NBA

Knicks not lacking confidence as Celtics showdown nears

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Amar’e Stoudemire did “Regis & Kelly” in the morning, Carmelo Anthony did “The Late Show with David Letterman” at night and Chauncey Billups did film work in the day.

The Big Apple 3 are gearing up for Sunday’s playoffs against the “Boston Three Party” in their own way. Nobody should be worried.

This isn’t their first rodeo.

As a group of Knicks-jersey clad fans exited the new Boston Garden on Wednesday night after the meaningless regular-season finale, a handful of Celtic fans warned them to prepare for a sweep.

Here’s the most important number on why the Knicks have a chance as they enter Round 1 on Sunday against the defending Eastern Conference champions: 236.

That’s the amount of combined playoff games on which the Big Apple 3 have competed.

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“I always say that playoffs make superstars,” Stoudemire said before leaving Boston. “So this is the time where we always step up and play great basketball. The great thing about us as a team is that we have so many great, great players that contribute, so you get everybody to play well, it’s going to be hard to beat us.”

Asked on “Regis & Kelly” if the Knicks can beat the Celtics, Stoudemire said, “Absolutely. We’re looking to do something special.”

Stoudemire, who has a rugged matchup against Kevin Garnett, has played in 52 playoff games, averaging 24.2 points. He has battled in 10 playoff series and been to the conference finals twice. And he is squarely in his prime at age 28, as opposed to Garnett, 34.

Garnett, in his first words on the Knicks series, praised Stoudemire after yesterday’s Celtic practice.

“What makes Amar’e so good is that he’s explosive, he’s very aggressive, he can score in a lot of different ways,” Garnett said. “Every time he has the ball he’s what we call, ‘live.’ He’s a force to be reckoned with. He’s totally part of that new school, young guns. He’s had a phenomenal year. That matchup is going to be a difficult one.”

KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen represent the original Boston Big 3, and point guard Rajon Rondo could be considered a fourth gem.

Billups has as many titles as all of them (one) and has been to as many Finals as each of them (two). The Knicks point guard has played in 139 playoff games and 26 playoff series. For seven straight seasons, from 2002-09, Billups never fell short of the conference finals.

“He brings leadership, experience,” Garnett said. “Chauncey is that one player that can take a game over. Obviously [the Knicks] have two offensive juggernauts [Anthony and Stoudemire] that can put up a lot of points individually, but [Billups] understands pace, he understands flow, he understands what it takes to win. He’s been in it countless times and in the playoffs you need that.”

Ironically, their biggest talent, Anthony, is the least accomplished playoff performer. Anthony has appeared in 45 playoff games, but in six of his seven seasons in Denver, he was knocked out in the first round, including last season vs. Utah. Anthony’s only conference final appearance came the season Billups joined the Nuggets, 2008-09.

“We’re both great offensive players,” Stoudemire said. ” I think the key is if we get other guys involved, we’re going to be hard to stop. I think Boston knows it.”

There are few matchups where Pierce doesn’t have the offensive edge. The Knicks’ series is one of them. Anthony, who has added a lethal 3-point shot to his midrange arsenal, has captured two straight Player of the Week awards.

“I look forward to it, truthfully,” Pierce said. “I’m happy to go at one of the best players in the game and play in a playoff series against him. I feel in this era I’ve played against the best all-time wingmen at my position.”

Boston coach Doc Rivers hinted Anthony was in the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade class of scorers.

“[Anthony’s in the] top three,” Rivers said yesterday. “I don’t know who 1 and 2 is, but I’m just saying top three. He may be one because of his shot. He’s the best shooter of that group.”

Now the big question is Anthony’s continued chemistry with Stoudemire. When the Big Apple 3 have played, the Knicks are just 8-10. They are 12-12 since the trade. Anthony is starting to talk less hesitantly about coach Mike D’Antoni’s ball-movement system, but it still is an issue.

“I am flowing,” Anthony said. “I am really going with the flow. As far as the so-called D’Antoni System, I am cool with that. I am fine with it. I bought into it.

“The system I came from in Denver wasn’t really a system. It was more catch the ball, post-up, midrange and try to make something happen. This system here is so spread out. It is pick-and-rolls, Amar’e at the elbow and me on the weak side playing off of Amar’e. They are two different systems. It is not me going down there trying to get isolations or to post-up, trying to make something happen. I had to get used to it.”

The Big Apple 3 could use some ripening. But that will come next season. Now it is time for the Knicks’ three stars to crash the “Boston Three Party.”