Anthony’s stay in N.Y. may be near its end

Knicks president Phil Jackson thinks forward Carmelo Anthony and the team might be better off going their separate ways after New York missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

“We have not been able to win with him on the court at this time,” Jackson said Friday. “And I think the direction with our team is that he is a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere he can win or chase that championship.”

Jackson stopped short of saying he wants to trade Anthony, who is a 10-time AllStar, but he certainly seems eager to explore a deal that would help the Knicks get younger and more athletic.

Anthony, 32, who has two years remaining on a five-year contract that includes a notrade clause, met with Jackson on Thursday.

“We just talked about how we could make things the best possible for both of us,” Jackson said, find “a place where he could go to be competitive and to be back in the hunt, and something that would benefit us moving forward as a young, developing team.” Cavaliers-Pacers: Their fierce on-the-floor rivalry blossomed into a strong friendship that will be put on hold. Cleveland’s LeBron James and Indiana’s Paul George are about to face off again in the NBA playoffs.

“We have a job to do,” George said.

The second-seeded Cavaliers, whose path through the Eastern Conference to a third straight NBA Finals appearance may not be the slam dunk once believed, begin defense of their title Saturday in the first round against the seventhseeded Pacers. The JamesGeorge matchup will likely set the tone for the series.

They’ve previously squared off in the postseason when James was with the Heat and before George suffered a horrific leg injury that threatened his career. But George has not only bounced back, the AllStar forward said he’s been aiming for a shot at the champions.

“It’s who I’ve wanted to match up against,” he said.