sorry Pablo Prigioni or your tatted up prankster
and the $100 million dollar "sun" by the name of Amare Stoudemire,
which proved to be a disaster. The love affair in New York is destroyed
and the days of Carmelo Anthony begging to leave Denver for a chance to shine
as a Knick is seemingly over. Anthony’s only exciting experience as a
basketball star in the state of New York is back in his college days at
Syracuse. I can't see Carmelo staying in the Big Apple after the season
concludes and honestly, why would he want to??? The unfortunate thing is
that the New York Knicks fans should no longer want him as well. Look the name “Melo” from
his 62 points record night against Charlotte in the Garden this season, getting a playoff series win, and what he has endured the past four years will ring in
the Big Apple forever; the difference is the name “Anthony” won't be hanging
from the raptures of Madison Square Garden.
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