Carmelo Anthony’s Injury a Mystery to NY Knicks

That’s the eight-figure question currently plaguing the New York Knicks. We know it has something to do with his knees and fluid, but how serious is it? Should he even have returned against the Golden State Warriors? Is there something else at play here?

We can’t answer any of those questions. And per Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, neither can the Knicks or Melo:

But he also dropped a little bombshell beforehand when asked what the team doctors had finally determined was causing fluid to build up on the knee, resulting in stiffness in the leg.

“Nobody can really give me an exact answer,’’ he said.

Uh-oh. When a player admits that, he needs a second opinion, post haste. Why Anthony hasn’t gone that route is a mystery.

Not knowing what’s wrong with the knee has to be pretty alarming. It also follows that he really can’t say, at this juncture, that he’s home free. Which, he did.

“No surgery,’’ he said, defiantly. “None of that.’’

Anthony’s defiance is both admirable and slightly ignorant. If he truly doesn’t know what’s wrong with his knee though, then he needs to get a second opinion. Like now.

His commitment to playing is, again, encouraging, but operating on an unhealthy set of legs leaves the door open for a foray of things to go wrong. Which the Knicks simply can’t have. Not with Amar’e Stoudemire likely done for the rest of the season. Not as they attempt to make a legitimate postseason push (for once). And most certainly not when they’re destined to go only as far as Anthony can carry them.

Could Melo’s second opinion turn up bad news? Could the unthinkable happen and he be relegated to the sidelines for the rest of the season?

Absolutely, though I doubt it. This could be something, but it also could be nothing. The Knicks and Melo just need to find out so they know what they’re dealing with.

If it hasn’t crossed your mind yet that Melo and the Knicks are simply being evasive, and that they actually know what’s going on, you’re unfamiliar with the inner workings of this franchise. New York is notorious for divulging very little. The Knicks listed Jeremy Lin as day-to-day only last year when his injury was season-threatening and they’ve played this whole Stoudemire debacle close to the hip as well.

In this situation, I’d like to think that the Knicks are being transparent. But that’s hardly comforting, because if they are, then everyone involved honestly knows nothing. And knowing “nothing” isn’t going to win any playoff games, and it’s going to spur conjecture. Especially after Melo’s performance against the Warriors.

Anthony shot 4-of-15 from the field for 14 points. He did grab 10 rebounds, but he simply wasn’t moving as freely or effectively. He clearly doesn’t have his legs back.

While regaining his form could be a matter of playing through some rust, his injury could also be playing a role. He logged 34 minutes against Golden State, but who’s to say that’s okay?

New York needs to shed some light on Anthony’s situation. Not just for us, but for Melo’s well-being. For this team.

And in the name of knowing what the Knicks are to do next.