PUBLIC DEFENDER
Lee: Hornacek not to blame for Knicks’ ‘roller-coaster’ season
A combative Courtney Lee fiercely defended Jeff Hornacek’s performance with the coach’s stint possibly down to its final four games.
Lee called the season “a roller coaster,’’ but said the ride’s conductor is not to be blamed. Instead, Lee said the Knicks’ downfall was because of injuries to their top two guns: Tim Hardaway Jr. (stress fracture) and Kristaps Porzingis (torn ACL).
The 32-year-old shooting guard believes Hornacek did a better job this season than last, when he was constricted with blending his modern-day offense with Phil Jackson’s triangle. The Knicks topped out on Dec. 21, beating the Celtics to move to 17-14.
They have gone 10-37 since, have already tied last season’s loss total (51) and bring a 27-51 record into their game against the Heat on Friday.
“Yeah, man, 100 percent,’’ Lee said of Hornacek stepping up this season. “You got to realize, we were on a run early on, we hit adversity and you can’t blame anybody for that. Injuries happen. That’s the world we live in today. We have to blame somebody, right? You can’t control that.”
When told a lot of fans blame Hornacek, Lee got testy.
“For what, injuries?’’ Lee said. “For Tim having a stress fracture? For KP going down? How you blame coach for that? That’s a question for you. Can you answer that on the record?”
Hardaway missed 20 games from early December to mid-January and Porzingis was lost for the season Feb. 6.
Lee asked reporters several times to answer his query on how a coach can be blamed for those injuries. The responses were a lot of coaches deal with injuries and adjustments are made. Lee wasn’t buying it. “No, I’m asking you a question,’’ Lee said. “You ask me all these questions, can I get an answer?”
There really are no answers for these Knicks, who go into next season in disarray because of Porzingis’ uncertain timetable. Sources have indicated the earliest he will be back is around Christmas.
Meanwhile, Hornacek twists in the wind and president Steve Mills’ silence is deafening. The Knicks brass has said Hornacek’s job performance would be evaluated as the season wore on — with just one season left on his contract.
Could the players’ unquestioned loyalty could be compromised under those conditions?
“That’s a question you got to ask Jeff,’’ Lee said. “I don’t know. I’m not a coach. As far as us, our job is to come here and stay professionals, be coachable, come in and do your work and listen and go out there and compete.”
Since the All-Star break, when the Knicks faded from the playoff race, Hornacek has been the good soldier and banished his veteran starting point guard, Jarrett Jack, to audition the three 25-and-under point guards for a future he may not be part of.
As Hornacek talks about a bright future, his loyalty does not look like it will be rewarded.
NBA officials are convinced Mills and Perry will look to bring in their own guy. There’s no shortage of potential candidates — Mark Jackson, Dave Fizdale, Doc Rivers, Jason Kidd, Jerry Stackhouse and David Blatt have all been mentioned in the speculation.
“That’s part of the NBA,’’ Lee said of the coach’s uncertainty. “Trade deadline, everybody is in trade talks, everybody is in free-agent talks. You got to go about your business. You can’t let that distract you and that’s the same thing for [coaches]. They hear the talk. You still have to go about your job so it’s all the same. It’s all about being professional.”
Lee’s long-term contract is also one Knicks officials has considered dealing as they attempt to open as much cap space as possible for 2019. He will make $12.2 million next season and $12.9 million in 2019-20.
The Knicks have a plethora of shooting guards, especially now that the team is experimenting with Frank Ntilikina there. Hardaway, Ron Baker and rookie Damyean Dotson are also shooting guards.
“I can’t pay attention to that,’’ Lee said. “If I worried about every story that was written then I’d drive myself crazy. … Of course, I would like to stay put. But you understand this is a business. All I can control is what I can control. And that’s showing up here and being a professional and continuing to do the things I’ve been doing encouraging and helping the young guys.”