Carmelo Anthony Injury: Pulled Groin Latest Setback for Hard-Luck Knicks

The New York Knicks just can’t seem to catch a break in the 2011-12 season.

A season that has been filled with injuries, rumors and hardships found a few more on Monday.

A few hours after Amare Stoudemire’s brother was found dead, the Knicks had to play without him in a home contest against the Utah Jazz. Halfway through the first quarter against the game, Carmelo Anthony strained his hamstring and didn’t return.

This isn’t the first injury for ‘Melo this season. He has already missed games with ankle, wrist and thumb injuries.

But, this hamstring may be the worst one of the bunch.

He appeared to injury the groin as he tossed an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler midway through the first quarter. New York Times reporter Howard Beck has the latest on the injury after an MRI on Tuesday:

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"Hamstring’s can easily be aggravated so there really isn’t concrete return date. Regardless of when he comes back, it’s going to be a lingering issue for the foreseeable future, especially with the grueling schedule of the lockout shortened season."

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With Baron Davis’ latest elbow setback, what has really gone right for New York this season?

Sure, Jeremy Lin has been a terrific story for the last two games, but what else?

At 10-15, they are on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and everyone is calling for the head of coach Mike D’Antoni.

Jared Jeffries gets booed at home games, Josh Harrelson was averaging over 18 minutes of game before getting hurt and Mike Bibby is in contention for slowest player in the NBA at this point in his career.

The Melo-Stoudemire combination isn’t working because they don’t have a legit point guard to evenly distribute the ball. Lin has been terrific, but the jury is still out. Remember, there was a reason he couldn’t crack the Golden State Warriors rotation.

That’s why it’s somewhat comical watching the frenzy around Lin right now. A guy that was a street free agent to begin the season is now the team’s savior?

It’s not going to happen.

'Melo is the savior, and is going to need a herculean effort to overcome all of his nagging injuries and put the team on his back and will them to the postseason.

Some thought the Knicks were a dark horse candidate to win the title, now they are a dark horse candidate to make the playoffs.

Oh, how quickly things can change.