Courtney Lee apologized to the Knicks fans who showed up Monday at Madison Square Garden to watch the home team to roll over against the lowly Lakers in the boo-infested 121-107 defeat.
“Last night that effort was pretty bad, man,’’ Lee said. “I definitely got to apologize to the fans who spent hard-earned money to watch us play. We definitely didn’t show up to compete at the level we needed to win the game, especially in the situation we’re in.’’
A fuming Jeff Hornacek threatened a grinding practice for Tuesday, and Lee said it became “chippy’’ with “multiple flare-ups’’ during 80 minutes of nonstop scrimmages.
“Today was much-needed,’’ Lee said. “We got after it today. Guys were pushing each other. It got a little chippy. That’s what we needed.
“Multiple flareups, guys getting annoyed with each other. Guys being into guys. Guys voicing their opinions, but also competing against each other. Me trying to score on you, you trying to stop me.”
Hornacek, who ripped the team Monday night for their lack of pride and effort, was pleased about what he saw, saying the scrimmages got extra physical because few fouls are called in such sessions.
Knicks president Phil Jackson watched the practice with GM Steve Mills and top advisor Clarence Gaines, but the players said the Zen Master didn’t address the troops. Lee said the club didn’t need Jackson to give a speech.
“At this point, we don’t need any more pep talks,” Lee said. “We don’t need any more pats on the back. None of that stuff. It’s now or never if you don’t realize that as a player, you’re in the wrong sport and the wrong team. We need it now.’’
The Knicks defense was asleep against a young Lakers club that had lost 12 straight road games. The Lakers had their way in the paint as they built a 27-point lead in the second quarter, and the Knicks rotations were wretchedly slow.
“We had a lot more [effort] today than we did last night,’’ Hornacek said. “That’s good start. We got to do that in the game.
“Sometimes it takes a few practices to get them into that mentality of: ‘We got to go harder.’’’
When reporters were let into the gym, Carmelo Anthony was the only Knick not on the court still shooting. Anthony presumably didn’t want to discuss Wednesday’s meeting against the Clippers, who have talked to the Knicks about a deal. Hornacek said Anthony practiced.
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