It’s great timing for an anniversary party.
Tonight’s Garden festivities to honor the 1972-73 squad could have been a very bittersweet evening. Celebrating a 40-year anniversary of the Knicks’ most recent championship team also acknowledges a 40-year title drought.
Former Knicks backup power forward Phil Jackson, the coaching legend owner James Dolan shunned this offseason, is also part of tonight’s ceremony to be held at halftime of the Knicks-Bucks game.
Awkwardness could have reigned if the Knicks were teetering and Mike Woodson were still struggling with his lineups. Fans chanted Jackson’s name last season during Mike D’Antoni’s tough times. Tonight they may even boo Jackson, whom many fans wanted over Woodson.
As it happens, tonight can’t be any sweeter — with the 2012-13 Knicks showing championship timber recently and getting a chance tonight to prove they can be as special as that team 40 years ago.
The Knicks are riding a 10-game winning streak — their longest since 1993-94 when they reached the NBA Finals. They are 22 games above .500 (48-26) for the first time since 1997 and a win will put them one away from their first 50-victory season since 1999-2000. This week they clinched the season series with Miami, 3-1, and all but sewed up their first Atlantic Division title since 1994. They lead the Nets by 5 1/2 games.
Most importantly, Carmelo Anthony is playing like a champion, finally caring more about victories and team than personal glory as his two-city, 90-point rampage through Miami and Atlanta demonstrated. Anthony wasn’t concerned about sealing back-to-back 50-point nights Wednesday night against the Hawks. He was more worried about getting rest in the fourth quarter.
“Melo is committed, man,’’ Woodson said after his star’s efficient 50- and 40-point explosions. “He’s hungry just like LeBron and those [Miami] guys were hungry a few years ago, trying to chase that title. That’s what we’re trying to do as a team.’’
Because of the Knicks’ big-man injury woes, breaking the 40-year curse still is a long shot, but looking like less of one each passing day. Beyond having the winning streak on the line, another matter of intrigue tonight will be the reception Jackson receives from the fans. There is a chance he will be one of the former ’72-73 Knicks who addresses the crowd.
Will Jackson be perceived as the former Bulls and Lakers coach whose teams have won a record 11 NBA titles, or as the man who made unfortunate sour-grapes comments in the offseason, calling the Knicks a “clumsy’’ team because of the Anthony/Amar’e Stoudemire dynamic?
Or will “Action Jackson’’ be remembered fondly tonight, the energetic defender with the long wingspan and little hook shot? The coach who proudly called Red Holzman his mentor. The guy who dreamed of coaching the Knicks all the way back to his Continental Basketball Association days guiding the Albany Patroons in the 1980s.
“Phil said himself the Garden is a special place and [he] always enjoyed being there.’’ his longtime agent, Todd Musburger, told The Post. “He’s not making statements about coaching anywhere, anyplace, anytime. I don’t think Phil has ever ruled anything out, but I think he views it as unlikely.’’
At this stage, Brooklyn would be a likelier coaching destination than Manhattan with the way Woodson has coached his club through mammoth injuries.
“On Friday, Phil Jackson is a Knick,’’ former teammate Bill Bradley told The Post. “He’s one of the championship-team members. That’s how he’s coming and why he’s coming.’’
Woodson will relish tonight, despite Jackson’s presence. Woodson played for Holzman as a Knicks rookie during the 1980-81 season, and plans to watch the ceremony rather than head to the locker room.
“It’s special,’’ Woodson said. “I’ll be there. That’s all I can say. I’m just thankful I was drafted by the Knicks and given an opportunity to play for a great franchise. Red Holzman set the table for all of us. We have him to thank.’’
Extending the winning streak to 11 seems a good bet against the eighth-seeded Bucks, but that is where it may stop. The Knicks play at Oklahoma City Sunday.
“We’ve been playing great basketball,’’ point guard Raymond Felton said. “We’re playing together. Our offense is great. Our defense is great.’’
Oh, what a night it could be.
marc.berman@nypost.com