Carmelo: Without Fisher 'this probably would've crumbled already'

It's safe to say that 2014 didn't go as planned for the New York Knicks.

Under first-year head coach Derek Fisher, the Knicks have struggled their way to a 5-29 start, leaving them just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record in the NBA.

While the situation is gloomy, it could be worse. At least that's the opinion held by star forward Carmelo Anthony. After New York's 99-78 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday - the Knicks' ninth straight loss and 19th in the last 20 games - Anthony spoke up on behalf of his coach, saying things would be even more dire with someone else at the helm.

"I think if it was anybody else in his position, I think this probably would've crumbled already," Anthony said following the loss, as reported by Ramona Shelburne from ESPN. "I think he's doing a great job of keeping everybody focused on the task at hand and believing in what we're trying to do."

The goal in New York for 2015 will be to work towards a playoff berth, but with the Knicks currently sitting 9½ games behind the Miami Heat for eighth in the east, they will certainly have their work cut out for them.

Anthony, averaging 23.9 points and 6.6 boards, knows this and realizes the team will have to cut into the gap bit by bit.

"I don't really like doing the New Year's resolution, but I just want 2015 to be better than 2014," Anthony said. "We've got to find a win. We can't be thinking about the turnaround. We've got to find a win first and see what happens from there."