The Knicks Fix

I was loitering in the Knicks locker room before Monday's win over the Miami Heat and decided to take a seat next to one of the underrated personalities on the team, Kelvin Cato. You want truth? You want perspective? You want to see a menacing scowl turn into an entertaining smile? Gotta go to Cato.

I was throwing out the opinion that the Heat, even without Dwyane Wade, are a lock to make the playoffs because of the veterans on that team. My words, "I wouldn't want to play them in the first round."

Cato's reply: "I wouldn't want to play us."

He's got a point. It's still going to take some serious fortune -- something like a weak foul call on Andrew Bogut in the final second of a game or a 39-8 disparity in free throws --for the Knicks to overcome both the Nets and either Miami or Orlando for the final playoff spot in the East. But it's hard not to believe if the Knicks did somehow get in, they'd be like that fearless mid-major no one wants to play in the NCAA Tournament. They have an inside game, they have guards who can score and they get to the foul line. In a seven-game series, they could be hard to put away.

Of course their inability to defend and, more importantly, string together wins, would be their downfall. It could also be the reason why they don't make the playoffs at all. But if they did . . .

* * * *

* - The next four games: Boston, Golden State, Atlanta and Seattle. If the Knicks are going to elbow they're way into the Top 8, this is the stretch. After that, it gets tougher -- Wiz, Raps, Hornets, Raps, Mavs -- and, more importantly, it gets later and later in the season.

* - The Knicks are in good shape with the tiebreakers so far. They own season-series wins over Miami and Orlando. But they need to win their final two games with the Nets to even the season series at 2.

* - Anyone else think the Rangers' recent fade from the NHL playoff race puts added pressure on Isiah Thomas and the Knicks to get in and ensure James Dolan of at least two nights of playoff revenue this April?

* - Donald Trump was a few seats down from Dolan at the game and I couldn't help but think of those two trademark words Isiah Thomas will probably not hear when the season is over.