Knicks currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson has conceded that this season has been “kind of a disaster” as his team continue to struggle to move into the playoff spots.
The Knicks fell to 11-17 at home after Wednesday night’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, which also saw them slip to 19-30 overall as they remain two-and-a-half games out of the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
“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 in an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show.”
“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.”
Owner James Dolan reportedly told staff prior to the campaign starting that he expected the franchise to compete for a championship this season, after last year saw them build foundations with a run to the second-round of the post-season.
However, changes in the roster and a general drop in performance has seen the Knicks struggle throughout the year thus far, and speculation continues to suggest that Woodson’s job is on the line ahead of the trade deadline on February 20.
Woodson was keen to insist that he can’t afford to be concerned with his future and his focus is purely on improving the team and getting them in the best possible shape and form to make the playoffs.
While players have at times appeared to have questioned him when speaking to the media this season, J.R. Smith was in full support of his beleaguered coach and insists that it is up to the players to take some of the heat off of Woodson and start performing to the level that they know they are capable of.
Woodson added that he “loves” coaching the Knicks and he remains just as focused on helping them end the franchise’s 40-year wait for a championship.
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