NEW ORLEANS _ Jeff Hornacek scored points with Carmelo Anthony and perhaps the rest of the Knicks when he came to his star player's defense after his ejection from Wednesday night's game in Atlanta.
Hornacek said he didn't blame Anthony for pushing the Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha away because from his vantage point, Sefolosha had his arms around Anthony's neck. Anthony was thrown out for forearming Sefolosha in a battle for a rebound.
"I just know that I have somebody who has my back, who has the players' backs," Anthony said. "At the end of the day, I don't think he was wrong for saying what he said. He gave his perspective on what happened. I think it's good when you have kind of the head guy in charge, kind of sort of the head guy in charge, looking out for you ... I respect that."
Anthony believes this type of support could go a long way in the locker room. "I think it's important," he said. "I think it's always important to see that coaches have their players' back. I think all players want that. That's what sports is about, when you can have that camaraderie and that trust in one another from the coaching staff down to the players."
