HOUSTON — The Rockets own the Knicks’ first-round pick this June from the Tracy McGrady trade. It seemed unfathomable entering the season the issue of the picks’ protection rights ever would come up.
But as the Knicks flounder without a true point guard and look more beat up and ragged by the game, the notion of that pick being a lottery selection is no longer absurd. The Knicks could even get it back, as the pick is protected through five.
The Knicks, playing again without resting Carmelo Anthony, were clobbered, 97-84, by the Rockets. Coach Mike D’Antoni’s club has lost nine of 10 and fallen to six games below .500 at 7-13.
The point guard situation is such a complete mess that D’Antoni resorted to using third-string Harvard alum Jeremy Lin for the game’s final 20 minutes.
Amar’e Stoudemire sounded graver than ever, and ripped some players for not preparing for games and not learning from mistakes, seemingly trying to protect D’Antoni for this wreckage. Stoudemire also agreed this 1-9 stretch is probably the low point of his Knicks stint.
“We got to start reading the board before games,’’ Stoudemire, who had 23 points, said. “We have to prepare ourselves better as individuals. Coaches give the game plan. We have to be ready to execute the game plan. If we’re not ready to execute the game plan, we’re not helping our teammates.’
“We have to learn to comprehend and learn from our mistakes and right now we’re not doing that,’’ Stoudemire added. “The only thing that could put a smile on my face is my kids and they’re not in New York. It’s not a great feeling right now.’’
The Houston game had long been targeted for Baron Davis’ Knicks debut, but Davis hasn’t had any pop in scrimmages. Davis’ return Tuesday against Detroit at the Garden is questionable.
Tyson Chandler also sounded the alarm in the locker room afterward, indicating the club is falling back on excuses. The Knicks fell behind Houston (12-8) by 21 points even without its star Kevin Martin.
“I refuse to have a losing season,’’ Chandler said. “We have to do what it takes. I refuse to go through a losing season. We got to man up.’’
The Knicks are 1-5 on the second night of back-to-backs and now are tied with the Nets for 10th place.
“I’m not going to build any excuses,’’ Chandler said. “Everybody has this schedule. Everybody’s going through four games in five nights and back to backs. Everybody’s banged up. It’s times like this you have to dig deep. It’s about the team that wants it more.’’
Anthony was not in the locker room after the game or on the bench during. He likely will return Tuesday.
D’Antoni gave Toney Douglas the start at point guard, supplanting rookie Iman Shumpert and Douglas shot terribly (3 of 13). The Knicks shot 38.2 percent and Lin gave them some life. He hand nine points and six assists, attacking the basket, which is something no one else does.
For all the talk of their talent, the Knicks’ fourth-quarter alignment when the Knicks tried to make a comeback was Lin, Renaldo Balkman, Steve Novak, Shumpert and Stoudemire. The depth is not worthy of a playoff club. Meanwhile, the Rockets countered off the bench with backup point guard Goran Dragic, who sizzled with 16 points and five assists. Even former Knicks lottery pick, Jordan Hill, hurt them with a double-double off the pine (14 points, 11 rebounds).
“Their bench killed us,’’ D’Antoni said.
Houston broke open the game late in the third quarter and led 75-60 into the fourth, with Chandler picking up a technical foul after tripping over Samuel Dalembert on a drive.
“I tripped over him. We both fell, I thought it was a foul,’’ Chandler said. “I was already frustrated with the way the game was going.’’