No one needs a win more than the New York Knicks right now. The team has reached a losing streak of 12 games while dropping their last 22 of 23 games overall. Five of those games were lost by an average of 18.8 points. They are the only team to have two losing streaks this season reach double digits. They are officially the worst team in the NBA. After making trades that signify tanking, the Knicks must get some competitive energy as they prepare to play the Washington Wizards on the road.
It is unclear just how many bodies the Knick will have for this game. Iman Shumpert, JR Smith and Samuel Dalembert are no longer on the roster following a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers and a release from the team. Carmelo Anthony may or may not be healthy as he continues to sit due to knee soreness. Andrea Bargnani has been dealing with hamstring problems. Amar'e Stoudemire is expected to miss his seventh game with a knee injury. It certainly does not look like anyone is in a rush for get back on the court.
In the trades of Shumpert and Smith, New York received Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and Lance Thomas. There is a chance that all three players could be waived at this point. The loss of Shumpert and Smith should hurt too bad. Shumpert has been out with a shoulder injury while Smith had been averaging 18.5 points per game.
The Wizards are in a much better place right now. The team was in the midst of a three-game losing streak before beating New Orleans. The teams defense was slumping allowing an average of 106.8 points per game, but bounced back against the Pelicans. John Wall put up 15 points and 12 assists in the win. The two teams saw each other on Christmas Day where the Wizards got the win after a fight broke out between Quincy Acy and Wall. The Wizards have limited the Knicks to just 90.6 points per game during a five-game win streak over the team.
