New York Knicks players endured a bit of honesty on Tuesday (AEDT) when coach Jeff Hornacek questioned their effort after a 115-103 loss to the Magic.
MORE: REPORT: Dante Exum to miss more games with knee injury |
"I don't think our guys aren't trying. Maybe we're just not capable of it. I don't know," Hornacek said, via ESPN.com.
"That's what we're going to have to figure out. Maybe you have to play some of these other guys. We might have to mix the lineup up somehow."
In fairness, New York was without star forward Kristaps Porzingis for the second straight game because of an Achilles injury.
Yet, Hornacek's anger seems to have been boiling in recent games.
"I have to find someone to play some defence," Hornacek said.
"You can't come out beginning of the game — I think their first three or four baskets were 3-pointers. We've got to have better pride in that."
Entering Tuesday's game, the Magic were averaging just 99 points per game, and they played without shooting guard Evan Fournier because of a heel injury.
The defensive letdown caused the Knicks to lose their fifth straight game.
Porzingis is expected back Thursday (AEDT) against the Bucks to try to spark some life back into the Knicks.