Coach Mike Woodson said Tuesday he told to his team to stop griping to the officials during games.
One day after the Knicks lost 102-96 to the Celtics, when Carmelo Anthony and Pablo Prigioni received technical fouls and Anthony got involved in an exchange with Kevin Garnett, Woodson said the Knicks need to “leave the officials alone.”
“As a team, we’ve just got to worry about what we do and not complain to the officials, leave the officials alone. They’re trying to do the best that they can do, and [we need to] leave the [complaining about] officiating up to me as the coach,” Woodson said. “That’s kind of what I’ve hammered home.
“But I thought [Monday] night we somewhat lost our composure and it’s not about losing your composure. It’s just about playing the game and doing our job on the floor. That’s my job to make sure that they do that.”
* According to a Yahoo! report, the Knicks are contemplating whether to sign former Net Kenyon Martin as insurance for injured big man Rasheed Wallace.
Wallace has missed 12 straight games with an ailing left foot. If he is not waived Wednesday, his contract is fully guaranteed for the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum.
Nevertheless, a source said Martin signing with the Knicks is unlikely.
The 35-year-old Martin began his career with the Nets in 2000 and was a integral part of the team that went to two NBA Finals. Martin then spent seven seasons in Denver, playing with Anthony, before playing with the Clippers last season. Last year he averaged 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game
* Iman Shumpert dismissed a question about the idea that teams now have a blueprint for playing Anthony.
“There’s no way to play Carmelo,” Shumpert said. “He had an off night. He can come out here and score 40 tomorrow.”