There are many issues beguiling the 3-8 Knicks, but the referees’ harsh treatment of Carmelo Anthony and coach Mike Woodson’s harsh treatment of Iman Shumpert are two of the biggies.
On his ESPN Radio show Thursday, Woodson defended how he handles Shumpert, meeting with him Thursday, while lobbying to officials Anthony isn’t getting superstar calls.
Woodson said he believes Anthony’s final shot in regulation Wednesday night — a 12-foot turnaround over Paul George — could have been called a foul as contact ensued. The Knicks lost in overtime, 103-96, for their fourth straight loss with a four-game road trip ahead, starting in Washington on Saturday before hitting the West Coast.
Asked if Anthony is not receiving calls normally associated with a superstar, Woodson said, “Absolutely. I’m not going to shy away from that either. Melo gets hit more than ever. If you go to that overtime game, we were down six. Melo got whacked coming across the middle and there was no call.
“I’ve been at this thing 30 years,’’ Woodson added. “Sometimes I’m starting to wonder what’s a foul and what’s not a foul. He’s a gifted offensive player who has a knack to draw contact and get fouled. Sometimes he comes up empty a lot of times.’’
Anthony does not do himself favors with the officials. Since last season, when he was the league leader in technical fouls, he has developed a penchant for railing at the referees on the court.
“You got to continue to play through it and not let the officials affect what goes on,’’ Woodson said. “The officials can’t see everything. I understand that. I thought he got bumped on [the final play]. He didn’t get the call. You have to move on.’’
The extra physicality against Anthony could be occurring because he’s returning from a torn left shoulder and never had surgery. Anthony is shooting just 40.6 percent and has been in morose moods after several of the losses and often has an ice pack on his shoulder.
“Melo has never once talked about his shoulder,’’ Woodson said. “I don’t think it’s been an issue.’’
The Knicks would have won the game had Shumpert not been nailed for a foul on George’s 3-point attempt with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. Slow-motion replays showed Shumpert grazed George’s elbow with his fingertips, and George made all three free throws to force overtime.
The Woodson-Shumpert rift reached a new dimension when the coach praised referee Joey Crawford and called out the young guard, saying he told Shumpert to attempt to intentionally foul George before the Pacers star got a shot up.
“That was the theme coming out of the huddle,’’ Woodson said. “Iman didn’t take the foul. He thought if he got too close, he would’ve pulled the trigger and fouled him in the act of shooting and ended up doing it anyway. He thought the shot was so far back he challenged the shot and wound up nicking his elbow.’’
Woodson felt he needed to have a chat with Shumpert, who is on the trading block.
“I’m not sitting here browbeating him,’’ Woodson said. “You say I’m hard on him. I don’t call it hardness. I call it coaching. You guys think it’s hard. It’s coaching. You got to learn your players and learn what buttons to push. Who can be challenged? Who can’t be challenged?”
Woodson reiterated Shumpert made a “mistake,” though the Knicks coach acknowledged Crawford could have swallowed his whistle after the minimal contact.
“Some officials may let that go, but Joe elected to call it,” Woodson said.
“He’s a young player,’’ Woodson added of Shumpert. “I like to think he’ll learn from this one. If he’s in the situation again, he’ll do the right thing.’’