Is this a cruel joke by the NBA on Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony?
The beginning of the Knicks schedule, announced Wednesday, is even more arduous than previously thought.
The Knicks could be set up as easy fodder for LeBron James’ Cavaliers. The Knicks will invade Cleveland on the second night of a back-to-back on Oct. 30 against the suddenly mighty Cavaliers, who will be playing their season opener at what will be a supercharged Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs will sit out the NBA’s opening night Oct. 29, when the Knicks open their season at the Garden against the perceived Eastern Conference favorite Bulls. The visit to Cleveland the next night, first reported by The Post’s Fred Kerber, is the only one the Knicks will make this season.
In afternoon holiday matches, the Knicks face the Wizards on Christmas, the Pelicans on MLK Day and the Lakers on Super Bowl Sunday.
Here are three other takeaways from the 2014-15 Knicks schedule:
Tough start, easy ending: If the Knicks are fighting for a final playoff spot in April, at least their finish will be breezier. The season’s outset will be a bear with expected Eastern Conference playoff teams in the Bulls, Cavaliers, Charlotte and Wizards. But the Knicks’ final four games are against the Bucks, Magic, Hawks and Pistons.
March madness: The Knicks have a rough road to start March, beginning with a home-and-home against Indiana. They then embark on a five-game trip to Denver, Utah, Los Angeles (Lakers), Golden State and Phoenix, only to come home to face the NBA champion Spurs. That eight-game stretch could be make or break their season.
All-Star break: The Knicks and Nets will co-host All-Star Weekend in February and will reap the rewards of a longer league-wide break. The Knicks, who finish the first half Wednesday Feb. 11 in Orlando, will have a nine-day break between games. They don’t resume play until the Heat visit nine days later, on Feb. 20. That’s good for older clubs such as the Knicks and Nets. Reportedly, James spoke to commissioner Adam Silver about making the break longer.