The New York Knicks have lost three games in a row and slipped to 11-17 at home with their latest loss while they are also stuck in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, leading to Mike Woodson calling the season "a disaster" as his job status is questioned from day-to-day.
"This year has been, for me, it's been kind of a disaster from a coaching standpoint in trying to get players to compete and play at a high level," Woodson said via ESPN. "That's the frustrating part about it, because I know we're better than what we've shown and we've still got a chance"
The Knicks lost to the Trailblazers Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden by the score of 94-90, adding to the frustration of the team's overall performance this season that has saw it fall to 19-30 on the year. The team sits 2.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks were expected to be competitive this year and even owner James Dolan said prior to the season that he thought they would be competing for a championship. However after a slow start and a rocky first 49 games, Mike Woodson's job status has been in question all season. The team's latest three-game drought only added to the speculation that Woodson will be replaced soon.
"I can't concern myself with that. I really can't," Woodson said via ESPN about the media writing about his job status. "It's been out there, it's buzzing. The media, they write it."
Woodson said he will try not to concern himself with what is written in publications.
"That's not my concern, he said per ESPN. "My concern is coming to work every day with my head held high, trying to figure out how I can get us out of this hole. It's not worrying about if I'm going to have a job tomorrow. I don't live my everyday life thinking about that. My job is thinking about X's and O's and trying to get guys to play at a high level and win games."
According to ESPN, Woodson's constant questioning of his players has drawn the ire of at least two of them, who reportedly went to Knicks management to complain following the Knicks' 103-80 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 20 after Woodson complained about the lack of effort.
The New York Daily News reported that Dolan took it one step further Wednesday night, meeting with Carmelo Anthony and at least one other player to reportedly talk about the state of the Knicks and whether or not the team should fire Woodson.
Woodson said that his goal is to still try and help the Knicks make a playoff push as they run towards the end of the season.
"At the end of the day, it's my job to get these players to play at a high level and win games," Woodson said, according to ESPN. "We've had our ups and downs in that area, but we're still fighting."
Woodson at least has one supporter as J.R. Smith said that he supports the coach.
"I think he's handling it well," the Knicks' guard told ESPN. "You know he's in a tough spot. I've played for a few coaches, and one thing about Coach Woodson, he puts everything on himself before anybody. He takes the blame, he takes all the heat and he doesn't mind it. That's what he wants. That's what he expects."
It's unknown what Woodson's future with the team holds, but if they keep on struggling and he keeps losing more and more players in the locker room, his days in New York could be numbered.
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