New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson is upset, and not just because his team is off to a horrible start. Players complained in post-game interviews about a “lack of ball movement”–considered an indirect slight at star Carmelo Anthony– which is the first sign of a fractured team.
And Woodson is not having it.
So, Woodson, according to reports, showed the post-game press tapes to his players and told them: “If you have a problem with anyone, say it to their face, not the media.”
According to Frank Isola of the NY Daily News:
That was clear before Tuesday’s practice on the UCLA campus when Woodson admonished his team for comments that appeared to blame Monday’s loss to Portland on Carmelo Anthony. In separate post-game interviews, both Shumpert and Stoudemire said the lack of ball movement is what hurt the Knicks.
That is usually basketball code for “Melo won’t pass.” Woodson and Anthony seemed to take it that way, and the head coach wasn’t about to allow finger-pointing to invade his locker room.
According to a source, Woodson actually played MSG Network’s tape of Shumpert’s and Stoudemire’s comments and told his team, “If you have a problem with anyone, say it to their face, not the media.” That’s leadership.
The Knicks has been winless in the last five road games and haven’t won since Nov. 13 at Atlanta. They are 2-5 away from Madison Square Garden and last lost eight in a row overall Feb. 5-23, 2009.
