WASHINGTON — Knicks interim coach Mike Miller already has as many wins this season as his ousted predecessor, David Fizdale.
There’s a reason Knicks general manager Scott Perry, watching Friday’s practice at Georgetown University, was smiling a lot and schmoozing with several of the players individually.
Georgetown coach and Knicks legend Patrick Ewing dropped by to watch practice for 10 minutes and give his blessing. Ironically, it was Fizdale who arranged for the Knicks to practice at Georgetown ahead of Saturday’s game in Washington after reestablishing franchise relations with Ewing.
At the 10-game mark of Miller’s interim term, he is 4-6. President Steve Mills and Perry evaluate seasons in 10-game blocks and met with Miller on Thursday to express satisfaction with the uptick. Fizdale was fired after going 4-18.
“He’s our leader now,’’ forward Julius Randle said of Miller. “He’s doing an amazing job. All buying in from Day 1 since the change happened. We’re buying into being connected, buying into what he’s saying.”
It hasn’t been all wine and roses — as last Monday’s disgraceful 121-115 loss to the Wizards illustrated. But the Knicks are playing with a better defensive disposition after holding the Nets to a historically bad 26.7 percent shooting in Thursday’s 94-82 win at Barclays Center.
Miller has employed an array of tactical changes. His Knicks switch less often on pick-and-rolls and play a lot less zone. Their big men, such as Mitchell Robinson, are excelling at protecting the paint.
Odds are, the Knicks will go after a big-name coach along the lines of Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd, Tom Thibodeau, maybe even Ewing. But at least Miller is giving them pause.
“I think we’ve had some really good games over the last 10 games,’’ Miller said. “I know we’ve learned a lot. That’s what we want to do. We’re either going to win games or we’re going to learn something that helps us win a game later. The team is playing well. We’ve had guys play really well during this stretch. So it’s building. I think we all see it the same way.”
On offense, there has been more room for their top free-agent signee, Randle, to operate and he has been a lot more efficient and less prone to turnovers.
In the 10 games under Miller, Randle is averaging 21.9 (up 5.0 points), shooting 47.4 percent overall and 36.7 percent from 3-point range (up from 24.1). He has scored 30-plus points the past two outings and keyed the win over the Nets by draining a career-high five 3-pointers.
“Coach is doing a great job of putting me in great spots,’’ Randle said. “My teammates are putting me in great spots. Everything I’m doing out there I’m trying to do efficiently and best for the team.”
Despite a measure of success, Miller has remained guarded with the media. He’s nothing like the quote machine that was Fizdale.
The rematch against Washington will be a good test for Miller after the Knicks lost to a depleted Wizards team Monday. Washington may be even more shorthanded with Bradley Beal (sore leg) questionable.
Asked how he has made his changes on the fly without training camp, Miller said: “When you don’t have a lot of practice time you really have to zero in on it. You can’t say we need to get better in these six areas. We don’t have time. So we really have to go to areas. We’re going to get better on this today and move to the next thing tomorrow.’’
Miller, who staged an unheard-of two-hour morning shootaround before the game in Brooklyn, still has to win over some guys who fell in love with Fizdale’s personality. Robinson, who has become less foul-prone under Miller, declined to give the new coach all the credit, perhaps to spare Fizdale embarrassment.
Robinson asserted assistant coach Pat Sullivan is the defensive coordinator and fewer changes than advertised have been made. Robinson still cites the player’s-only meeting hours before the axing as a difference-maker.
“We had a team meeting before whatever happened,’’ Robinson said. “So we were going to step our game up anyway.”
And it should not be discounted that starting point guard Elfrid Payton has emerged as a weapon Fizdale didn’t have. Fizdale lost Payton for 17 straight games.
But the numbers don’t lie. The Knicks are shooting 44.4 percent under Miller — compared to 42.2 in the first 22 games. The past 10 games, they have allowed opponents to shoot 45.2 percent compared to 46.7 percent under Fizdale.
Randle still maintains contact with Fizdale.
“I talked to him and Smarty [fired assistant Keith Smart],’’ Randle said. “He’s been keeping up with us. It’s an invested relationship they have with us. Obviously they’re congratulating us with how we’re doing and it means a lot.’’