Just six games into the season, New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson readily admits he's already looking for ways to save his sagging team's season.
According to ESPN, Woodson is considering lineup changes that would vault reigning Sixth Man of the Year Award winner J.R. Smith into the team's starting lineup. After owner James Dolan publicly declared he feels his team's roster is good enough to win a title this season, the Knicks have struggled to a 2-4 start and recently learned that All-Star center Tyson Chandler will be sidelined at least six weeks with a right leg injury.
"Right now I'm searching to try to get a unit that starts the game on a good note," Woodson told ESPN. With that in mind, Woodson added he is also considering inserting veteran forward Metta World Peace back into the lineup.
The Knicks have trailed by double digits in the first quarter of three of their last four games. They trailed by 18 in the opening quarter of their 31-point home loss to San Antonio on Sunday. With Chandler out, the Knicks have recently relied on a two-guard lineup featuring Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni. In season debut following a five-game drug suspension, Smith missed eight of nine shots against the Spurs.
"We've just got to get a solid game plan together where I know what I can expect from my players when they step out on that floor," said Woodson said. "I'm trying to get a good rotation down and I've had some struggles with that. I haven't found the rotations that I want yet. So I'm going to keep working my butt off to get us where we need to be, and then guys gotta step up and play."
If Woodson elects to start World Peace, the veteran forward may start at small forward with Anthony at power forward and Andrea Bargnani at center.
While big-ticket off season acquisition Andrea Bargnani has excelled on offense in Chandler's absence, his defense has proven to be a liability and he snared just one rebound in nearly 30 minutes against the Spurs.
"We'll see," Woodson said. "I'll tinker with it a little on Wednesday."
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