Mike Woodson has his own television show now, but no nickname for his offense like Mike D’Antoni does, or a cute nickname for himself like “The Zen Master.’’
Let the Lakers bring back D’Antoni. The Knicks have “Woody’’ and perhaps they also have the 2012-13 Coach of the Year. Because right now, nobody is doing it better in the NBA.
Woodson, commander of the league’s only unbeaten team at 4-0, gave the Knicks Sunday off. “I think they deserve that,’’ Woodson said.
So does Woodson. He has managed the egos of its big-name veterans, managed Carmelo Anthony to a tee. He has managed an overstuffed rotation that will only get more logjammed when Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert return in December and January, respectively.
Woodson has managed a league-best defense and guided what has been the NBA’s smartest offense — which takes care of the ball and leads the NBA in fewest turnovers at 11.3 per game.
The “Mike Woodson Show’’ airs on Friday nights, but it has been Woodson’s show for 10 straight days of flawless Knicks basketball that has included four straight double-digit triumphs. Red Holzman, who drafted Woodson in 1981, has to be looking down with a proud smile, watching the Knicks move the ball and guard their man.
The Knicks’ low turnover rate is no coincidence. On his show, Woodson talked about a contest he has employed with the players to stay under 13 a game. For every turnover over 13, the players have to run a base-line-to-baseline sprint. (He deducts a turnover for every charge taken.)
If the club finishes under 13, the coaches have to run one sprint for every turnover under 13, even hefty Lasalle Thompson. The coaches have done a lot of running — three of the four games the total has been less than 13.
Woodson’s turnover contest is working — as is everything else, including his request every player “voluntarily’’ report to Tarrytown three weeks early for pickup games.
“It’s been rewarding to know that what we’ve been doing is the right way,’’ Steve Novak told The Post. “It feels good to know getting together three weeks early as a team has paid off. We know it’s early and [we had] a lot of work to do. We had looked on at a difficult schedule early on and that helped focus us that we had to be ready when it started.’’
Perhaps D’Antoni never had a chance because of an always fluctuating roster and a superstar who didn’t believe in speedball. But he could’ve been better, more forceful, less wishy-washy regarding players’ roles. He resigned in March, knowing he failed.
Woodson is the polar opposite of wishy-washy. There’s hope he will do what’s best for the team when Stoudemire returns — without playing politics. His Saturday ego edict that he “doesn’t owe anybody minutes’’ could be a foreshadowing. Scoff at the schedule, but the Knicks beat the last two champions in Miami and Dallas, and Philadelphia twice. Yes, Dallas and Philly have injuries. So do the Knicks.
“It’s a different feel,’’ Novak admitted. “We got along well last year, but our chemistry is better. Everyone is really, really on the same page this year as a coaching staff and player, top to bottom. Guys really know their roles. There aren’t any questions about what am I out here to do, what am I supposed to do. What do you need for me? Because of the way last year started (after the lockout), it was harder to know what was expected right from the start. Here’s two weeks. Go play. This year more defined.’’
If you want to anoint Anthony a hero for finally playing tenacious on defense this season and diving into the stands, go ahead. The Knicks’ real hero so far is the head coach.
marc.berman@nypost.com