Carmelo realistic about playing in All-Star Game, clock ticking on shutdown

Carmelo Anthony's injured left knee may bar him from the one thing keeping him on the court.

Anthony has been playing through persistent soreness in his knee for most of the season, and it's been no secret he didn't want to shut things down ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game. With his New York Knicks hosting the event in his hometown, the draw to play in the event is obvious.

That may no longer be possible after Anthony aggravated the injury on Monday. For the first time on Tuesday, Anthony spoke of potentially missing the All-Star Game.

"If I can't, I can't," Anthony said. "I won't even try to force it."

Anthony spoke after the game about a lack of power and bounce in his game because of the lingering discomfort and admitted he was nearing the point of needing to shut things down. That would entail surgery to alleviate the issue, which has to do with the tendons of the knee rather than the cartilage and would sideline him for at least eight weeks.

In other words, once he shuts it down for surgery, he's shutting it down for the season. That would work in the Knicks' long-term favor as they're currently the league's worst team and every additional lottery pingpong ball theoretically improves their future outlook.

On Tuesday, he elaborated on the dilemma to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. 

"Now is the time to really start taking into consideration about fixing it and when to take care of it. Don't wait long. Should I get it done now or afterwards? I'm still trying to come to a decision," he said.

Make no mistake, even a hobbled Anthony has been a major positive for the Knicks this season. In 40 games, he's averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists with a solid 21.7 PER, and the Knicks have been 10.1 points per-100 possessions worse with him off the floor. The Knicks have also yet to win any of the 12 games Anthony has missed.

Anthony added Tuesday that he wouldn't expect the recovery to last into next season. 

"If I have it done now ... I will be back way before camp," he told reporters. " ... From what I am hearing, if I was to get it done sooner than later, then I will be back to my kind of regular working out schedule in the summertime."