By Art Stapleton, The Record (Hackensack N.J.) –
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony was the first one to hear the booing from the home fans and the game had not even started.
Mike D’Antoni was targeted last by the Madison Square Garden crowd, which broke out the seldom-heard “Fire D’Antoni” chants — at least this season — with the oft-criticized coach’s team trailing by 10 points with a little more than a minute to play in Sunday’s 106-94 loss to the Atlantic Division-leading 76ers, a debacle of a defeat in so many ways.
What the Knicks failed to do in between was more than enough to warrant plenty of criticism following another game that was supposed to test their championship mettle, only to once again reveal just how flawed they still are.
After having their losing streak extended to five games heading into tonight’s apparent mismatch against Eastern Conference leader Chicago, the locker room message board was wiped clean — save for four chemistry-building phrases representing the components that allegedly would turn D’Antoni’s team into a winner eventually.
Play Together. Play Hard. Play Smart. Have Fun.
The Knicks (18-23) came up empty on all those fronts once again, leading co-captain Amar’e Stoudemire to question their desire to compete with the league’s best, not to mention their appreciation for the urgency needed to succeed as the season reaches its most critical juncture.
“I think we could’ve put up a better fight,” Stoudemire said. “We’ve got to do a better job of knowing the importance of games. This was a big game for us, a conference and divisional team, and we’ve got to do a better job of really going after it.”
The 76ers (25-17) went out and proved they are everything the Knicks aren’t.
They played together. They played hard. They played smart. They had a lot of fun.
They treated Sunday like it was not just another game in the midst of a 66-game, lockout-shortened NBA season.
For the seventh consecutive game, the Knicks trailed by at least 15 points or more.
Anthony and Stoudemire started the fourth quarter on the bench with their team down 16 points and that’s where they stayed, towels draped on their heads and on their shoulders as starters Tyson Chandler, Landry Fields and Jeremy Lin finished the game with Steve Novak and J.R. Smith.
Anthony, Stoudemire and D’Antoni said the decision was not considered a benching; and while both players said they did not take not going back in personally, Anthony paused before saying: “Uh, no I was fine. I guess he was saving me for tomorrow’s game.”
The Knicks trailed 51-49 at halftime before completely falling apart in the third quarter during which they surrendered a staggering 38 points, and in a variety of ways.
“We hit a snag and we seemed to wither, and for whatever reason we haven’t overcome any kind of obstacles,” D’Antoni said. “… We were down 2 and the world was caving in.”
Jeremy Lin was the shakiest he has been against an opponent not named the Miami Heat. Anthony came out strong and scored 12 points in the first quarter, but finished with 22 to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.
The 76ers took advantage of the Knicks’ lackadaisical defense – even with the return of stalwart Tyson Chandler — with numerous run-outs into transition that resulted in dunks. Twice in the first quarter Andre Iguodala threw down fast break slams with a jogging Anthony in his wake and with Stoudemire having not crossed half court.
“When you get your rear kicked like we are, you can’t just come out and say it’s this or it’s that,” D’Antoni said. “Collectively, we just didn’t play well. And collectively, our spirit’s not good. Collectively, our defense is not very good at all. Collectively, we just didn’t do what we were supposed to do.”
