CHICAGO — Knicks owner James Dolan is too preoccupied with Wednesday’s “superconcert’’ to benefit Hurricane Sandy to have made his annual trip to South Beach to watch his Knicks face the Heat.
But there is no one more satisfied at the Knicks’ masterpiece of a season, nobody who deserves a cut of the credit more than the Knicks oft-criticized owner.
From choosing Raymond Felton over Jeremy Lin to giving the OK to Glen Grunwald on a raft of expensive elderly signings, Dolan made all the right summer moves in his quest to break the Knicks’ 40-year championship drought.
The Knicks, who tangle with the Bulls in Chicago Saturday night, are sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 14-4, having gone from the butt of fire-extinguisher jokes last spring during their Miami playoff meltdown to Heat assassins.
And there is no asterisk on their No. 1 ranking, not with twin 20-point killings of the defending-champion Heat, who suffered their worst home loss since the Big 3 was created Thursday night in a 112-92 embarrassment.
That the Knicks crushed the Heat without Carmelo Anthony (stitched-up middle finger), Amar’e Stoudemire (knee), Iman Shumpert (knee) and even Marcus Camby (foot), who could probably start for Miami, was astounding.
“It’s great confidence for our team,’’ said Felton. “We really showed what kind of team we have, having all those guys out.’’
Magic Johnson, who once hand-delivered Isiah Thomas to Dolan, said on ESPN radio’s “Mike and Mike” show Friday the Knicks could turn into favorites to win it all. Johnson called them the “best defensive team in basketball,” the “best passing team in basketball’’ and having the right array of perimeter defenders to match up against LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
“That’s why they’re going to challenge Miami in the Eastern Conference finals,’’ Johnson said of their perimeter defenders. “Amar’e has to come off the bench and be happy with that role because if he does that, I’ll tell you this right now: The Knicks have a chance to win a championship. That’s for real. This Knicks team is for real.’’
Everything this summer was done in quest of winning the title either this year or next, before Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Stoudemire are on their downside years. The Knicks may be old — like a well-aged Burgundy.
Felton has been a gigantic boost — his spectacular night in South Beach Thursday underscoring the greatness of the Jeremy Lin decision. It was in Miami last February when the Heat smothered Lin and made him look like an undrafted Harvard point guard.
Free-agent signees Jason Kidd, Ronnie Brewer (who faces his former team, the Bulls, tonight) and Pablo Prigioni have been intelligent role-playing godsends. Re-signing Steve Novak for $16 million has panned out — he’s probably the deadliest 3-point shooter in the game. Even inking Italian Leaguer James White looks solid as he played a role in bothering James in the second half because of Anthony’s absence and made key 3-point buckets.
“This is more about us,’’ said J.R. Smith, another key re-signing. “As long as we take care of business and play defense and move the ball, we don’t have to worry about anybody.’’
The summer’s centerpiece has turned out to be Felton, who has made his July detractors look foolish. He came into camp in great shape and showed Thursday what a warrior looks like. He played without a wrapping on his badly bruised thumb, winced after banging it several times, but never came out. He finished with 27 points, seven assists, a career-high six 3-pointers and a few blasts to the hole that made him look like Chris Paul.
“It was tougher because of that thumb injury, but the way he shot the ball was unbelievable,’’ Smith said. “He got that arc on, a nice little rainbow shot. Once you get in the rhythm of the game, whether you’re hurt or not, it’s lights out.’’
Dolan and Grunwald remembered Felton’s first solid Knicks stint, even if some fans had Linsanity amnesia.
“Raymond’s been playing unbelievable,’’ Chandler said. “He’s running the show, carrying the ship, keeping turnvovers down, which has been huge for us.’’
Felton has spearheaded, with ball movement and shotmaking, an attack that is first in the league in 3-point field goals.
“It’s so fun,’’ Smith said. “It’s contagious. When one person makes that basket, everyone’s looking for that next person. Our offense helps our defense. When you move the ball, it makes it fun and everyone’s so excited about playing defense.’’
Even Dolan can take a bow.