Carmelo, Billups used to this

Carmelo Anthony has never missed the playoffs in his eight-year career, so he can't relate to what the fans have endured since the Knicks' last appearance in 2004. "I have never experienced that,'' he said. "I can only imagine how that felt.''

After Sunday night's 123-107 win over the Cavs, the Knicks celebrated with smiles but no champagne. Their longest-tenured player goes back to 2008. "I've probably ran through like 20 or 30 teammates,'' said Toney Douglas, a 2009 first-round pick who has the most continuous service on the team. "I'm blessed and fortunate to be here still.''

Said Chauncey Billups, "For me, it's kind of regular, but I'm excited to be on a team that kind of put New York back in the postseason and playing for something.''

Anthony won't be checking scores to see how the brackets shape up. "At this point, it really doesn't matter, man,'' he said. "It's not going to be easy regardless of who we're going to play. I'm not too concerned about who we would match up with.''

Knicks fix

Eddy Curry recently worked out for the Heat, and there are reports that Miami is close to signing the oft-injured, poorly conditioned former Knicks center. Asked if he is concerned about facing Curry if the Knicks play the Heat in the first round, Donnie Walsh said, "There are other guys that I would worry about, too.'' Fellas named LeBron and Dwyane and Chris . . . The NBA is celebrating Green Week, with the players wearing eco-friendly T-shirts on the bench that read "NBA Green" in green lettering. Asked what he plans to do with his shirt, Cavs coach Byron Scott -- whose hatred for the color dates to his days battling the Celtics with the Lakers in the 1980s -- said, "I'm going to take it home to wash my car."