There are plenty of reasons behind the New York Knicks' disappointing start.

One of them? New York simply isn't getting enough easy looks at the basket.

The Knicks are last in the NBA in free throw rate (free throws per field goal attempt) and rank 30th in points generated off drives, according to NBA.com.

This isn't a byproduct of the triangle offense, according to coach Derek Fisher. It's a byproduct of players not yet being comfortable with the new offense.

"There's plenty of opportunities for penetration; that's basically what we need," Fisher said after practice on Tuesday. "We're getting some of it. Not as much as we're capable of getting and will get. But some of that comes from guys thinking about what they're doing offensively instead of just playing offense ... but we'll get better in that area."

The Knicks' lack of free throw attempts is even more jarring when you consider that their opponents have taken 96 more shots from the line through seven games.

Carmelo Anthony doesn't see the free throw issue as a long-term problem, though.

"In the past, I lived at the free throw line. We got guys like J.R. [Smith], Tim [Hardaway Jr.] who can get to the free throw line. Amar'e [Stoudemire] is a load down there and he can get to the free throw line," Anthony said. "I think everybody has to get comfortable with the foundation of what we're trying to do first and then try to pick it apart from there. I think a lot of those numbers will start to creep up."

The Knicks entered play Tuesday ranked 20th in offensive efficiency, so it's fair to say that free throw attempts were one item on a long list of things that they hope to straighten out. Still, Anthony and others struck an optimistic tone on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after their home loss to Atlanta.

"I knew there would be some struggles just trying to figure everything out," Anthony said. "But that's why I feel every optimistic, very positive about where we're headed and where we're going right now.

"When you build a house, sometimes it rains on it. Right now, it's raining on us, but it'll get sunny one day."

Optimism and positive feelings were in abundance on Tuesday, a day after the Knicks (2-5) lost their fifth straight game.

"We've put together some solid performances against some good teams that already know who they are, that haven't had the change that we're going through," Fisher said. "We still believe we're not as far away as it seems right now. We're not getting the wins. It's still very early. We know for a fact that we're going to get better, and we're going to start to win some of these games."

No Bargnani, Calderon: Andrea Bargnani (hamstring) and Jose Calderon (calf) did not practice on Tuesday and will be out Wednesday. Fisher said both players are making progress but did not have a specific date for their return. Stoudemire, Anthony and Pablo Prigioni (ankle) had recovery days on Tuesday, the team said.

Generous Melo: After practice, Carmelo Anthony donated food to 800 families in East Harlem, via his foundation. "When I was growing up, I used to want people to come back to my neighborhood and just give back something, even though we didn't have celebrities and stuff like that," Anthony said. "People in my neighborhood, my neighbors, and the elder people that was in the neighborhood, they gave back. Even if they didn't have it, they gave back. So for me, I feel like it's only right for me to give back and help people that's in need.".... MSG Network’s new season of “Beginnings” kicks off Sunday with an look at Micheal Ray Richardson – an ex player who spent the first four years of his eight-year career with the Knicks before becoming to the first player to get banned under the NBA’s anti-drug program.

Question: Patience and optimism have been two terms used often over the past few days around the Knicks. How patient are you willing to be with this team?

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