BOSTON — While all the chatter is about the club’s off-the-court dance with imminent hire Phil Jackson, the team continues to play with grace, poise and a dose of Zen. The playoff push has become legitimate.
Their winning streak reached five games as the Knicks blew out the Celtics, 116-92, despite a depleted frontcourt that had Cole Aldrich as its starting center.
The Knicks (26-40) moved three games behind the eighth-seeded Hawks and into sole possession of ninth place, a half-game ahead of the Pistons.
“We don’t really look at that as a distraction,’’ Anthony said of Jackson about to join the organization. “Do we read about it? Hear about it? See it? There’s no way to hide from it. But we just focus on playing basketball. We let [owner James] Dolan, [general manager Steve] Mills do their job. It’s not something for us to worry about.’’
Aldrich shined, as did almost everyone, as they played a flawless first half of offense in building a 68-48 lead. Anthony finished with 34 points, rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half and Aldrich posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and got the game ball afterward.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,’’ Anthony said of their playoff hopes. “We know we dug ourselves a hole. But right now it’s the time to make this push. We’re doing good and want to keep it going.’’
The five-game winning streak matched their longest of the season. They won five straight in January, which coincided with Andrea Bargnani’s elbow injury. In a soft spot of their schedule, the Knicks have beaten the Timberwolves, Jazz, Cavaliers, 76ers and now the Celtics — with the pitiful Bucks looming Saturday at the Garden.
“Guys’ confidences and mindset right now is a lot different now than before,’’ Anthony said. “When you’re losing games, you’re trying to reach and search what’s going on. Nobody knows the reason we were losing games. It seems like now guys are playing ball. It took that one game in Minnesota to get us playing back to where we know how to.’’
Everything that could go right offensively in the first half went right. Anthony finished with 19 points after draining three quick 3-pointers in the opening minutes. The rookie Hardaway continued to blaze, making his first six shots. Everything the Knicks tossed up fell through. Late in the second, Hardaway launched a brick as it hit the side rim, bounced in air and dropped through.
Woodson had to start Aldrich at center with Tyson Chandler dealing with a serious family illness and Amar’e Stoudemire resting his knee. The former Kansas lottery pick looked vibrant around the rim and notched six points and five rebounds in 12 minutes of the first half, rolling in for two dunks.
The Knicks busted to a 36-24 lead after one quarter and led 68-48 at halftime. They shot 60.5 percent in the half, connecting on 9-of-10 3-pointers.
The Knicks took their first 20-point lead with 5:21 left in the half after back-to-back dunks. Iman Shumpert drove the baseline for a monster dunk. After a Boston turnover, Hardaway flew in on a fast break for a wicked jam.
The lone Boston highlight came when ex-Net Kris Humphries got back on a break and made a vicious block on a Hardaway dunk attempt, knocking the rookie to the floor. The Boston fans flew out of their seats to roar — the only true good moment for the Celtics, who fell to 22-42. Jeff Green added 27 points for Boston, which got as close as nine late in the third quarter before falling back.