Knicks Morning News (2017.03.04)

A loss for the Knicks. A big victory for their number of Ping Pong balls.

Carmelo Anthony is longing for the playoffs.

PHILADELPHIA — There is a segment of NBA followers who believe the fastest way to rebuild the Knicks is to tank the rest of this frustrating season to improve their chances of getting the first or second pick in the upcoming draft. Never mind that the Knicks still have a long-shot chance of qualifying for…

PHILADELPHIA — Carmelo Anthony missed the shot and Derrick Rose took the blame. Another last-possession loss — and the Knicks probably won’t recover from this one. With the Knicks trailing by one, Anthony ended a disjointed night by missing a left-of-the-lane 14-foot fadeaway over a 76ers double-team with three seconds left as Philadelphia hung on…

PHILADELPHIA – If point guard Jrue Holiday is to leave New Orleans as a free agent, the Knicks have an ace in the hole in drawing the former UCLA product the club passed up in the 2009 draft. Justin Holiday told The Post he and his brother have talked about playing together since they were…

PHILADELPHIA – Saying he “misses the playoffs a lot,’’ Carmelo Anthony said it’s impossible for a player to embrace the tanking bandwagon across the final 21 games. The Knicks, who lost 105-102 to the Sixers on Friday night, are 4 1/2 games out of the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, needing to hop…

PHILADELPHIA — When the Knicks close their eyes at night, do they have nightmares of Franklin the Dog, the 76ers’ blue-furred mascot? Do they shudder when they see a cheesesteak? Because for a team that entered Friday night’s game preaching the importance of playing as if they still have a shot at the playoffs, the truth is that their greatest foil is none other than the 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA — The Knicks may have been neck-deep in 76ers territory for the last two days, but that doesn’t mean they were all that keen about taking part in the local custom. While 76ers management appears to have made tanking an art form, Carmelo Anthony said Friday that it is a “terrible way to think.”

Should the Knicks tank, or should they go for it all?

Happy 35th birthday, Henrik Lundqvist! But more because of the 35 part than the birthday part.

The 76ers, a team with little to look forward to this season, pulled out a 105-102 victory, thwarting several late opportunities for the Knicks.

Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ president and controlling owner, withdrew her court request after her brothers backed down on calling for a board meeting she felt was a move against her.

Cleveland’s Kyle Korver made the record-setting 3 in his return to Atlanta against the Hawks.

Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony both missed shots in the final 47 seconds as the 76ers edged the Knicks 105-102 Friday night in Philadelphia.

The Knicks’ Justin Holiday hopes the team pursues his brother Jrue in free agency this offseason.

The New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center.

TheKnicksBlog Podcast: Noah Way Out

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers meet for the third time this season after their two previous games came down to the wire.

Lance Thomas is finally healthy and proving himself, which could provide some value to the Knicks this offseason.