NBA Playoffs 2012: Embarrassing NY Knicks Must Make Big Changes for Next Season

It's been painful watching the New York Knicks play the Miami Heat.

Last night's 87-70, Game 3 loss was almost worse than Game 1's blowout, and it highlighted some of the major changes that need to come if New York is ever going to break its now league-worst streak of 13 straight playoff losses.

Without Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert and Amar'e Stoudemire, the Knicks have only two players that can create their own shot: Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, who combined to shoot 12-of-41 from the floor last night.

The team as a whole shot 31.9 percent while the Heat hit at 42 percent clip from the field.

The Knicks won't win playoff games that way and they won't win playoff games with the current roster they have. Things would be different if Shumpert and Stoudemire were healthy, but that difference doesn't equate to wins. This team has a bigger problem and it needs to be fixed this offseason.

First and foremost, this is Melo's team and he needs to take charge, and by that I mean he has to get on the same page with Amar'e. Sure, the two players' styles don't necessarily mesh, but the Knicks aren't going to find anyone willing to take STAT's enormous contract and there isn't a player in the league they would trade Melo for outside of LeBron James.

The two players came to New York, albeit at different times, with the same goal in mind: Return the Knicks to glory. The only the way they're going to do that is if they learn to play together.

While LeBron and Dwyane Wade are a totally different case, it is easily evident the two finally have a comfort level with one another and understand what they both mean to the Miami Heat. It took time, but they're better because of it.

Amar'e and Melo aren't anywhere close to being on that level with one another, but that has to be their goal this offseason—that, and Amar'e getting back in shape.

Outside of New York's two superstars, and recently crowned Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler (who was the best addition New York has made in years) and rookie Iman Shumpert, no one on this team should feel safe.

With a 4-0 sweep looming, it is unlikely the Knicks bring back Mike Woodson as coach regardless of how many endorsements he gets from Carmelo and others.

The Knicks have interesting pieces, but they have no identity, nothing to mold to.

A new coach with a strong personality may change that, but he has to be on the same page with Melo, STAT and Chandler. They need to find a legitimate point guard, Shump is better suited to play the two, and they have to make a few difficult roster decisions as well.

All in all, the Knicks still have to undergo a huge transformation if they are going to start winning playoff games. They technically still have a chance to make something happen despite being down three games to none, but anyone who has watched them this postseason knows this series is over.