Knicks vs. Nets always was more one-sided series than rivalry, the old-guard Garden team getting all the back pages and the two never enjoying enough simultaneous success to foster a real rivalry. But whether it’s moving to Brooklyn or moving up in the standings, the Nets finally have made this a real rivalry.
And with today’s matchup not only being a Martin Luther King Day matinee at the Garden, but their last meeting of the regular season, it won’t lack for intensity.
“We don’t need to hype our guys up for this,” Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “It’s a division rival, it’s the other team in the city, they’ve beaten us two out of three. It’s Martin Luther King Day, it’s the Garden, it’s a big game for city basketball.
“The rivalry wasn’t always as spirited or it didn’t get the hype when we were in Jersey as it’s getting this year and will continue to get. It’s great — there’s no downside to this. It’s a great rivalry for the league, it’s great for Barclays, it’s great for MSG. But the most important thing, it’s a big game for people in the area.’’
The area has had big games before, but rarely between its two teams. After not making the playoffs in the same season since 2004 — and only five times in the last quarter-century — their play this season has added juice to the rivalry.
“There have been hills and valleys for both teams, and at different times they’ve dominated,” Carlesimo said. “Both of us are off to a good start, and the fact we’re now a New York team and the Barclays/MSG thing, that’s a rivalry, too. Everything is right for this rivalry right now.’’
Carlesimo is 10-2 since taking over for the fired Avery Johnson, and the Knicks are 6-6 in that same span. But the Knicks have gotten back Iman Shumpert and Amar’e Stoudemire, and lead the Nets by two games. The Knicks won the last meeting, 100-86, at the Garden on Dec. 19.
“We’re a lot more confident now. We understand what’s at stake,” Nets guard Joe Johnson said. “This is a big game, a division game, so we’ve got to come prepared. They really handed it to us last time, so we have to come focused and ready.
“They’ve won the last two, so we definitely want to come out and make a statement … This could be a first-round matchup.’’
Carmelo Anthony has averaged 37 points and seven boards in the teams’ three meetings, with Carlesimo saying the Nets have to get good help on him to cut down his 3-point shooting and free throws.
“We’re close in the standings right now, it’s Martin Luther King Day, it’s a big game,’’ Nets guard Deron Williams said. “They’re up 2-1 on us, so for us to go 2-2 is huge, especially for playoff positioning, so it’s a big game.’’