IN THE ZONE: Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are one win from nailing down the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and a probable first-round playoff meeting with the Celtics. (AP)
There will be no “We’re second seed’’ or “Bring on Boston’’ T-shirts hanging in the Knicks’ lockers today at the Garden if things go right.
But coach Mike Woodson will breathe a sigh of relief.
The Knicks, proud wearers of newly minted Atlantic Division champion T-shirts, can lock up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round tango against the Celtics — who clinched the No. 7 seed with a 120-88 win over the Magic last night — with a Garden matinee win over Donnie Walsh’s Pacers.
That would render the final two regular-season games meaningless, and would allow Woodson to rest one of the league’s most dynamic 1-2 scoring punches — Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith — the latter of whom has had a sore knee. In light of Kobe Bryant’s Achilles tendon tear, that is no small matter.
With the Bronx-born Walsh back in the house today to watch, a Knicks victory would allow Woodson’s team to avoid the Bulls, who swept the season series 4-0.
The Knicks were 3-1 vs. the Celtics this season and their nemesis, point guard Rajon Rondo, is done until 2013-14.
“I love our chances [against Boston],’’ Smith said. “We’re playing our best basketball. Were still handicapped without our bigs, but I like the situation we’re in right now.’’
Anthony, having scored 30-plus points in seven straight games, is threatening Amar’e Stoudemire’s franchise record of nine. But today could be Anthony’s last game until the postseason.
Walsh, however reluctant he was to give up so many pieces in the 2011 deal, brought Anthony to New York when he was Knicks president.
“It is not surprising because he has been one of the most prolific scorers in the league since he came to the league,’’ Walsh wrote in an email yesterday. “It was just a matter of time until he had a stretch like this.’’
Smith appears to have the inside track on the Sixth Man Award with his terrific final month, surpassing ex-Knick Jamal Crawford, now with the Clippers. Smith, who added a penetration game to his jump-shooting arsenal during March’s West Coast trip, has become unstoppable. His nickname in the locker room used to be “Swish.’’ Now it’s “Sixth Man of the Year.’’
“I think I have a good chance but I haven’t really thought about it as much as these guys,’’ said Smith, referring to his teammates. “They remind me about it every day. I think I have a great chance. Jamal has a great chance too. [The Clippers] are still playing good basketball. If I don’t get it, I think he should get it.’’
Smith told The Post in January the Sixth Man Award wasn’t high on his list, that being considered by the coaches as an All-Star team reserve shooting guard was bigger. But Smith’s shooting dipped in February before roaring like a lion in March and April.
“It would be a great honor, but it’s not one of the goals on my list,’’ Smith said. “I still want to come and have a great playoff in the real part of the season. If I didn’t get it and we got deep in the playoffs where we want to go, I’d be extremely satisfied.’’
The Knicks still are in the midst of a big-man crisis, though Kenyon Martin (sprained ankle) hasn’t been ruled out of returning today.
Center Tyson Chandler (bulging disk in his spine) probably will be rested until the playoffs begin Saturday or Sunday.
At least the Knicks have signed a serviceable big body in 6-foot-10 Solomon Jones.
Already with an Atlantic Division title and 50-win season, a second seed would be icing on the cake and put Woodson in the conversation for Coach of the Year.
“It means a lot,’’ Smith said of the second seed. “It’s something we’ve been talking consistently about for a couple of weeks. We want to lock up the second spot, get out of the first round, second round and meet Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.’’
The Pacers are struggling, losers of three of four games, and still haven’t locked down the third seed with the Nets still alive. However, the Pacers are likely to hang on. If form holds, the Pacers will get the Knicks in the second round.
It will be a boon to have homecourt against the Pacers’ physical, tough squad, which boasts David West, Paul George, Lance Stephenson and center Roy Hibbert. The Pacers’ toughness is embodied by Brooklyn’s Stephenson, who got under Smith’s skin in the last contest. The Knicks lost both meetings in Indiana this season.
“We definitely want to win this basketball game,’’ Anthony said.