New York Knicks Play The Blame Game In Philadelphia

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:13 p.m. ET

Fansided, Ed Easton Jr./FanSided via Hoops Habit

Time is beginning to run out on the New York Knicks' playoff hopes after dropping another close game in Philadelphia.

In a too familiar position this season, the New York Knicks found themselves in another close game with their division rivals.

The Philadelphia 76ers executed down the stretch to once again pull out a clutch 105-102 victory against the Knickerbockers, overcoming a double-digit deficit.

Carmelo Anthony's game-winning shot last weekend didn't carry over to Philadelphia last night as he couldn't convert this time around. The frustrating loss added more controversy to the locker room as Anthony spoke to reporters, subliminally criticizing head coach Jeff Hornacek's lack of adjustments during games.

"We play the same way throughout the course of the game, And when teams make adjustments we're still playing the same way as teams make those adjustments defensively."

The 10-time All-Star struggled all night, scoring 18 points on 5-of-18 shooting from the field. A very frustrated Anthony went on to break down the missed 14-foot fading jump shot from his viewpoint with the MSG Network crew on hand.

"I just got into my move quick, tried to get it up quick, It went in and out. But that was just the flow of the game for me. A lot of the shots were short."

.@carmeloanthony talks through the final seconds of #NYKvsPHI. #Knicks pic.twitter.com/TAwc90XRVL

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 4, 2017

As Anthony seemed to be focusing his attention on the coaching adjustments, starting point guard Derrick Rose put the blame squarely on his shoulders. Rose inexcusably missed a relatively easy layup in the final minute and immediately told MSG Network that the loss was on him.

"I missed a wide open layup. That's why we lost, I put this game on myself. I just missed a layup."

.@drose reflects on Friday's game against the Sixers. #NYKvsPHI #Knicks pic.twitter.com/lgUZQLYs7s

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 4, 2017

The loss was critical in the Knicks' quest for a playoff spot as it dropped their record to 25-37 — 4.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons for the final spot in the Eastern Conference. On the other side of the spectrum, New York is in an even better position to earn a top-10 pick in this summer's NBA Draft.

Anthony, however, in a quote in the New York Daily News, is not a fan of the "tanking" theory fans and media have been throwing at the team lately.

"I don't believe in tanking, As a player you always disagree with that. Because we're the ones who are out there and playing and trying to win basketball games. It's easier from the outside looking in from a fan's perspective to say, okay, just tank or just lose games.

"I don't know how you do that as a player, I don't know how you go into a game saying, 'Today we're going to try to lose this game or these next 15 games we're going to figure out ways to lose and tank the season and try to start thinking about draft picks.' That's a terrible way to think and I don't think no player in sports should think that."

Anthony's words of inspiration and hopefully better shooting performances may not be enough for the Knicks to surprise the league and capture the eighth seed.

The national television matchup with the heavily favored Golden State Warriors coming off back-to-back losses will challenge the team's true destiny this rocky season.