You're starting to notice how teams come into Madison Square Garden and play with this "house money" mentality. Where the opposing team feels like they have nothing to lose if they lose and at the same time enjoy beating the Knicks. Teams come in and let loose. Also, they know the Knicks are pressured for a win. They aren't afraid of the Knicks. And that's bad.
This game was a perfect game for the Knicks to start all over. It's a new month, against a young team, at home, on a Sunday, and they STILL couldn't put together a win.
In that fourth quarter, when they were up 88-82, during the time when Tim Hardaway Jr's was draining three-point shots, the Knicks should've put the chokehold on the Pelicans. That was when they had the win locked up, all they have to do was stick good defense for a couple of fucking minutes. Then they could've drain three-point shots and take a fifth-teen-point lead. Last year, when the Knicks got a nine-point lead in the 4th quarter, they would runaway with it.
Right now, the 3-13 Knickerbockers have no confidence. The swagger is gone, from last year. Last season they had this ora of confidence at home. Now they're 'hoping' for a win.
When Anthony Davis got hurt and wasn't playing anymore, I said: It's a definite win. And they still couldn't win without Davis? AT HOME!?
It's very frustrating. And you can see the frustration on the Knicks players faces; J.R Smith looked devastated when the game ended. At least the players feel the same way the fans do.
Carmelo Anthony doesn't look like he's having fun. He looks lifeless right now. You don't want to see your star player have no confidence, because -- even though they'll never say it -- the other players feed off the main player. When the Los Angeles Lakers are down, Kobe Bryant is vibrant. You don't see that with Anthony.
Pablo Prigioni needs to start over Raymond Felton. It's obvious that Prigioni brings a intangibility to the court and players. Like Mike Breen always says, good things happen when he's on the court. Prigioni also plays better defense than Felton.
WHAT NOW?:
Well, I won't be surprised if Mike Woodson is gone by tomorrow morning. Knicks need a change in leadership. They're lacking a dad, which is pathetic, because they should know how to turn it up.
Good thing is the Knicks schedule is easy -- but they won't make it seem that way.
