Carmelo Anthony is down. He should be out.
The Knicks are going nowhere with this aching version of Melo. They need to rest him, get him right, get a true read on what he can do, on what kind of leader he truly can be. Then if this still doesn’t work, if there continues to be no progress, convince him a trade is best for the organization and start completely over from scratch.
That is the only way this season will not be a waste of time.
This is not working. And it was evident from Saturday’s 99-90 loss to the Suns at the Garden. The Knicks are passionless and clueless on how to win.
Anthony, who is battling back and knee soreness, spelled it all out with this most damning comment about his teammates.
“It’s the same thing that’s happening, game in and game out,’’ Anthony said. “I don’t know if we believe in ourselves at that moment that we can win the basketball game or have a chance to win the basketball game.’’
The problem is Phil Jackson & Co. can’t get an accurate read on how much of a physical and mental load Anthony can carry. That’s why they should consider shutting him down for an extended period to get him physically right and make judgments from there.
They are off to the worst start in franchise history at 5-24, and have the most losses in the NBA. They have nothing to lose and a better draft pick to gain.
In no way is this working.
“When a team makes a run, comes back, that kind of drains us as a team and we lose that momentum and we just lose it at that point in time,’’ Anthony said. “It don’t come down to the last five minutes of the game, it’s where we are mentally at that time.’’
Then this dagger: “We don’t believe in ourselves to be able to go down the stretch and win basketball games.
“If everybody don’t have that will to win the games down the stretch then as a team we are not going to get it done.’’
Asked how long can he put up with this losing, Anthony said, “As long as I have to.”
Will he ask himself if he wants to continue here?
“I won’t do that,’’ he answered quickly. “As long as I can go out there and play I always felt that any game that I am in we have a chance to win the basketball game.’’
He is the only Knick, apparently, who believes that.
The loss was the Knicks’ fourth straight and 14th in 15 games. They might be headed to nine straight losses with a game against the Pistons here on Jan. 2 being their next best chance of winning.
They could be staring at 19 losses over 20 games.
Anthony sat at the start of the fourth quarter. The Knicks missed their first six shots and turned the ball over. A one-point lead became a seven-point deficit before Anthony came back to hit an 11-footer.
The Suns guards destroyed the Knicks all game with penetration.
Still, the Knicks were within three with three minutes to go with Anthony on the floor, but were outscored 10-4 down the rest of the way. He had nothing left. The Knicks had nothing.
Before the game, Derek Fisher was asked what’s the worst thing about losing. His answer said it all.
“Other than losing,’’ he said. “It can contribute to the buildup of bad habits. I think it can impact your mindset if you allow it. Losing is just really information and how you process that information, the things you need to change in order to change it from losing to winning, do you want do those things.
“I think in our league, losing brings out the worst in people when it is just information and adversity that has the potential to bring out the best in you.’’
The losing is bringing out the worst in these Knicks.
Even with Melo on the floor, they don’t believe.