MIAMI – Carmelo Anthony said it’s not proper to respond angrily to fans who express their disappointment at the Knicks’ losing ways, but admitted, “We all have those moments.’’
At the morning shootaround Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena, Anthony was asked about owner James Dolan’s vicious email to a fan in which he accused the person of being an alcoholic. The email, written last month, became public Sunday.
Anthony had an incident last season when he called a disgruntled fan “glaze donut face’’ on Twitter.
“For me, I would never respond, I wouldn’t go down that path,’’ Anthony said.
Then he added, referring to his own history, “We all have those moments you just want to get … you feel a certain way, but people are saying things that aren’t the real thing. We all have those moments.’’
Last season, Anthony also cursed out a heckler during a game at the Garden. He realizes the importance of the fans, but wants them to know the players are experiencing the same feelings.
“I said this earlier in the year, it’s frustrating for the fans, for me, for us, for the team,’’ Anthony said. “I get the frustration coming from the fans … but we’re the ones going through it, too, and we have to deal with it, too. We have to come to work everyday and play hard and stay focused whether we’re winning or losing. Yeah, I feel for the fans. They’re the ones who spend the money and one of the reasons we’re able to do what we do. But I want them to know we’re going through the same thing.’’
Anthony, who is fighting a chest cold, will return to the lineup after sitting out Saturday against the Warriors. He was linked to the Heat last summer during his free agency, but the Heat never made contact.
“It was guilt by association,’’ Anthony said.
Andrea Bargnani surprisingly is set to play Monday in just his third contest of the season after being riddled by a season-long calf strain. The creaky forward made his season debut New Year’s Eve against the Clippers and reinjured himself in the next game Jan. 2 against the Pistons. He has not played – or talked to the media — since.