NBA

Reeling Knicks to face red-hot Heat

MIAMI — LeBron James always brings out the best in Carmelo Anthony, ever since their high-school wars.

The Knicks haven’t seen the best of Anthony in a while. Nobody needs a feel-good night worse than the sore-wristed, sore-ankled, sore-thumbed Anthony. His disastrous shooting slump is the chief cause of the Knicks’ dreadfully disappointing 7-11 start, as fans clamor for coach Mike D’Antoni’ scalp.

Tonight, the Knicks, who have lost seven of their last eight games, take their underachieving act into American Airlines Arena for the first showdown against Miami’s Dream Team.

“We’re not thinking about our record playing them,’’ said Anthony, who’s shooting 39.4 percent. “We’re going to lace up our shoes just like they are. Hopefully we’ll be ready to play for that game.’’

The Heat (13-5) may be the Big 2 lately because they have been without Dwyane Wade (ankle). But Miami is 5-1 in his absence. Wade will make his return tonight or Sunday.

“I’m born ready for these type of games,’’ Amar’e Stoudemire said. “That’s what I live for.’’

Stoudemire, Anthony and point guard Chauncey Billups ransacked the Heat 91-86 in Miami last March, just days after the Knicks’ blockbuster trade for Anthony. It was their greatest win of The Melo Era, but there have been few great wins since.

The bravado is admirable, but these Knicks haven’t inspired good will. Billups, who hit the biggest shot of the game in Miami, was an amnesty casualty last month, which meant the Knicks could slide under the salary cap to sign preeminent defensive center Tyson Chandler to a four-year, $56 million package.

The Anthony-Stoudemire-Chandler trio has been alarmingly disjointed — undermined by the Knicks’ flimsy bench and lack of a point guard. Baron Davis’ Knicks debut is imminent, but he is unlikely to debut tonight, perhaps saving himself for a less-pressurized environment in Houston tomorrow.

“It’s New York-Miami, it’s always going to be a big one,’’ said Heat forward Chris Bosh. “I’m really not paying attention to their record right now. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.’’

Anthony has no fear of Miami, nor does Chandler.

“I’m not worried playing against anybody,’’ Chandler said. “We just have to get it together. We have enough talent in this room but we have to figure out what it takes to win games and do it consistently.’’

Chandler knows. His last visit to Miami was last June when he drank champagne in the visitors’ locker room after winning the NBA title with the Mavericks, a series in which James — by most accounts — choked.

“It was a special night,’’ Chandler said. “Definitely one I’ll never forget my entire life. I’ll always have good memories there because that’s where I won my first championship.’’

When Chandler signed last month, he thought he had a shot to win his second title, in orange and blue. But owner James Dolan’s greatest fear is taking shape, that blowing the Knicks’ future salary-cap space and investing $51 million of the league’s $58.7 million salary cap just on the frontcourt is risky.

D’Antoni and Stoudemire have preached that if the up-tempo system is run correctly, as in Phoenix, it will work out. But the offense may not have enough good perimeter shooters after the Anthony trade and the Knicks’ failure to re-sign sharpshooter Shawne Williams.

“Space the floor and move the ball, they’ll have a hard time guarding us,’’ Stoudemire said. “If we don’t, they’re such a great defensive team that’s very fast and quick.”

D’Antoni’s offense scored a pitiful 81 points in Cleveland Wednesday.

“It goes back to the offense, not getting the flow and people aren’t feeling good about themselves,’’ D’Antoni said. “We’re playing with water right up to here. It’s been that way for a month.’’

The Knicks hit the season’s quarter-pole tonight, and that water may soon drown D’Antoni.