Knicks fans can empathize with Carmelo Anthony’s recent bouts with migraines. The team has caused many of its supporters severe headaches this season, with an abundance of losses and seemingly unending transition.
Anthony missed Sunday’s game versus the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden because of residual effects of a migraine. The throbbing pain emerged Saturday night in Washington, while the Knicks were playing the Wizards in what was the final game of a long and arduous 12-day, six-game road trip. The Knicks went 2-4 during that period and entered their 72nd game of the regular season in Chicago last night (Wednesday) versus the Bulls 28-43.
With 10 more games remaining, including a rematch against the Bulls tonight at the Garden and their final game this season versus LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, also at MSG, a cup half full viewpoint is the Knicks have already exceeded last season’s win total—17—by 11 games. But that would be assessing the past 11 months through rose-colored glasses.
As they approach the official end of their schedule, it’s undebatable the Knicks have only taken a miniscule step forward, if any progress has been made at all. In essence, the finality began on Jan. 22 and concluded on Feb. 24, during which they lost 13 of 15 games, and team president Phil Jackson fired former coach Derek Fisher.
At the time, Jackson surmised that the team wasn’t “connected” and issued the mandate, “It’s time for us to make a change, turn this team around and move forward and get some wins and keep going down the road we started here at the beginning of the year.” Unfortunately, Jackson’s words never manifested.
One indicator of growth is stability, a litmus test the Knicks continue to fail. And much more change is sure to come this summer. It’s necessary if the franchise is going to conclusively become a playoff contender. The long-term goal is to evolve into a championship candidate, a reality that Anthony is never likely to experience while in a Knicks uniform.
Despite having arguably his best all-around season in leading his team in points (21.8), rebounds (8.0) and assists (4.2), it’s been another frustrating year for the 31-year-old star.