NBA

Knicks’ Woodson: Beating softies still counts

Mike Woodson won’t have anyone diminish the Knicks seven-game victory streak — the longest in his 1 1/2 -season tenure as coach — despite it coming during a relatively soft section of their schedule.

Woodson was a defensive assistant during the Knicks’ seven-game winning streak during Linsanity last season, but he almost never acknowledges he was part of anything to do with former coach Mike D’Antoni.

The caveat to this run is five of the wins have come against teams in lottery position — the Jazz, Magic, Raptors (twice) and Bobcats.

“I wouldn’t call them soft spots,’’ Woodson said when asked if victories in the upcoming Celtics-Heat exacta would legitimize the win streak. “They’re on our schedule. Boston is playing for something. Miami is Miami — everyone’s trying to catch Miami. I’m not taking anything away from these seven games. We won. If we lost them, you’d be singing a different tune.’’

One of the most intriguing stats during streak is the Knicks’ average of 9.71 steals, and they also are making 10 3-pointers per game (39.8 percent).

“We got back to playing the way we started the season off as far as showing that trust on the basketball court on both ends,’’ Carmelo Anthony said.

* Tyson Chandler is expected to miss his 10th straight game tonight with a bulging disc in his spine. The Knicks canceling yesterday’s practice was an indication Chandler wasn’t ready to even test it.

* Iman Shumpert, who made his season debut Jan. 17, keeps playing with more confidence and gave the Knicks a giant spark in their past two games, hitting 3-pointers and making steals. Across the last 11 games, Shumpert has been smooth on his 3-point shot, making 18 of 33, and is beginning to emerge as the player from his standout rookie season.

“He’s starting to do some of the things he did for us last year,’’ Woodson said. “It helps he’s making his jump shot. I’m pretty pleased where he is as a player.’’

* The Knicks are 7-0 since installing 35-year-old rookie Pablo Prigioni in the starting backcourt with Raymond Felton.

“I don’t like to talk about me but the team,’’ Prigioni said. “It’s the team, not one player.”