New York Knicks: Should Mike Woodson be tanking?

Dec 27, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson coaches against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks aren’t going anywhere. Their roster is bad. Their best player – Carmelo Anthony – may be gone after this season. The job is basically a step above babysitting thanks to J.R. Smith. So, who in their right mind, would want to continue to put themselves – head coaching wise – through this? Apparently, Mike Woodson.

Maybe.

Or maybe he’s just one step ahead of us – much like most opposing coaches are these days when the Knicks roll in.

Earlier this year (2014), the Knicks had put together a quick little five-game winning streak – things were looking up. New York had snuck into the No. 7 seed in the horrible Eastern Conference playoff picture and Melo was actually smiling. There was actually video evidence.

Fast forward seven days, and they are currently on a four-game losing streak, coming off a 23-point loss to their “rival” Brooklyn Nets. During that four-game losing streak, the Knicks are averaging an 18-point loss. How things can change so quickly.

One week.

As Mike Vaccaro of the NY Post put it: Hope to Humiliation.

"[NY Post]“I don’t want to believe that,” Carmelo Anthony said, when he was asked point-blank if the winning streak was the aberration, if the four-games-and-counting losing streak they’ll bring to Wednesday’s game against the Sixers isn’t what we should identify as the Real Knicks, especially as they hurtle into the second half of the season at 15-26.“I don’t want to accept that,” Anthony said. “I won’t accept that.”"

I actually feel for Melo. He actually believes that the Knicks can turn this season around. It’s over, in a way for this Knicks team. Their window has closed, if they even had a window.

But perhaps the most telling postgame comment after their embarrassing loss to the Nets on Monday night was by the team’s “defensive” leader. The team’s “heart” and “soul” – Tyson Chandler.

"“They out-schemed us,” Chandler said."

That’s as clear of a shot to Woodson as I ever seen. But what if it isn’t a shot. What if he’s speaking truth? What if Woodson is getting “out-schemed”?

Now this isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but what if Woodson is tanking? What if he’s purposely trying to get himself fired, before the real terror begins to unfold with this Knicks squad, or future squad?

Over the past few weeks there have been some really questionable decisions by Woodson, he’s gotten into a public feud with J.R. Smith and now Chandler – the team’s leader – is questioning his strategies.

Something fishy is already happening in New York, with the Knicks awful play, so why can’t the problem stem deeper? Or why can’t it not branch out to bigger problems?

Woodson isn’t going to be a part of the Knicks future, that’s pretty clear right now. So why are they dragging him through mud and making him try to handle this dumpster fire of a team.

Embrace the tank, Mike. Ride it.