Amare Stoudemire Rips New York Knicks Teammates Effort As ‘Unacceptable’

No one probably told Phil Jackson there would be days like this when he took over as the face of the New York Knicks and president of basketball operations less than a season ago.

Mired in the depths of a three-game losing streak and 4-13 start, the Knicks appear to be turning on each other, with veteran forward Amare Stoudemire labeling his teammates efforts in their 105-78 Friday night loss to Oklahoma City “unacceptable.”

And Stoudemire didn’t pipe down there, adding he thought the courage and desire the Knicks showed was lacking on all fronts.

“They played like they wanted it more,’’ Stoudemire said. “At this point, I don’t see how a team wants it more than we do. It’s unacceptable. We should be in desperation mode. We’re a team that’s fighting for a win. Right now we got to have a higher sense of urgency and more enthused and mentally involved.’’

The Knicks were without All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony (back spasms) and the Thunder welcomed back Russell Westbrook, out since the second game of the season with a broken hand. The difference showed for both teams.

Westbrook finished with 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in under 24 minutes, while the Knicks offense sputtered to the team’s largest margin of defeat all season.

“[Oklahoma City] came out with a lot of energy and it seems as if we got taken back by that,’’ Stoudemire said. “We have to have a lion’s heart and can’t be afraid of teams coming out and playing with that type of aggressiveness. We have to retaliate.”

In just 25 minutes, Stoudemire came off the bench to lead the Knicks with 20 points and nine rebounds.

“It’s intensity level at this point,’’ he said. “The learning process is there. We can’t keep saying we’re learning. Teams want it more than we do. We can’t say we’re still learning. We can’t say we had an off night shooting. That happens, but you can still win the ballgame with defense. We have to become students of the game and become masters of our craft.’’

[Photo Credit: Keith Allison]

Amare Stoudemire Rips New York Knicks Teammates Effort As ‘Unacceptable’