NBA

Melo, Shumpert still ‘not over’ playoffs loss

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks officially can move on from the last time they exited the court, last May in Indiana, as second-round playoff losers.

The Knicks open their preseason Wednesday in Providence, R.I., against the rebuilding Celtics at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to begin a three-game road trip. They will face Toronto Friday in Andrea Bargnani’s return and then face the Celtics again Saturday in Manchester, N.H.

“I’m not over it,’’ Anthony said Tuesday of the postseason disappointment. “I may act like I’m over it, but I’m not over it at all. It’s motivation. It’s definitely motivation. I know what happened last year. I won’t forget that.’’

And nobody will forget the massive fourth-quarter block at the rim on a driving Anthony by Indiana center Roy Hibbert that turned around Game 6. The Hibbert block was replayed countless times in the weeks that followed.

“Do I get tired of hearing it? After it was over, I didn’t watch it. I watched the block, I watched the game,” Anthony said. “No reason to go back and look at it. He got a great block. It was a big play. He made it. We’ll see him again on the 17th [of November]. We’ll be ready.’’

Anthony thinks this Knicks team will be ready for the Pacers and Heat. Last month at a business summit, Anthony said he felt the Knicks roster is better than last season’s, but didn’t want to “get into the details.’’

Yesterday he explained it’s about their youth and improved durability. Bargnani, Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih and Tim Hardaway Jr. will make their Knicks debuts Wednesday.

“The depth we have on this team, the weapons we have,’’ Anthony said when asked why they are better. “Last season, I thought we had a great team, but I thought we had a lot of older guys that we never knew if they’d be in the lineup day by day. This year we have guys who can help us all across the board. Down on the block, on the wing defensively. Overall as a group, I feel we have a better team than last year. And that’s saying a lot because we had a real good team last season.’’

Iman Shumpert was devastated by the six-game KO by the Pacers and can’t wait for the preseason opener. Coach Mike Woodson won’t reveal his starting lineup, but expect Anthony-Bargnani-Tyson Chandler up front and Raymond Felton-Shumpert in the backcourt.

“I’m super excited,’’ Shumpert said. “I’m still mad about the Indiana loss. At least this will erase that from my head a little bit.’’