" Mike D'Antoni thinks his point guard's self esteem is hurting.

Chris Duhon has played miserably lately, and maybe that is an appropriate way to describe more than just his basketball performance. D'Antoni said yesterday that Duhon's "spirit isn't real confident," calling his floor general "down in the dumps."

In the 15 games he has played since the start of February, Duhon has shot 38 percent while averaging just 9.9 points and 3.5 turnovers. Before February, he was shooting 43 percent, averaging 12.7 points and committing just 2.8 turnovers. He also has committed at least four turnovers in six of his last eight contests.

"I don't know totally," D'Antoni said when asked about the reason for the high turnovers. "His spirit isn't real confident right now. . . . And I think right now he's down in the dumps for whatever reason. . . . We're going to build it back up, and he's just going to plow ahead."

Duhon insisted yesterday it wasn't a confidence problem. But he did say he feels like the Knicks' losses are his fault.

"My confidence is good. It's just that I hate to lose, and when we lose, as a point guard, you take the responsibility of that," he said. "You're kind of like the captain, the leader out there, and when things are not going well, you feel responsible." "