Amar’e: Coaches never gave me & Melo a shot

MIAMI — Amar’e Stoudemire, reflecting on his five-year Knicks career, said he wished his previous coaches had used him and Carmelo Anthony more strategic ally, believing they could have blossomed.

Of course, his chronic knee issues were part of the reason the Stoudemire-Anthony connection did not lead to great things.

Stoudemire, now a member of the Heat who missed Monday’s game against the Knicks with the flu, also weighed in on last season’s disgrace, saying not enough players bought into the triangle system.

But before that, Stoudemire said he and Anthony wanted to run more pick-and-rolls in the two-man game but couldn’t get the coaches on board, probably referring to Mike D’Antoni and Mike Woodson.

“I don’t think we had enough opportunities to play together,’’ Stoudemire said in the Heat locker room. “I moved to the bench and [became the] sixth, seventh man. When I was in the game, Melo, he was out of the game and vice versa. When we did play together, we showed some flashes of what we could do on the pick-and-roll.

“I don’t think that pick-androll offense between Melo and I was ever taken advantage of, which we could have.’’

The Stoud em ire-Anthony pairing never got past the second round of the playoffs in four springs together.

“At times we could’ve taken advantage of our opportunity a lot more,’’ said Stoudemire, who missed 110 games in his time with the Knicks. “It wasn’t up to Melo and I. It was up to the coaching staff to figure that part out. We could never get the right system to figure that part out.’’

Nor did his teammates last season buy into the new offense as the Knicks plummeted to a 5-32 record before Phil Jackson blew up the roster Jan. 5. Stoudemire survived until the All-Star break in late February, when he negotiated a buyout to sign with Dallas.

Stoudemire said he loves what he sees from this Knicks’ squad because they look like they are accepting their offensive roles.

“Absolutely, no question about that,’’ Stoudemire said when asked whether last season’s players did not buy into the system. “We had great talent. We had players who were at hl et i c, physical, defensiveminded, offensive-minded. A well-rounded team that year.

“But it took more time than I was willing to accept to buy into the system.’’