What a mess!
DERRICK Rose was not at the Knicks game Monday night and indications were Rose was in Chicago, dealing with a family matter, but the communication between Rose and the team went about as well as his passing to teammates. It didn’t happen. The Knicks didn’t really show up, either.
After their humiliating 110-96 loss to the Pelicans at the Garden — the Knicks’ eighth loss in their last nine games — Joakim Noah was the only player who had spoken to the missing guard. Rose was at the morning shootaround but did not show up to the game and did not contact the Knicks before game time.
There was concern in his voice when Noah said: “I don’t really want to talk too much about it because I really don’t know what the situation is.
“I’m just happy that everything is OK with him. He’s OK. I think it’s a relief for all of us. I spoke to him after the game.’’
OK, but what about the mess the Knicks are in with or without Rose, who is on a one-year deal that could end quickly?
Phil Jackson, the orchestrator of this mess, sat in his usual perch at mid-court and once again did not talk to the media as his team burned to the ground and somehow lost its point guard.
This Knicks season is one huge embarrassment, and Jackson has to be held accountable for his players’ disgraceful play. If Jackson is not able to turn this around, he should go home.
This simply can’t go on. Jackson has to start providing answers about his struggling, defenseless team.
He has created a Triangle of Losing.
Now that the Giants season is over, following their dreadful loss in Green Bay, there is nowhere for the Knicks to hide in the glare of the winter spotlight in New York.
There is nowhere for Jackson to hide. This is on him.
Jeff Hornacek said he did not want to go into the Rose situation, saying, “Everything will become clear later on. We want to respect whatever he is going through. We don’t have enough information to really comment on anything.’’
He would not elaborate further. No information, no anything.
On the floor, it’s only getting worse for the Knicks.
This was a despicable effort in every way, and clearly the Knicks were thrown off their game by Rose not being there and genuine concern for their teammate.
This is rapidly becoming a season on the brink, and on this night, it went off the rails as the Knicks were annihilated by the great Anthony Davis and the Pelicans with Davis pouring in 40 points in only 29 minutes of play.
The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers as the Knicks refused to guard the 3-point line, a most disturbing trend.
New Orleans came into the game 26th in offensive efficiency in the NBA but feasted on the Knicks’ deplorable defense, and the sellout crowd was furious with the Knicks’ performance and effort.
The night also featured Carmelo Anthony getting ejected in the third quarter, when the Knicks were trailing 82-63.
It happened during a timeout, and the Garden was featuring an actor from “The Walking Dead’’ on the scoreboard, so no one really noticed Anthony was ejected until Melo was on his way off the court.
The Walking Dead best describes the Knicks and their season.
Rose was benched in the fourth quarter Friday night, but Hornacek said that had nothing to do with the situation Monday. Anthony was not available to the media after the game. So, who knows what he was thinking about this mess?
Kyle O’Quinn also was ejected for a Flagrant Foul 2 on Davis 79 seconds after Anthony was sent packing. The loss dropped the Knicks to 17-21. The Pelicans are 15-24.
The Knicks are getting worse by the day.
“Everybody is frustrated,’’ Noah said. “It’s embarrassing to lose at home like this. Everybody is frustrated. Everybody should be frustrated.’’
That should go double and triple for Jackson, the architect of this debacle.
The Knicks and Phantom Phil have nowhere to hide.