Desperate times called for a desperate move.
Amar'e Stoudemire sounded the alarm with his caustic comments Friday night in Oklahoma City, questioning the club's desire, and Carmelo Anthony apparently heard the message.
Despite his back not yet 100 percent, Anthony decided to try to play Sunday night against the Heat at the Garden after successfully going through a shootaround in the morning.
Stoudemire's rant about the club needing to show more "desperation'' hit home, and even mild-mannered coach Derek Fisher acknowledged some of Stoudemire's harsh assessments were "correct.''
Anthony had missed the previous two games with back spasms, and on Friday indicated he probably would wait until Tuesday's game against the Nets to return, because he said 80 percent of the spasms had disappeared and the club didn't have a practice Saturday.
But the Knicks were in desperate straits, coming off a 0-3 Southwestern trip as they carried a 4-13 record into Sunday night. To boot, Dwyane Wade made his return from a hamstring injury that cause him to miss seven games. Fisher's sour luck just continues as the Knicks were victims of Russell Westbrook's return Friday.
Anthony declined to speak before the game, but had said he wouldn't play if his back was still spasming.
He decided he felt well enough to play, though he's not 100 percent, according to Fisher.
"I don't have expectations at all,'' Fisher said before the game. "It's hard to simulate game action. He looked pretty good [Sunday] morning.''
Less than one week ago, Anthony could barely walk after suffering the back injury in Houston. He told The Post he wouldn't return until all the spasms were gone.
"I don't think he'd put himself in danger if he was still in spasm,'' Fisher said. "I don't think he's fully comfortable either. I'm sure he's still in discomfort.''
The Knicks were blitzed by 27 points Friday in Oklahoma City, falling behind 40-13 after 15 minutes. The result likely expedited Anthony's return. On Friday, Anthony revealed tests had shown there was no structural damage and the spasms were related to muscles.
Anthony was listed as doubtful against Miami before the Knicks upgraded his status to questionable in the afternoon.
Fisher, rarely critical of the club publicly, seemed pleased at Stoudemire's remarks in which he said repeatedly, "Teams want it more than we do.'' Stoudemire also called the club's 4-13 start "unacceptable'' and felt they looked "afraid'' of the Thunder in the first quarter.
"I think it shows some leadership from Amar'e,'' Fisher said. "He's expressing how he feels about his team and teammates and where we are as a group. I think it's correct as far as his assessment. But it's their locker room. It's more about how they feel about it than how I feel about it.''
Asked specifically if there's an effort issue, Fisher said, "At times. I don't think it's effort for a guy choosing not to try hard. That's a different conversation. Sometimes effort and energy is lacking. More so in areas of frustration, stress, tension, lack of confidence or faith. When you have some doubts, energy is a little low. Our guys are fighting hard to dispel some of the questions they have about whether it's going to turn around.''
It is a big week for Anthony as the Nets and Cavaliers visit and his "Made for New York'' documentary — which it depicts how close he was to joining the Bulls — debuts Tuesday.
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