The happiness pictured above from the Knicks isn’t one of a team who’s 5-31. Especially if you’re on a team in New York. Especially if you’re a part of one of the most historic franchises in the NBA, the New York Knicks.
The Knicks have the most losses in the NBA, yes, more than the Philadelphia 76ers. They’re 3-15 at home, in the middle of an 11 game losing streak, they rank in the bottom half in the league for team points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game and points allowed per game. They’ve won 1 game in their last 22 games which also includes 10 losses decided by double digits.
Now, according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, some players like Amar’e Stoudemire and Samuel Dalembert and head coach Derek Fisher, are a little taken back by the bad play.
“It’s beyond my imagination at this point,” he (Stoudemire) said Sunday before a 95-82 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks that extended their losing streak to 11 games. “I never thought I’d see this. … This is definitely kind of mind-boggling.”
“When I first signed with New York, that wasn’t the game plan,” Stoudemire said. “… But the past is not here. And neither is the future, so we’ve got to deal with the now, and I think we’ve just got to continue to try to get better as a team and as players, try to keep improving.”
“It’s a tragic thing,” said center Samuel Dalembert of the mounting losses.
“Losing isn’t enjoyable, in any way, shape or form,” Fisher said. “So from an emotional standpoint, you have to just continue to manage what you can control and continue to keep your mind focused on positive things. I’m trying to make sure that I’m being the right type of leader for these guys. … We’re going through a lot right now as a group, so it’s my job to hold it down for them as they struggle. So if I have to take the brunt of whatever it is, then I’ll take it. That’s my job.”
“It will turn for us,” Fisher said. “It just doesn’t look like it right now.”
It’s over for the Knicks. Multiple ‘fat ladies’ have sang and it just doesn’t look good, at all. It won’t get any better either, because in their next 5 games, they play teams that were either in last years playoffs or currently rank in the top 8 for their conference. And then the sixth game after that 5 game stretch? Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans come to the Big Apple.
Shut it down New York. Better luck next year. Time to develop some young talent and be ready for the summer of 2015 free agency fire storm.
