SWEEP RELIEF? Carmelo Anthony (right) and the Knicks will try to avoid the embarrassment of a four-game sweep in the opening round of the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs when they face LeBron James and the Heat today at the Garden. (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
Carmelo Anthony was the last player to leave the Knicks’ practice court yesterday, after taking shots from all angles with assistant general manager Allan Houston feeding him passes.
Anthony dripped with sweat at what could have been the season’s last practice. Today is his last stand. He knows it’s going to be a long summer if the Knicks go down with a whimper in Game 4 at the Garden against Miami’s Dream Team in a second straight four-game, first-round sweep.
Injuries, illnesses and fire-extinguisher mishaps notwithstanding, it has been a lousy series for Anthony. Miami, outscoring the Knicks by 60 points in three games, leads 3-0.
“[Today] is a new day, new attitude,’’ Anthony said. “We want to win. [Today] is a must-win for us or we go home. If we’re ready to go home, then we might as well call it a game. I don’t think guys are ready to go home. Guy are still confident about [today].”
Anthony is shooting 34.5 percent in the series, but hasn’t seemed to accept responsibility for the hole in which the Knicks find themselves. If the Knicks extend their NBA-record playoff losing streak to 14 games today, the bravado will grow tired. Two straight first-round sweeps and eight first-round exits in nine seasons for Anthony is a trend. His brilliant April finish will be a footnote if he stinks it up against LeBron James again today.
“I try not to put pressure on myself and play like that,’’ Anthony said. “Do I want to win? Hell, yeah. It’s tough out there. No excuses. Despite injuries. I never made an excuse about that. [Today] is a big day.’’
It is also a big day for center Tyson Chandler, who almost missed Game 1 with the flu. He beat the Heat in The Finals last June with the Mavericks and wants one more trip to Miami for Game 5 to save face.
“We had real expectations for the team this year,’’ Chandler said. “And the toughest thing is to just make it to the playoffs and then get swept. We have to make sure we stand up and have pride especially on our home floor.’’
Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong in the series, with Iman Shumpert blowing out his knee in Game 1 and Amar’e Stoudemire blowing out the glass of a fire-extinguisher case after Game 2. One victory today, though, and the Knicks can supply one playoff memory that isn’t catastrophic.
“[A sweep] won’t sit well,’’ Chandler said. “Whenever you get swept, it’s embarrassing. You come in and can’t get a game from a team? I definitely don’t want to go out like that.’’
It will be painful for Anthony, who has been outclassed by James in this 1-on-1 showdown. On Friday, interim coach Mike Woodson said he wants Anthony back in better shape next season.
Anthony said he and James, a good friend, haven’t talked once during the series.
“It’s all business,” Anthony said.
James has averaged 27.7 points on 50.9 percent shooting, with 6.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Anthony has averaged an inefficient 21 points, 4.0 turnovers, 2.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds.
“I don’t think they’re forced shots,’’ said Anthony, who has also has been covered by Shane Battier. “I have to take the shots they give me. Me, I’m just missing.
“Not winning, it hurts,” Anthony said. “I feel that. I go home at night and think about it.’’
Asked if he regrets the trade that brought him to the Knicks, Anthony said: “It’s been up and down. But for the most part, I don’t regret my decision to come here. It’s been a year-and-a-half. Things haven’t gone the way we wanted it to go, but we still have time. I’m not worried. I love my decision. I stick with my decision. I’m in New York. I’m a New York Knick. I’m going to be here.’’
Whether Woodson blows his chance of a return by getting swept is unlikely, but not certain because of owner James Dolan’s unpredictability. Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald likely will recommend Woodson’s return, since a case could be made the playoff catastrophe was not Woodson’s fault. If the Phil Jackson as coach scenario is investigated, both parties had better be sure they can work together or risk a Larry Brown fiasco.
Woodson, who was former coach Mike D’Antoni’s defensive coach, was 18-6 since gaining control, but said the Knicks’ situation could have been so much different had they not started the season 18-24.
“If we handled our business early in the year, we wouldn’t be in this predicament,’’ Woodson said. “We probably would be hosting the first round. That’s where we have got to get this team. If I’m back, that’s going to be my ultimate goal, to be top four, try to win the division. Hosting the first round at home, that’s important.’’
Woodson said he has to get Anthony, Chandler and Stoudemire to mesh better. This is the Knicks’ locked-in Big 3, with no blockbuster deal on the horizon. The last look may come today and it had better not be an eyesore.