What a disaster.
During the preseason, Mike D’Antoni said the Knicks had “the ability to win it all.’’ This week, the Knicks look like they can’t beat anybody, dominated last night by the Bobcats, one of the NBA’s worst teams, at boo-infested Madison Square Garden.
That makes it back-to-back home losses to Eastern Conference dregs. But this was so much worse than Monday’s blowout to Toronto , when the Knicks had excuses of California jetlag and being without Amar’e Stoudemire and new Garden folk hero Iman Shumpert.
Those two players were back, but the pitiful defense gave up 118 points. The Knicks fell behind 16 points with 6:47 left on a runner by Bronx native Kemba Walker and they suffered a horrifying 118-110 loss to Charlotte. Yes, the Knicks looked as weak defensively as when Walker played at Rice High School.
“That hurt, it hurts to lose games like that,’’ said Carmelo Anthony, who scored 22 of his quiet 32 points in the fourth quarter when it was too late. “The good thing is it’s over.’’
Stoudemire said he hoped his return would get the Knicks “back on track.’’ Instead, this was one of the worst railroad wrecks of the past few years, factoring in their big expectations.
“It’s got to get better,’’ center Tyson Chandler said. “It’s not good right now. The rotations just aren’t there. We’re in a tough patch right now.’’
Shumpert, who had not played since the season opener because of a sprained left knee, scored 18 points off the bench, providing the only Knick life at the Garden. Shumpert had his name chanted throughout the night, but he cramped up in his left leg with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter and left for good, limping off.
Stoudemire, back from a two-game absence because of a sprained ankle, had 25 points and 12 rebounds, but couldn’t defend his former Phoenix mate, Boris Diaw, who erupted for 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting, going 3-of-3 from 3-point land.
The Knicks and Bobcats possess the same record at 2-4. That says it all, as did fourth-quarter Garden chants of “Let’s Go Giants’’ and “Let’s Go Rangers’’ that were mixed in with boos. The Knicks next face the winless Wizards in Washington tomorrow.
One of the night’s saddest moments came when Diaw spun past Stoudemire from the perimeter and snaked in for an easy layup in the fourth quarter for a 104-91 lead. Stoudemire looked like a statue but said his ankle was fine.
“They got hot on us,’’ said Stoudemire, who didn’t speak until more than an hour after the game after getting ankle treatment. “They were making unbelievable shots. They’re a great shooting team.’’
“Offense was good, just bad defense,’’ coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I’m sure they’re frustrated. They didn’t want to start 2-4.’’
Defensive assistant Mike Woodson was hired over the summer to improve the defense, but last night the Knicks allowed the Bobcats to score from anywhere on the court, shooting 55.3 percent.
Diaw was scoreless Monday night in Cleveland.
“When he’s hitting shots, he’s one of the best in the league,’’ D’Antoni said.
Especially when nobody guards him.
“He was real motivated to come to New York City,’’ Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. “He and Amar’e played together in Phoenix and he wants to prove to him that he can get it done every time they play together.’’
Just as puzzling was the splurge of former Ohio State center Byron Mullens, left open aplenty and drilling his jumpers to the tune of 6-of-8 shooting for 16 points. Shooting guard Gerald Henderson schooled shaky Knicks starter Landry Fields, outscoring him 24-5. Henderson made 10 of 13 shots.
“We lost to a team we feel we’re better than,’’ Stoudemire said. “But give respect to them. We’re starting to understand our schemes but it’s still very early. We have to stay solid and focused, understand it’s still early, but we need to tighten up.’’