Knicks’ dysfunction
The first sign that the Knicks weren’t going to have a good night manifested itself during head coach Jeff Hornacek’s pregame briefing. In his roster update, he told scribes that small forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas would not be suiting up due to illness; he didn’t mention any other names. Ninety minutes before tip-off, he submitted a starting lineup that consisted of the usual suspects. About an hour later, it became apparent that point guard Derrick Rose would not be among the First Five; he was, simply put, nowhere to be found, and attempts to contact or reach him proved futile.
And so the Knicks began yesterday’s homestand against the Pelicans with substitute Brandon Jennings at the one spot. The good news was that he acquitted himself well from the get-go. The bad news was that just about everybody else looked unprepared for the set-to. Halfway through the second quarter, the negative effects of the tightened rotation in light of Rose’s absence began to show. And near the end of the third, the proverbial dam burst; top dog Carmelo Anthony was ejected after incurring two technical in the middle of a timeout for excessive arguing with officials, and reserve center Kyle O’Quinn likewise got sent to the showers following a flagrant 2 foul on three-time All- Star Anthony Davis.
By the time the Knicks evidently lost their marbles, they had already lost the match, never mind that there was still a full quarter and change to go. Whatever issues they had off the court aggravated their frailties on it, and, frustrated by their poor effort amid the physical play of the Pelicans, they saw their lack of composure getting the better of them. Meanwhile, Rose continued to be unaccounted for.
In his post- mortem, Hornacek noted that the Knicks remained in the dark regarding Rose’s whereabouts, but that “everything will be clear later on.” He refused to comment sans additional information, but not a few pundits wondered if the 2011 league Most Valuable Player awardee went AWOL in reaction to fourth-quarter benchings in the last two contests. Which is not to say he didn’t have cause to keep the former Bull on the pine. In the payoff period of the first of home-and-home encounters against the Bucks early last week, the latter shot just one of seven and committed three turnovers, including the one that set up Giannis Antetokounmpo’s winning jumper at the buzzer. The next outing, he had to give way to undrafted Ron Baker, who put up an outstanding showing in the crunch. And after that, there was no reason for him to burn rubber, what with the blue and orange already on the wrong end of a blowout.
Perhaps Hornacek is right. Rose may well have a valid excuse for being MIA yesterday. Nonetheless, all and sundry can see the extent of the Knicks’ dysfunction. They have talent, but spread unevenly, and no matter how much Anthony has moved to become a more all-around player, he is hard-pressed to squeeze water from stone. Which is too bad, really. Early in the season, they looked ready for the playoffs; now, they’re 11th in the East, with their two victories over their last 10 outings indicating the possibility of a prolonged swoon. There’s still time for them to improve, but whether they’re so inclined, and by how much, are subject to guesswork.
Rose may well have a valid excuse for being MIA yesterday. Nonetheless, all and sundry can see the extent of the Knicks’ dysfunction. They have talent, but spread unevenly, and no matter how much Anthony has moved to become a more all-around player, he is hard-pressed to squeeze water from stone. Which is too bad, really.