NBA

Anthony: ‘You can’t blame Woody’ for debacle vs. Spurs

Monday was the Day After for the Knicks, the day after the sobering carnage of a 31-point beating at the hands of the Spurs.

Just six games into the season, coach Mike Woodson was subjected to 45-second chants of “Fire Wood-son’’ in the fourth quarter at the Garden, and had to sit through a postgame meeting with owner James Dolan.

Woodson said the Knicks “didn’t do a damn thing right” in the one-sided loss, and Carmelo Anthony admitted it left them irritated and embarrassed.

But Anthony came to his coach’s defense, saying the blame should lie with those playing on the court, not standing by the bench.

“It’s New York. It happens,” Anthony said. “Woody’s not out there playing, we’re out there playing. You can’t blame Woody.

“We’re not as a team giving him the effort that he’s looking for, and we’ve got to change that.”

After Woodson had his regularly scheduled postgame meeting with Dolan, and the owner heaped on yet more pressure Sunday night by guaranteeing victory on Wednesday in Atlanta, a clearly vexed Woodson told the media Dolan’s level of support behind closed doors — or lack thereof — was none of their concern.

“That’s not your guys’ business,” Woodson said testily. “That is me and my owner’s business. “We got to get ready for Atlanta. That’s the name of the game.’’

It wasn’t the fact they didn’t win Sunday that had the Knicks in a salty mood Monday — it was getting routed 120-89 at home. It was coughing up a sieve-like 17 layups, and playing a listless, pride-less game.

“Well, I’m not happy when you play like this, because I know we’re better than a 30-point blowout,’’ Woodson said. “Is it just one of those games, or is this thing going to linger on? I’m trying to put the fire out. We got to defend, it’s that simple.

“I’m not taking anything away from San Antonio, but I’d like to think they’re not a 30-point-better team than our ballclub. It’s something we’ve got to be held accountable for in terms of how we played. It was one of those games where we didn’t do a damn thing right, and it starts on the defensive [end]. I don’t care if you miss every shot you throw up, you can give effort defending and rebounding the ball.’’

Anthony said Monday’s film session was a jarring one.

“The day after is always the hardest day, just trying to get people to stop thinking about it, trying to move on and get over it,” Anthony said. “But overall as far as the practice went, it was a good practice. But as far as the mood goes, it was just one of them days you’re trying to get over it, trying to forget that game, trying to figure out what was going on. A long film session. It’s a long day.’’

There’s an old sports axiom that tape doesn’t lie, and when the Knicks were forced to relive having the spurs put to them by San Antonio, it left them angry, humiliated and all sorts of other negative emotions.

“You’ve got to be irritated. You’ve got to be embarrassed at a game like that on your home court,’’ Anthony said. “We lost a game, but I said it last night, the way we lost the game, the fashion we lost the game, it’s got to be embarrassing.

“You’ve got to be angry about that. Everybody has to hold themselves accountable. That was the case in the film session.’’

Anthony had called a players-only meeting last Tuesday after the home loss to the Bobcats, and addressed the team’s confidence. On Monday, he said their issue now was less about confidence and all about effort, especially at the Garden.

“Well, the confidence is there. I don’t think we’re losing that,” Anthony said. “I think right now it’s just all about the effort, just something about playing on our home court all of a sudden. We’re not coming out and playing hard in front of our fans. We’re just not getting it done, regardless of what that is we’re just not getting it done, making it happen.’’