Despite the embarassing 120-89 matinee massacre at the Garden to the Spurs, Knicks owner James Dolan was in a confident mood Sunday night. Dolan, performing with his blues band, JD & The Straight Shot, told the audience at the Cutting Room in Manhattan he was guaranteeing a Knicks win in their next contest, Wednesday in Atlanta.
According to ESPN NY, Dolan bellowed between songs, “We’re going to win the next game. That’s a guarantee.’’
Dolan’s band will spend the rest of November touring with the Eagles, as it did in July, and will even play Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena.
When the sing-song starts, it sometimes doesn’t stop.
And it started for coach Mike Woodson Sunday early in the fourth quarter with the Knicks trailing by 32 points to the Spurs. There was a brief “Fi-re Wood-son’’ chant. It lasted less than 45 seconds, but it was audible. There was another weird bellowing from a few loud fans, yelling repeatedly, “Need new coach.’’
After the embarrasing loss, Woodson, as he does after most games, met with Dolan.
The dismissal chants at the Garden follow a long tradition that includes “Fi-re Layden,” “Fi-re Chan-ey,” “Fi-re Is-iah” and “Fi-re D’Anton-i.’’ But Woodson had never been featured, not after guiding the Knicks to a solid finish to the 2011-12 season as interim coach and leading them to a 10-0 start at the Garden last season, en route to a 54-28 finish.
But Woodson didn’t distinguish himself against Indiana as the Knicks fell to the Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Dolan, sources indicate, wasn’t pleased with his playoff performance.
When asked about the chant, Woodson said Sunday: “You guys bring that up. I don’t worry about that stuff. I got to coach them.’’
But when told the team looked as if it had no pride, Woodson agreed.
“No not at all. It’s something we’ll address [Monday] at the practice facility. It’s my job to push them through it and get them over the hump.’’
Woodson’s contract option for next season was renewed when president Steve Mills was hired four days before training camp for Glen Grunwald. But unlike Grunwald, Mills is not a former Indiana teammate of Woodson’s and has no particular allegiance.
Amar’e Stoudemire played consecutive games for the first time, but was not a factor, finishing 1-of-5 for two points. He, at least, played a little better defense than Andrea Bargnani . … Long Island’s Danny Green had a large contingent of family and friends on hand as he schooled the Knicks for 24 points (6-of-9 from 3-point range) after being a Finals MVP candidate last June. … The Knicks shot just 37.8 percent from the field — 27.3 percent from 3-point range. … In a quirk, both Carmelo Anthony and Bargnani shot 5-of-10 for 16 points. … The team’s defense was so rotten in halfcourt they still were slaughtered despite keeping turnovers to a season-low 10.