Knicks Playoff Hopes on high after Sixth Straight Win

A day after persuading Phil Jackson to come aboard and try to save their organization, the Knicks were back trying to save their current season.

It was easy enough on Saturday afternoon. Visiting Madison Square Garden were the Milwaukee Bucks, a group whose collective ineptitude this season could provide some soothing perspective to suffering New York fans. They were pushed aside, 115-94, and the Knicks stretched their winning streak to six games.

Intrigue about Jackson inevitably whirled through the arena, but the Knicks and their fans will have to wait until Tuesday for him to be formally introduced as the club’s new president. It may be a while after that before his handprints actually begin to appear on the team. Until then, the Knicks (27-40) can only continue collecting as many wins as they can on their uphill push toward a playoff spot.



With the victory, the Knicks climbed to within three games of the Atlanta Hawks, who hold the final qualifying place in the Eastern Conference. (The Hawks were scheduled to play Saturday evening against the Denver Nuggets.) The Knicks have a difficult 15-game schedule ahead.
Their six-game winning streak has come against teams possessing a combined 130-263 record. The final stretch will not be as easy as Saturday’s victory, and probably not as entertainin

Carmelo Anthony (23 points) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (20) heated up early to lead a group that welcomed back Tyson Chandler, who had missed two games because of personal reasons. Just before halftime, J. R. Smith (15 points, 8 rebounds) hopped above a crowd of players to finish a two-handed put-back dunk. Seconds later he did a 360-spin while feeding Amar’e Stoudemire on a dunk attempt. Stoudemire, who was fouled, made two free throws to put the Knicks up, 60-42. The game was finished from there on cruise control.

With Jackson’s arrival, there could be some turbulence ahead. He agreed to a contract Friday that will pay him around $12 million a year. His job will be to clean up and revive a club that has struggled over the last decade, and the hope is that his arrival will usher the Garden into a new, stable era. But before any possible harmony, there will be a spell of uncertainty.

Navigating Anthony’s free-agency period will be an early challenge. Sooner than that, perhaps, a decision will have to be made on Coach Mike Woodson, whose job is assumed to be in peril. Woodson, as he has before, praised Jackson and the move on Saturday morning. He said the organization would benefit from his experience.

“I mean, Phil’s been through the wringer,” Woodson said. “He’s won titles. He’s dealt with players individually.

Motivation

He’s dealt with players as a team. I mean, there’s probably not a lot he hasn’t seen from a basketball standpoint, so I think it’s got to be a plus.”

Anthony was asked after the game what effect the Knicks’ decision to hire Jackson might have on his future.

“I’m a chess player, so that was a power move right there,” Anthony said. “You know what I mean? Now we’re going to see what’s their next move. But that was a great power move.”

Woodson said he had met Jackson once, at a dinner last April that was held to commemorate the Knicks’ 1973 championship team. And they spoke only briefly then, with Jackson telling Woodson that he was doing a great job. That was last season, when the Knicks were on their way to a 54-win season. The Knicks this season have 27.

But Woodson said he did not feel he had anything to prove to Jackson over these final games.

Under Fire

He took responsibility for the Knicks’ ups and downs, but made sure to note that the team was still contending for a playoff spot. Change, he implied, is inevitable. His fate is out of his hands.

“It’s basketball, teams try to reshape, they go through changes,” Woodson said. “This is no different. You bring in a great basketball mind into your organization and, eventually, it will be reshaped.”

He added, “How and who and when? Only time will tell.”