New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks the ball over New York Knicks center Samuel Dalembert (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. The Pelicans won 104-93. AP
NEW ORLEANS, United States – If New York Knicks president Phil Jackson hoped calling out the team for a “loser’s mentality” would spark a quick turnaround, he was in for disappointment on Tuesday.
Tyreke Evans scored 27 points and the New Orleans Pelicans put together a strong fourth quarter to beat the Knicks 104-93, handing New York a ninth straight NBA defeat.
Evans netted eight points and Omer Asik had seven during a fourth quarter in which New Orleans out-scored New York 27-20.
Amare Stoudemire scored a season-high 26 points for New York, but Carmelo Anthony was held to a subdued 17 that included just two points in the final period.
The game came a day after Jackson told reporters he was “pretty disappointed” in the team’s record. Now 4-19, they are off to the worst start franchise history.
Jackson, a Hall of Famer who has won a record 13 NBA titles as a player and coach, was named president of the Knicks in March.
In June, Derek Fisher reunited with his old mentor as the team’s new head coach, saying he wanted to revive a championship culture in New York.
It’s been slow going, and Jackson said that while the Knicks have often been competitive in games “Right now we have a loser’s mentality because we’re not finishing games. We have to break through that zone.”
Even eccentric ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman weighed in on the Knicks on Tuesday, saying he felt for his former coach Jackson and denigrating Fisher’s coaching ability.
“I don’t know what’s up with that team,” Rodman said on a publicity trip to New York.
Contemplating Jackson’s comments, Anthony said he didn’t necessarily agree with the assessment, but he thought he understood what Jackson meant.
“When it comes to having a loser’s mentality,” Anthony said, “what I can take from that, I think when you lose games consistently the same way that we’re losing games, I think it’s easy to get accustomed to kind of trying not to lose rather than trying to win games.
“I think that’s where we’re at as a team right now.
“I don’t like to lose,” he added. “I know we don’t have a losing mentality. I just know that when you’re losing basketball games, it’s easier to figure out how not to lose than it is how to win games.”
RELATED STORIES
NBA: Sixers grab first win of season