PHILADLEPHIA — Phil Jackson was 3,000 miles away from the Liberty Bell Friday night as the streaking Knicks continued their playoff quest that seems like an afterthought to their fans and new president.
And for a long moment, coach Mike Woodson forgot this game mattered, too. Woodson, in one of his poorer decisions of a season trickling with them, nearly blew the game and season by taking out his starters with 5:14 left up 91-74 to put in his garbage-time guys.
Woodson, after a 16-1 Sixers’ run, finally got his main group back in the final 33 seconds, just in time to save the Knicks from an unthinkable loss that would have been all on the coach. The Knicks hung on, 93-92 and pulled within three games of the eighth seed with the Hawks losing at home to New Orleans.
“They scared the hell out of us,’’ Woodson said afterward.
There was still laughter in the locker room. Reborn Amar’e Stoudemire, after a dominant 22-points-in 28-minute gem, wished everyone a “Shabbat Shalom.’’ A grinning Carmelo Anthony told the tale of throwing away his headband, needing to borrow Toure’ Murry’s when he checked back in with 32.9 seconds left.
“There’s a first time for everything,’’ Anthony said.
Meanwhile, Jackson was back at his beach house in Los Angeles, with more important things to do than watch the Knicks live against a tanking Sixers’ summer league team, which lost its 23rd straight game.
The Knicks have won eight straight, trying to change the narrative while all the talk is about how Jackson is going change this franchise after a disappointing season.
Knicks general manager Steve Mills was in charge at Wells Fargo Arena, stripped of his presidency, but not of traveling to this NBA wasteland as Jackson’s eyes and ears. Jackson won’t be at the Garden on Sunday versus Cleveland either.
Jackson will rejoin the Knicks on Tuesday when they take on the Lakers in Los Angeles — a short commute.
“Phil and I will talk over the weekend and then we’ll see him on the West Coast,” Mills said at the morning shootaround. “We’re excited to have him with us.’’
Mills ended his season-long silence Friday, but only until a Knicks public-relations executive broke up the impromptu interview after four questions. Jackson hasn’t changed that part of the culture just yet.
Mills hadn’t spoken to the media the entire regular season. Owner James Dolan said at Tuesday’s introductory Jackson press conference Mills’ silence was because “we felt nothing we could have said would have helped.’’
“I’m just looking forward to it,’’ Mills said of working with Jackson. “We have a lot to look forward to next season, but the most important thing — we’re obviously disappointed how our season worked out — but we have an opportunity to make the playoffs and make a strong push. ‘’
The Spanish League stalwart, point guard Pablo Prigioni, said he realizes every player’s future is up in the air, but thinks the key is focusing on this playoff push. It was telling none of the players or coaching staff showed up for Jackson’s coronation.
“He’s arrived and everybody, the fans, are excited,’’ said the Spanish-speaking Prigioni. ‘He’ll make a big impact. Myself, I’m only worried about the games because it’s the only way to stay focused. The season is not over. We have a chance to make playoffs. I don’t know if it’s a small chance or big. But I prefer to stay focused on the games. I think we have time to think about next season or the summer.’’
Has Pablo even heard of the triangle (el triangulo)?
“Of course,’’ Prigioni said. “Everybody knows it in Spain, but nobody puts it in for that system. But that system works. It will be nice to see how the system works. But this is possibly for next year. Not now.’’
On Wednesday, in his presidential debut, Jackson received a standing ovation at the Garden during the Knicks’ defeat of the Pacers.
“It’s a great partnership and great to work with him,’’ Mills said. “It was the great the fans responded well and our team responded well too.’’
The Knicks certainly are responding — and maybe soon some people will notice.