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Carmelo Anthony: Knicks would 'crumble' without Derek Fisher

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony says the team would have 'crumbled' without head coach Derek Fisher.
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The New York Knicks are 5-29 and have lost nine in a row after Wednesday’s 99-78 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but forward Carmelo Anthony insists that the team would be nowhere without the guidance of first-year head coach Derek Fisher.

Anthony thinks no one could have come in and done the job after Mike Woodson was fired at the end of last season. 

"I think if it was anybody else in his position, I think this probably would've crumbled already," Anthony said to ESPN.com. "I think he's doing a great job of keeping everybody focused on the task at hand and believing in what we're trying to do."

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Anthony scored 19 points in the loss to the Clippers and remains optimistic that things will turn around in the new year. The Knicks have only won once in the past 37 days, scoring a victory on Dec. 12 over the Boston Celtics.

Anthony also talked about dealing with a sore left knee and says that he has considered shutting it down if the pain does not subside.

"I'm playing because I love to play and I want to play,” Anthony said. “I know what I can tolerate and what I can't tolerate. The games I feel like I can't tolerate it, I'm not going to play.”

Anthony and the Knicks will try to end their losing streak on Friday at home against the Detroit Pistons.

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