Carmelo Anthony is blind.
You knew he was frustrated, what with the New York Knicks losing at warped paces. You knew he was probably even hardened, deadened to the fact that the Knicks are this listless and browbeaten one season after winning 54 games. But I bet you didn’t know he was blind to the future.
Following New York’s 109-90 loss to the Chicago Bulls Sunday afternoon, Anthony offered a depressing take on the Knicks’ present and future, via the New York Daily News‘ Frank Isola :
“I can’t even see next year,” Anthony said. “(Shoot), I can’t even see tomorrow right at this point, man. It’s hard for me to focus on (free agency) while going through this journey right now. I’m just trying to stay with it, stay focused, stay positive throughout this situation. But anything you care about, it becomes frustrating at times. Right now is definitely becoming frustrating.”
Not only can Anthony not see next year, he can’t even see tomorrow. That’s how you know it’s bad. Horrendously awful, even.
Now 18 games under .500 and fading fast, the Knicks’ 2013-14 campaign is on life support. Playoffs are not out of the question mathematically, but one look at New York’s defense and fluctuating offensive efforts suggests they are.
In order to clinch a postseason berth, the Knicks must leapfrog three of the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks. Though they’re six games back with 23 to play, do you honestly expect that to happen? All four of those teams are currently mired in losing stretches. If the Knicks were going to gain ground, now would have been the time to do it.
Instead, the Knicks have lost six straight and seven of eight since the All-Star break. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence. More importantly, it’s clearly impacting Anthony.
I’ll maintain he goes nowhere. Other options don’t abound if Anthony wants to play for a contender in a big market. They may not even exist.
Talk of him going to the Miami Heat should die right now. The Los Angeles Lakers are a possibility, but with an aging and injured Kobe Bryant, they seem like a long shot. If the Bulls manage to dump Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Taj Gibson, they become an option, but you have to wonder how much they’re willing to do that. You also have to wonder why Anthony, knowing what happened with Amar’e Stoudemire, would leave New York to play with Derrick Rose.
But we won’t know anything until this season is over, and maybe not even then. Anthony is bound to give the Knicks time to sell him on their future and/or make moves leading into free agency. If he likes what he hears/sees, this becomes a non-issue.
We also have to remember there’s a reason free agency doesn’t take place midseason. Perhaps after ‘Melo has had time to simmer down and watch some other team win the NBA Finals, he won’t be so brokenhearted.
Or, you know, maybe not, in which case, the Knicks better start formulating Plans B through Z.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
