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Are the Knicks still legit championship contenders?
Tyson Chandler delivered a message to his teammates before they scattered for the All-Star break Wednesday night. Chandler reminded them they are championship-worthy, despite a hellish Garden loss to the Raptors that greased a 1-3 skid into the break and tarnished the Knicks’ unofficial first half.
The Knicks (32-18) still are in first place in the Atlantic Division at the break — for the first time since 1994 — and second in the Eastern Conference behind the Heat, whom they have beaten twice by 20 points. But the Heat now lead the Knicks by a season-high 4 games, and they are starting to look their age.
“I was just talking to the guys,’’ Chandler said. “There’s not too many times in a career where you come back from the All-Star break with a legitimate shot for a championship. We have a shot when we come back this year. That’s happened to me only once [when he won the title with the Mavericks in 2011]. You have to let everyone understand that you don’t want to pass up this opportunity in your career.’’
Championship teams usually peak in May and June. The Knicks may have peaked in November and December.
“We want to come back with a clear mind,’’ Carmelo Anthony said before departing for Houston to join Chandler at Sunday’s All-Star Game. “There’s no reason to think about what’s happened already. We need to think about the future. This break is definitely much needed for a lot of people.’’
The sudden downturn has coach Mike Woodson considering making a change to the starting lineup after the break, which ends when the Knicks reopen Wednesday in Indiana.
“I got to go back to the drawing board and figure out what I’m going to do as far as who starts,’’ Woodson said.
Raymond Felton hasn’t been the same defender since returning Jan. 26 from a broken right pinkie. Jason Kidd, nursing a sore back and turning 40 in March, is running on fumes. He has shot 22 percent from the 3-point line over the past 15 games and isn’t defending like he did in December.
“The rest will do him some good,’’ Woodson said. “He’s got to reflect on things on how he can help us.’’
Iman Shumpert, back from ACL surgery on his left knee, has not been the same defensive menace he was last season as a rookie. Woodson still appears sold on bringing Amar’e Stoudmire off the bench to keep Anthony as the starting power forward. Stoudemire’s defense has not advanced like his post game.
The Knicks raced to a 18-5 record, which included a 10-0 start at home. But the mood has changed as the Knicks have gone a pedestrian 14-13 since Dec. 15. The drop-off occurred around the time defensive stalwart Rasheed Wallace’s left foot acted up.
“We haven’t been that defensive team that we started off the season as,’’ J.R. Smith said. “We were aggressive. Everybody was communicating, everybody was excited to play. It just hasn’t been like that the last 10, 12 games.”
Though Wallace could suit up as soon as next Friday in Toronto, the Knicks face a nasty March schedule. Eighteen games are stuffed into the month, 10 on the road.
“It’s a tough road, but ultimately it will build character,’’ Chandler said. “If we’re as focused as we were to start the season as we are after the break, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“We have to work on our consistency on both ends,’’ he added. “We have rough patches, but March and April, we have to buckle down. The team playing the best basketball down the stretch usually ends up going furthest.’’
Wallace perhaps will be the missing piece to the championship puzzle. That’s what he was in Detroit in 2004, when the Pistons traded for him at the deadline and Woodson won an NBA title as Larry Brown’s top assistant.
“I think we still have a legitimate shot, absolutely,’’ Woodson said. “The fact we’re still on top of our division, still fighting, we could’ve lost that a long time ago.”
“We lost some games we should’ve won, but our confidence isn’t going anywhere,’’ Anthony added. “We got to regroup as a team after the break and come back ready to rock.’’
CRUCIAL STRETCH
The Knicks have 18 games in the frantic month of March, 10 on the road. On a potentially back-breaking five-game Western trip, they visit Golden State, Denver (Carmelo Anthony’s return), Portland, the mighty Clippers and Utah. They could go 0-5.
KEY COACHING DECISION
Mike Woodson still has to decide on his starting lineup for the second half. If he changes up, as he has hinted, does he want to keep Amar’e Stoudemire on the bench or place formerly struggling Ronnie Brewer in the mix for either the slumping Jason Kidd or rusty Iman Shumpert.
QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED
Will 6-foot-11 Rasheed Wallace, who will practice Tuesday, be the antidote to the Knicks’ recent defensive breakdowns or will his left foot break the moment he runs the fast break? He has not played since mid-December because of a stress reaction, which is a precursor to a stress fracture. Woodson said he doubts Wallace will be “100 percent’’ this season, and if he breaks down again, the Knicks may need to sign a free agent (Kenyon Martin, Lou Amundson).
PLAYER WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP
Kidd has looked all of his 39 years recently. After a beautiful November and December, he wore down once he was forced to start at point guard during Raymond Felton’s absence. Kidd was shooting 52 percent from the 3-point line in mid-December, but has fallen to 38 percent and his defense against quick guards has been troubling. He and his achy back celebrate a 40th birthday in March.
PREDICTION: 50-32. Atlantic Division winner. Third in East. Lose to Bulls in seven games in second round.
REPORT CARD
[A] Carmelo Anthony: He is leading league in shot attempts, but NBA’s scoring leader could have been first-half MVP if not for LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
[B+] J.R. Smith: Two buzzer-beaters and many electric nights, but he’s falling back to Earth.
[B] Raymond Felton: Was a warrior before Christmas, but since returning from a broken right pinkie has had rough moments, even if he has quieted Linsanity talk.
[B] Jason Kidd: Had a terrific November and December on both ends, playing off the ball, but is hitting the wall and losing touch on 3-pointer.
[B-] Steve Novak: Rarely do the Knicks lose when he’s on fire from the 3-point line, but needs to assert himself more.
[B-] Amar’e Stoudemire: Willingness to come off bench is as exemplary as his new low-post game. Still, he is always a health risk and he still is not defending to Woodson’s liking.
[B-]Chris Copeland: Underdog rookie made team as the 15th man, had a super scoring stretch, then fell into Woodson’s doghouse because of defense and alleged practice issues.
[B-] Pablo Prigioni: As advertised, a steady play-making point guard off the bench who defends with zeal but is hesitant to shoot.
[C+] James White: When given chances, he has defended with aplomb. Still better known for dunk-contest rep.
[C] Iman Shumpert: Last season’s phenomenal rookie proves it’s difficult to have instant success after ACL surgery, but he has time to regain rookie form.
[C-] Ronnie Brewer: Key role player in November and part of December as starter. Then he lost confidence in his shot and his mojo on defense.
[C+] Kurt Thomas: Has been healthy, but Woodson mysteriously won’t play him as he can be a step slow on rotations.
[D] Marcus Camby: Hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and still is sidelined with plantar fasciitis.
[-] Rasheed Wallace: By season’s end, could be in A-range as his defense is the X-factor to the team’s playoff chances if he gets his foot healthy.
[B+] Mike Woodson: Credit him for getting Anthony and team to play focused defense for first six weeks, dealing with all of the injuries and making a hard decision on Stoudemire’s bench role. However, team’s inconsistencies are troubling.
[B+] Glen Grunwald: GM restocked roster with depth that was lost in blockbuster Melo trade.
marc.berman@nypost.com