NBA

Knicks to face Heat in playoffs; defeat Bobcats in finale

GRAND FINALE: Amar’e Stoudemire, who scored 21 points, goes up for a shot against Tyrus Thomas in the Knicks’ 104-84 regular-season finale victory over the Bobcats, who officially became the NBA’s worst team ever after ending the season with their 23rd straight loss. (AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Look out South Beach, here come the Knicks.

The Heat is on and the Knicks’ confidence is already overflowing.

The Miami Dream Team officially became the Knicks’ first-round opponent last night and they will begin this star-studded battle royale tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at deafening American Airlines Arena. Game 2 is Monday before the series switches to the Garden Thursday.

Amar’e Stoudemire, who surged into the playoffs last night with a powerful 21-point night in their 104-84 regular-season-finale win over the Bobcats, is not lacking for confidence.

Stoudemire said he feels the Knicks roster – on paper, top to bottom – is slightly better than Miami’s, citing depth. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh? Stoudemire feels the Knicks match up just fine, thank you.

“We have incredible depth,’’ Stoudemire said. “ Our bench has been phenomenal for us all season long. We’re a much better defensive team than we were before. We have so many threats offensively to match their offensive threats. So it’s pretty much even as far as our startling lineup and I think our second unit is a little bit stronger.’’

It is a matchup every Knick fans has salivated over the moment LeBron James spurned the Knicks on July 9th, 2010 and took his so-called “talents to South Beach.”

Ironically, 13 years ago, in the last lockout season, the Knicks and Heat met in the first round in 1999. The eighth-seeded Knicks upset the top-seeded Heat in a deciding Game 5 when current assistant GM Allan Houston hit the game-winning runner off the backboard at the buzzer.

The Knicks believe magic can happen again. Perhaps the Sports Illustrated jinx will rear its ugly head again with King James on this week’s cover, Wade won’t be dominant, entering with a dislocated left index finger, and bench sparkplugs Steve Novak and J.R. Smith can light up South Beach.

Rookie Iman Shumpert, fellow Chicago native, will get Wade all series.

“I love it,’’ Shumpert told The Post of the Miami matchup. “I got a bad taste in my mouth from the last time . I felt we should’ve won the game. I’m looking forward to our team being at full strength. They say that’s the toughest opponent. We’re going to have to play them anyway. Why not play them in the first round? I’m not afraid of anyone.’ ‘

“We feel we can compete with anyone in the league,” Stoudemire added. “We feel like we’ve been playing well under Coach Woodson. It’s going to be a tight battle. Every game against Miami has been a tight one. So it’s really anyone’s game.’’

The Knicks were 0-3 vs. the Heat but two of those losses came in Miami when Mike D’Antoni ran the program and their defense was intermittent.

“It will be fun,’’ said Anthony, who has relished facing LeBron since their high-school battles. “ We’re trying to win. They’re trying to win. It’s playoff basketball. Everything goes out the door right now. I feel good. I feel very confident going into the postseason.and the coaching staff is feeling very confident.’’

The Knicks finished the season 36-30 with last night’s win – an outcome that became meaningless when news of the Sixers’ 108-86 tank job in Detroit that netted them the Bulls. The Knicks rested three starters last night, Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis, but still finished 18-6 in Mike Woodson’s regular-season reign as interim coach.

The Knicks held a team dinner late last night after the game to discuss the Miami matchup. Then they will fly to Miami this morning to hold their lone practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. This is their first playoff meeting with Miami since 2000, when the Knicks eliminated Riley’s club in the second round Latrell Sprewell and Houston were key cogs. The Knicks have met Miami four times in the playoffs, holding a 3-1 bulge.

“It’s a great rivalry,’’ Stoudemire said. “Even so now as much as then because of the players of both teams, the hype of both teams.’’

“There’s no time to prepare,’’said Anthony, who averaged 30.5 points in two games vs. Miami, sitting out one with a bum wrist. “We have one day. It’s time we really have to lock in and focus and pay attention to details.’

Before last night’s contest, their opponent not established yet, Woodson said of Miami-Chicago: “Both teams sit at the top of the East. Can we beat those teams? Absolutely.’’

Afterward, woodson said, “It was a great regular season. Now it’s time for playoff basketball. They (Miami) will be ready, battle-tested and well-coached. It should be a good series. Miami has three superstars and a supporting cast that has learned to play with those guys.’’

Stoudemire requested to play last night to get more reps and he jolted the Knicks fans out of their seats at Time Warner Cable arena with a monster driving dunk late in the third quarter off a slip-screen with Mike Bibby, drawing a foul and completing a 3-point play. Stoudemire had just the kind of momentum-building performance he needed in his fourth game after missing 13 with a bulging disk. “I feel as good as new,’’ Stoudemire said.

The Stoudemire-Chris Bosh matchup will be absolutely huge. Bosh has destroyed the Knicks in their meetings, averaging 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. It’s been such a tough season for Stoudemire, with the bulging disk and car-crash death of his brother in February. Last playoff, back spasms derailed him vs. Boston in the sweep. “There’s a lot of joy now,’’ Stoudemire said. “It’s definitely an up and down year for me. As far as the death of my brother, it was definitely hard for me. The injuries to the back, so many different ups and downs this season. It’s been tough. The great part of it is now. My family is just getting over his death.’’