With the Knicks trying to solidify a playoff spot, and with a showdown against the Heat on Sunday (1 p.m. ABC), ESPN analyst Tim Legler talks to The Post’s Justin Terranova about Carmelo Anthony’s resurgence and why it’s no coincidence it has come with Amar’e Stoudemire out of the lineup.
Q: Why do you think the Knicks still are playing well even without Stoudemire?
A: I am not saying they are necessarily a better team without Amar’e, but Carmelo Anthony is clearly a lot more comfortable right now with everything flowing through him. He’s got a lot more freedom offensively. The ball is directed in one place and that’s what he’s used to. The problem for them is that they have not been able to figure out how the two of them can play really well at the same time.
Q: Do you see a way for Stoudemire and Anthony to excel together?
A: I’d think so, but it has a lot more to do with your personality than your game. … What he’s going to have to do is defer and maybe not occupy the same areas of the floor that Carmelo does because that’s been the biggest problem for those two. They step on the other’s feet offensively, and it has to be clear in one of their minds, and it’s probably going to have to be Amar’e. The offense is going through Carmelo and he has to find a way to complement him.
Q: But how difficult will it be to do that in a short period of time before the playoffs and with no exact date yet for Stoudemire’s return?
A: It would be very difficult. … If you just plug those guys in and play a series against a really good team it’s going to be tough to have any type of timing and rhythm to make noise and win a series.
Q: And that’s assuming they even make the playoffs?
A: I’d be very surprised if they don’t make it, but if you only give yourself nine, 10 games to figure it out and you’re a game apart from each other there’s a lot to sort out. But the Knicks are the best team of the three (76ers, Bucks). Their ceiling is the highest. If they play quality basketball down the stretch, they’ll make it and be the most dangerous team of the three.
Q: Who do you think would be a better matchup for the Knicks: the Heat or the Bulls?
A: I think they would much rather play the Bulls. The Heat are a team that when the game gets into a fast tempo they are a very dangerous team. And when they play their best basketball they are the best team in the league, so you don’t want to play a team like that. Because when they get on a roll and they are hot for three or four games, that series is over.