Where to start with the lowly New York Knicks? While we’re talking about a team that was expected to do little in its first season of the Phil Jackson era, few expected the Knicks to be this bad. New York has managed just five wins through 27 games. Rumors of a fire sale are starting to swirl, and it seems like only a matter of time before the team is blown to smithereens.
But fire sale aside, there are more troublesome rumors brewing in New York when it comes to Carmelo Anthony.
It’s no secret at this point that the Knicks’ franchise player has been battling injuries all season long. First there was talk about a back issue, but as of late the conversation has centered around a bum knee. Surgery could be in Melo’s future, or possibly extended time on the shelf.
Here’s what Anthony told Newsday on the topic of his health:
“I’ve had multiple people say kind of just shut it down or just take time off. At the end of the day it’s hard for me to just do that right now with what’s happening with the team. So I’m just trying to be smart about it… I don’t know, man. I take some days off, some days it feels like I can go. Some days it feels like I have everything. The other day it was sore in the first half. I didn’t have no lift on my shot. In the second half my lift came back a little bit. It’s going to be off and on like that.”
If you’re a Knicks fan, there’s nothing at all encouraging about those comments. Clearly, Melo is battling just to stay on the court at this point.
The real question — why? What is there to gain?
If New York was a team trying to make its way up the ranks in the East, then maybe you can make a case for Melo toughing it out. But on a five-win team that’s set to be demolished and reconstructed — what’s the point? Why risk further injury?
Anthony should heed the advice he’s been given and shut things down for a while. Maybe by the time he’s feeling better, he’ll actually have a clear picture of what the future in New York looks like.
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