Struggling Anthony questions Knicks' confidence after latest loss

It's shaping up to be another disappointing season for the New York Knicks. 

The Knicks dropped their fourth game in a row Saturday, falling to 2-5 on the season after a 103-96 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. It's early, but things haven't started smoothly for a Knicks team coming off a 37-45 campaign, while learning to play in a new system, under a new coach. 

To make matters worse, Carmelo Anthony hasn't been playing his best. The Knicks forward is shooting poorly and not scoring at the ease he has been accustomed to over his career. 

Anthony recently attributed the Knicks' struggles to a lack of energy. Now, it's a confidence issue. 

"(It’s a) lack of confidence we have as a team," Anthony said when asked what was his biggest concern over the losing skid, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. "It’s affecting both ends of the court."

Anthony scored 14 points in the first quarter of Saturday's loss before cooling off and finishing with 20. He's averaging career lows of 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and shooting 38.2 percent from the field.

Knicks coach Derek Fisher thinks the team's new triangle offense has been a contributing factor to Anthony's offensive woes. 

"For guys that score as well as he does, it’s hard to go seven or eight possessions without getting a chance to score," Fisher said. "The rhythm’s not the same, the shot opportunities are not the same, so he’s struggling with that right now."

Fisher started Anthony at power forward Saturday in an effort to increase his rebounding and provide him with more comfort. Anthony, who spent a lot of time at the power forward position over the last two years, responded by grabbing a season-high nine rebounds. 

It's unclear if Fisher will continue to keep Anthony there and feature a three-guard starting lineup like he did Saturday. Either way, the Knicks desperately need Anthony to snap out of his funk immediately.