Carmelo laments another playoff-free season: 'I don't know my role'

It's been evident for quite a while that the New York Knicks were headed toward a fourth-straight season without a playoff berth, and Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, the slight bit of hope remaining was officially squashed.

Losing 107-88 to the visiting Miami Heat, the Knicks (28-47) are now mathematically eliminated from postseason contention in the Eastern Conference.

While New York hopes to finish the campaign on somewhat of a high note, All-Star Carmelo Anthony just wants to figure out what purpose he serves on the hardwood.

"I don't even know my role. I don't know my role to be honest," Anthony said, according to The New York Times' Mike Vorkunov. "I'm just here to kind of help those guys and keep those guys positive and motivated. I get in where I fit in."

Anthony then added, "I see the writing on the wall. I see what it is. I see what they're trying to do and it's just me accepting that," according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "That's what puts me at peace. Just knowing and understanding how things work. I'm at peace with that."

Head coach Jeff Hornacek mentioned he still plans on giving his veterans minutes, although his younger talent will likely receive more.

"I don't think me going out there trying to score 30 and 40 every night and playing that way is going to help them (younger teammates) at this point," said Anthony, who finished with nine points on 12 shots in 28 minutes against Miami. "For them, it's just more about getting that experience - I said before, getting that experience - and letting them go out there and play through that right now."