The New York Knicks have won just five of their 30 games this season and have lost 15 of their last 16, prompting J.R. Smith to describe the season as a "nightmare."

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New York (5-25) sits in fourth place in the Atlantic Division and ahead of their Christmas Day matchup with the Washington Wizards (19-8), Smith was very open about his displeasure with the season.

"I mean it's a nightmare," Smith said in regard to the Knicks' 2014-15 campaign. "We just gotta wake up from it."

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The Knicks have lost five straight games heading into their Christmas matchup and Smith has missed seven games with a small tear in his plantar fascia, putting his status in doubt for the holiday matinee.

"I don't know yet, if they let me play," Smith said. "Just test it out day by day. If there's any pain, just take my time with it."

The Knicks are expected to have Amar'e Stoudemire (recovery day) back in the lineup for Thursday's game as he planned to practice Wednesday.

They likely won't have Smith back as he has experienced pain in his foot and recently had to wear a boot, but he did say he is feeling better.

"I definitely feel like it's getting better," Smith said. "It was at a stage where it wasn't getting better, it wasn't getting worse, it was just staying on the same level, so now it's gradually getting better."

Despite their woeful start, Smith and the Knicks remain optimistic as they're 8.5 games out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference, which is currently held by the rival Brooklyn Nets.

"We're still not far out of that last [playoff spot], out of the eight teams," said Smith. "We just gotta turn that switch on, whatever kind of switch it is, we gotta turn it on. Can't keep waiting. I mean to be 5-25, we had a lot of expectations coming in here. So to be in the situation we're in, it's a nightmare for me anyway."

Despite the optimism, New York is on its way to missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

The Knicks host the Wizards at Madison Square Garden at noon on Christmas Day.

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