Isola: Knicks not helping Carmelo Anthony's migraine

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Carmelo Anthony’s head is spinning and with the most recent state of the Knicks you could understand why.

Carmelo Anthony made the long, slow walk from the locker room to the loading dock earlier than usual on Sunday, his work day cut short one hour before tip-off due to a migraine headache.

We’ll let you play doctor and figure out the source of Melo’s pain but chances are it has something to do with having an allergic reaction to three consecutive losing seasons and zero playoff games.

“I know Melo wants to win,” says Sacramento head coach George Karl. “I’ve seen a winning Melo over the last two years. I’ve seen him sacrifice his game to try to figure out the team. I told someone at the beginning of this year, the way he was playing was the best I think I’ve ever seen him play as a team (player).”

Karl speaks from experience, having coached and butted heads with a younger Anthony in Denver. They also had pretty good success together, making the playoffs every year including a trip to the Western Conference finals.

But now, Anthony is suddenly associated with losing, something the Knicks do as well as any team not named the Philadelphia 76ers. Phil Jackson’s team, coming off a franchise-worst 17 wins last season, fell to 28-43 after losing 88-80 to the Kings in the Dysfunctional Bowl. The Knicks are 0-8 without Anthony.

“Even when I had Melo, he could do anything on the court,” Karl said. “If you challenge to get 20 rebounds, I think he can get 20 rebounds. If you challenge to get 10 assists tonight, I think you’d get 10 assists tonight. If you challenge Melo to get four steals tonight, I think he’d get four steals tonight. He has a skill level that has very few weaknesses; it’s just how he puts the package together.

“I just know right now, just kind of looking at his body language, he wants to win.”

Karl is waging his own battles: with upper management, with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins and, of course, with throat cancer. Karl may forever be a coaching lifer but he looks at his job and the losses differently now because of his health issues.

Five years after last coaching Anthony, Karl has a greater appreciation of the player he once had. And Carmelo should appreciate what he had in Denver: a young and talented supporting cast plus an offensive system he embraced.

New York Daily News

Anthony’s time with the Knicks has been one giant headache.

Anthony has been more outspoken about the direction of the franchise ever since having that sit down with Jackson in, of all places, Denver. He made it clear that the “ball is in (Jackson’s) court” regarding free agency and didn’t sound overly optimistic that Jackson would hit a home run in July.

Anthony later dumped ice cold water on Jackson’s choice to be the Knicks’ next head coach, Kurt Rambis, by rightfully saying that Jackson should consider a coaching search.

Last Friday, Anthony admitted that he didn’t know what the future holds for him in New York, raising more questions about whether he will seek a trade this summer.

On Sunday, Jackson was back in his usual seat while Garden chairman James Dolan, back from serving as the warm-up act for the singer Jewel, was seated on the baseline adjacent to the Knicks bench. Eventually, Dolan and Anthony will discuss the state of the Knicks. Maybe Jackson will even be included in those talks.

There are a lot of issues to address: the next head coach, free agency and Carmelo’s no-trade clause. You know, some of the things causing those migraines.

But those conversations will have to wait as Anthony took a sick day. His slow, almost sad exit on Sunday was reminiscent of the walk Patrick Ewing would make — with reporters tailing him — after a tough playoff loss. These days, the Knicks season becomes meaningless in March and ends in April.

It’s one giant recurring headache.

“That’s not where the good player wants to be,” Karl said. “He doesn’t want the season to be over April 15th.” 

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