When the results of one computer model were published in October, Carmelo Anthony was asked his reaction to its prediction that the Knicks would win a paltry 37 games this season.
“Sometimes there’s glitches in the computer,’’ he cracked.
Turns out the Knicks are the ones with the glitches — a broken team at the season’s midpoint with a record of 15-26, on pace for a 30-52 season.
In a season the Knicks needed to thrive in to cement Anthony’s return next season, they have been the NBA’s biggest disappointment. There has been little chemistry, coaching, or home victories — and lots of injuries. The 54-win team of last season withstood the injuries, but this roster has shown no margin for error.
With point guard Raymond Felton and center Tyson Chandler missing a combined 40 games and J.R Smith’s jump shot missing almost every game, the Knicks are where they are — the shame of the city as they are mired in a four-game losing streak, all by double digits.
Here are three reasons for their decrepit state — two games out of a playoff berth in the awful Eastern Conference and no lottery pick to rescue them in the offseason.
1. A statistical mess
The numbers don’t lie. The Knicks are ranked 20th in scoring efficiency (points per 100 possessions) and 27th out of 30 in defense efficiency.
There are a couple more overlooked statistics, both related to the Knicks losing the foul wars. The Knicks are ranked dead-last in free throws made by their opponents. Being out of position so often, they are fouling too much and giving clubs easy points. By contrast, they are ranked 28th in free throws attempted. They aren’t drawing enough fouls and being aggressive. That falls in line with the Knicks’ ranking of 29th in percentage of their points coming in the paint.
They are also dead last in percentage of points coming on fast breaks. The Knicks are getting no easy buckets and living and dying with the jump shot.
2. Bumbling Bargnani
Knicks owner James Dolan gambled a change of countries would change Andrea Bargnani’s career. Though he is the lone Knick to stay healthy and play all 41 games, so many of those games have been lackluster, none worse than the Martin Luther King Day rout by Brooklyn.
Bargnani’s basic numbers don’t sound awful — 13.1 points per game on 43.9 percent shooting. But a closer look shows he’s not the 3-point machine Mike Woodson thought he’d be. His 3-point percentage is a dismal 28.2 percent. And his basketball IQ is low. His decisions on whether to catch-and-shoot or drive often backfire.
His awkward forays to the basket aren’t paying off in terms of getting to the line. He’s averaging just 2.3 free throw attempts a game. Defensively, his mastery of the complicated rotations has been slow and he’s not a high-energy guy, failing to get to loose balls. The Knicks needed Bargnani to be the secondary star to Anthony, and it hasn’t come close to happening.
3. Little Anthony
While J.R. Smith has not been the secondary scorer to Anthony he was last season and Iman Shumpert has regressed offensively, Anthony’s clutch shot-making has been also disappointing.
Anthony, for all his 26.8 scoring average, has looked tired down the stretch of games and tight in the final stages. He is 1-of-18 in the final minute of games within five points. He is 0-for-12 in the final 30 seconds of games within three. He came to New York as one of the game’s best late-game shot-makers but left that gift in Denver.
Three things to look out for in the second half:
1. Woodson’s job security
Dolan gave Woodson his second vote of confidence on Dec. 26, telling the players the coach was safe. His first vote of confidence came when he told The Post in late November he would never fire Woodson unless he felt he’d lost the respect of the players.
Criticism the past few days of his defensive strategy — constant doubling and switching — by Anthony and Chandler doesn’t bode well. It seems just a matter of time before a change is made, but in Woodson’s favor is Dolan is in L.A. through the weekend and doesn’t have a solid alternative. Woodson probably doesn’t care either if the Knicks continue to fall apart on this eight-game homestand. His final contract year — a source says at roughly $3.4 million — became fully guaranteed during training camp.
2. Deadline dealing
With the trade deadline coming up Feb. 20, Knicks president Steve Mills, who has yet to talk to the media since the regular season began, has a chance to trade for the future if their position doesn’t improve.
They still are adamant about rebuilding around Anthony. Either Shumpert or Smith could be dealt, and perhaps the slumping, grumbling Chandler could be used to stockpile a younger player and draft pick. Dealing Anthony, whom they still are convinced will re-sign, for expiring contracts or draft picks is a long shot.
3. Stoudemire’s success
Amar’e Stoudemire’s knees have held up well and he became a productive two-way force before spraining his left ankle last week. Stoudemire could be back before the homestand ends, along with Kenyon Martin and Metta World Peace, to finally give them a full deck for the first time this season.
Stoudemire’s play will be critical for a variety of reasons. This summer — or draft night — he becomes much more tradeable because of his expiring contract, especially if he continues to be productive and his knees stay good the rest of the way.