NBA

Landing Kidd instead of Nash working out great for Knicks

Imagine if Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald got his first choice, and Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin were running the Knicks instead of Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton.

Certainly they wouldn’t be an Eastern Conference-leading 16-5 entering tonight’s Garden showdown vs. the 9-13 Lakers. As luck would have it, Nash chose the Lake Show over the Knicks, who then turned to Kidd.

Nash, the Soho resident, has played just one game after breaking his fibula on Oct. 31 and could be two weeks away from returning — much to the chagrin of new Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni. Kidd has been sensational in a renaissance season at age 39 — his latest heroics occurring in Tuesday’s 100-97 win in Brooklyn with the game-winning 3-pointer — his sixth.

Missing Nash and Pau Gasol, the Lakers are reeling, while the Knicks have won seven of eight games.

“It should be a good game,” Tyson Chandler said. “They’re having their troubles right now, but we know how explosive they can be. They still have great players on that roster. They can get going at anytime. With Nash out, Gasol out, I don’t know how much time D’Antoni has had to put in his stuff. You definitely can’t judge them.”

Sources say Nash was arranging a trip to New York to sign with the Knicks until a late phone call from Kobe Bryant. Kidd always has been a better defender than Nash and more adaptable in playing off the ball, guarding the “2” position. And Kidd is also unexpectedly lighting up from the 3-point line like never before in his career. He is shooting 52 percent from 3-point land after once being called “Ason Kidd” for not having a “J.”

Asked if he has had to swallow his pride by not playing much point guard, Kidd said, “It’s just basketball. The game has changed. Look at Miami. They don’t really have a center. The game has changed, having smaller guys out there.”

Kidd’s influence on Carmelo Anthony has been gigantic.

“I’ve always tried to make the game easy for my teammates,” Kidd said. “With Melo, I’m working with him every day that he doesn’t have to fight to get the ball. Just relax. It reminds me of Dirk [Nowitzki]. You don’t have to fight to get the ball. I’ll get you the ball.’’

After the Nash signing fell through, Tyson Chandler said he was on the horn with Kidd.

“I told him we got a good team here,” Chandler said. “This organization is willing to make moves to chase the ring, put players in the right place. I told him we needed a guy like you because you’ll put us over the hump. Things got easier for him when Dallas did what they did and didn’t get any players to play with him at this point of his career.”

Kidd said he started working on his 3-pointers in recent years after losing “two or three steps” and no longer driving to the hoop like his younger days. Teams still don’t guard him at the 3-point line.

“I’m happy for that scouting report,” Kidd said.

Nash will watch tonight’s Garden game from the Lakers bench. Thanks Steve for coming. Or not coming.