Knicks return to iso ‘Melo, get knocked out of playoffs by Heat

This year was supposed to be different for New York, and it certainly was unlike any season you can remember — Linsanity, injuries, Mike D’Antoni out and Mike Woodson in, a return to ‘Melo ball not seen since Denver.

But it ended like every Knicks playoff series since 2000 — without the team advancing past the first round.

In Game 5 on Wednesday, New York returned to an isolation-heavy, Carmelo Anthony-focused offense against a Heat team that had proven three previous times they could beat that pretty easily. Anthony and J.R. Smith combined to take 60 percent of the Knicks’ shots, while LeBron James had seven assists to go with his 29 points, got teammates involved and the Miami Heat cruised to a 106-94 win and a 4-1 series win.

The Heat will face the Indiana Pacers in the next round.

The Heat were favored to win this series because they had too many athletes and too much talent for the Knicks to handle. When Iman Shumpert was lost with a knee injury and Amare Stoudemire had to miss a game after smashing his hand through a fire extinguisher glass case in frustration after Game 2, the Knicks’ fate was sealed.

Still, this Game 5 loss has to be frustrating for Knicks fans because the team went away from the formula that worked in Game 4. In that game Anthony and Stoudemire played off each other, all of the Knicks players got involved and they played smart defense.

But back in Miami for Game 5, it was like ‘Melo put on blinders and jacked up 31 shots and had just one assist. But at least he made 15 of his shots and scored 35 points — Smith was 3-for-15 but would not stop shooting or taking bad, selfish shots. Stoudemire fouled out with just seven shots and 14 points. Tom Haberstroh of ESPN points out that for the series Anthony and Smith took 200 shots, the rest of the Knicks combined for 121.

LeBron was the anti-Carmelo — he got teammates involved and racked up seven dimes. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh played well and each had 19 points. Miami took away good looks for the Knicks from three (4-for-13) and after a close opening 18 minutes pulled away for an easy win.

The Knicks now face some offseason questions, starting with how serious an overhaul do they think they need? If they bring back a starting four of Shumpert, Anthony, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, then add a veteran point guard like Steve Nash (or Jason Kidd as a fallback) is that enough? Is it with Mike Woodson returning as coach? Or do the Knicks need to think bigger overhaul, like trying to move Stoudemire and bring in a different big name that meshes better with Anthony?

There are no easy answers, although my guess is next year’s Knicks look a lot like the Knicks we just saw with just a few additions. But now Knicks fans and management can debate the issue, they have time.

The Heat have bigger issues to focus on, starting with Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger.