Charles Barkley says 'Knicks still stink'

Charles Barkley always seems happy to bash the New York Knicks and was at it once again on Thursday.  Speaking to WFAN in New York, the opinionated TNT analyst— who was critical of former-coach Mike D'Antoni's system— has not changed his opinion of the team— even with the winning ways of new coach Mike Woodson.

The Knicks have won six of their last eight games but that didn't keep Barkley's mouth shut.

"The Knicks still stink, dude," Barkley told the radio show hosts.  "They're not going anywhere [in the playoffs], they're gonna be one-and-done."

The Knicks are 33-29 and have clinched a playoff spot.  The rejuvenated team currently has the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and are three games behind the slumping Orlando Magic— who lost Dwight Howard for the rest of the season— for the No. 6 slot.

The Knicks would play the No. 2 seed Miami Heat if the playoffs started today.

"I don't dislike the Knicks," Barkley said.  "But they just don't have a good team.  I told you, they're the No. 7 seed.  You guys act like they're the No. 1 or 2 seed."




The Knicks are currently awaiting the return of Jeremy Lin (knee surgery) and expect to get Amar'e Stoudemire back by the weekend.

The Round Mound of Rebound did have praise for the streaking Carmelo Anthony.  He called the Knicks forward the "best offensive player in the NBA."  Barkley also threw his support behind interim-head coach Woodson and suggested that the Knicks should give him the job full-time after the season.

When asked about John Calipari, Barkley sounded like he didn't think the UK coach would be a good fit.

"Let me tell you something, he's never going to be drunk enough to take that Knicks job," Barkley said.  "That would be career suicide.  I'm a big, big John Calipari fan, but he's not going to take that job— 'cause that ain't a good job."

Barkley didn't stop there and the weight-loss spokesperson gave some backhanded credit to the former-Knicks coach for the team's recent success.

"The reason the Knicks are playing well, that's 'cause they are well rested.  'Cause they quit on Mike D'Antoni, so they've got a lot more energy," Barkley added.

Just Charles being Charles.