NBA

Melo: Knicks ‘got to go out and do it’

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HOUSTON — Carmelo Anthony almost sounded like an ad for that firm whose corporate logo is everywhere. So when discussing the Knicks’ ultimate goal for the remainder of this season, Anthony entered “talk is cheap” mode. For the Knicks, the only message is, “Just do it.”

“We’re ready. My team is ready. We’re ready to go out there and compete for a title,” Anthony told an intimate gathering of several hundred during the media session at All-Star weekend yesterday, one table away from teammate Tyson Chandler.

“We just got to go out there and do it. I can sit here and talk about how bad I want the title, what we have to do to win the title, what I think we have to do to win the title. If we don’t go out there and do it, everything I’m saying is irrelevant.”

Anthony tossed out words and ideas such as focus, commitment and defense and, oh yeah, health. That has been a bit of a thorn in the Knicks’ backside all season. But if the Knicks can get whole and focused, then they can be dangerous when the playoffs roll around.

All that is certainly a far cry from last season, when the Knicks stumbled most of the way, underwent a coaching change, made the playoffs — then made a playoff cameo.

“Last year, was like a [blur]. I kind of erased that out of my head,” Anthony said. “I wanted to come back and start off with a clean plate. Where I am right now, I’m in a very, very positive state of mind, a very positive state in general.”

Anthony is feeling good mentally — and physically. No fatigue issues, he said. And that whole right arm contusion affair from Wednesday night? No worries. He’s fine and he’s playing and starting in the All-Star Game tomorrow.

“It’s OK,” Anthony said, claiming “there was” some doubt he’d come here. “The day after it was definitely sore. Once I got some treatment, we found out it wasn’t as deep a contusion as I thought.”

As for the mental part Anthony chatted and talked with, among others, Laker Kobe Bryant during the Olympics. Anthony was a worrisome sort, trying to please, listing to critics. Bryant told him to tune it out and play his own game. He has done that. But more importantly, Anthony doesn’t have to do it by himself.

“He hasn’t been doing anything he hasn’t done before,” Bryant said. “The difference now is he has pieces around him that are complementary and enable him to do what he does best. We’re all starting to recognize what his talents are.

“Carmelo has been sensational. But he hasn’t been doing anything I didn’t expect.”

Anthony learned a pointer or six from Bryant, who five times has done what Anthony wants to do once — hoist a title trophy.

“Me and Kobe talk a lot,” Anthony said. “A lot of conversations came last season throughout the season. We talked at the Olympics. His approach, I definitely admire. If there was one thing I could take anything away from what we talked about it was just his approach … how to block things and stay in his mind frame.”

And if there is one other thing Anthony would like to block out, it would be the whole Kevin Garnett trash-talking controversy.

“Hell no,” Anthony said if any ill will remained toward Garnett. “We just had a [All-Star] meeting. We spoke. We talked. This is a fun weekend. That [stuff] was over that day.”

Garnett concurred.

“I’m not going to discuss that, man,” he said. “Actually, I saw Melo a couple of minutes ago. It was good to see him. I’m happy for him and Tyson Chandler. That’s what this thing is about. Nothing negative.”

Sort of like Anthony’s frame of mind.