NBA

Two point-guard alignment helping Knicks

One of the all-time greatest coaches, John Wooden, claimed, “It’s the little details that are vital, little things make big things happen.”

Right now the Knicks, who are on an actual three-game home winning streak, have done so by embracing all details. They have reverted to the small-ball lineup so successful a season ago. Seven-footer Andrea Bargnani went down, the Knicks went small and they now seek a fourth straight victory Thursday against Cleveland at Madison Square Garden.

Granted, no coach anywhere views ball movement, defending and rebounding as “little” parts of a game, but the Knicks, for three games against hardly formidable competition, have at least adopted the policy of no task is too small.

“We came together and understand this is how we’ve got to play in order to win games to achieve our goal that we trying to accomplish,” point guard Raymond Felton said, referring to the ball movement of the Knicks, who again are finding success starting two point guards (Felton and Pablo Prigioni). “It’s Knick basketball.”

It’s basketball forged at both ends. In the three wins — against Charlotte without Kemba Walker, against the Lakers without Kobe Bryant and against Boston without any chance — the Knicks have averaged 116.3 points and surrendered 95.7.

“Over this last week, we’ve made some strides in different areas,” Carmelo Anthony said. “Everybody’s focus level is extremely high. The energy is definitely there and everybody is doing their part, playing their part and we’re showing signs of consistency.”

Before you book hotels for the NBA Finals, remember the Knicks had a five-game winning streak that was quickly followed by a five-game losing streak.

Then some stuff happened — such as noticing details and meeting to talk matters out.

After the blowout win over Boston Tuesday, Tyson Chandler and Felton referenced team talks. One of the keys, Felton said, was ball movement, and much if it started in Anthony’s historic 62-point game Friday.

“The ball was moving then. It was just moving to his hands,” Felton said with a laugh. “Before that we all had a long conversation about how we wanted to take care of things and play. … It was good we followed the next game against the Lakers and took care of business and kept playing the same way [against Boston].”

Maybe a light bulb went off about style, speed, defense, share-the-ball stuff while using the smaller alignment.

“Anytime you change the lineup and go small it’s going to be different,” Chandler said. “We’re playing well together right now. We made a good adjustment.”

“The ball is moving unbelievably,” said Kenyon Martin, who is listed as “questionable for Thursday” against Cleveland because of a sprained left ankle — as is Iman Shumpert with a sprained right shoulder. “We realized the way we need to play.”

Woodson said he likes the “pace” of the games. Giving up 95 points won’t take top defensive rankings, but that’s fine when you score 116.

“Our style of play is back like it was a year ago,” Woodson said Wednesday on ESPN radio. “We’re defending first. We’re rebounding the ball collectively and our pace offensively has been at a high rate.”

Just like last season.

“We’re really locking in and playing for one another out there,” Chandler said. “When you start losing a couple games it seems like you get down and have a cloud over the locker room and individuals as well. We just had to have a couple meetings and just get together and realize that we love this game and get back to the basics.”

Again, like last season.

“This is the lineup that we played last year that we had success with,” Chandler said. “We’re very familiar with one another and we understand the pace and the opportunities that present themselves.”