The Knicks lost to the Celtics Tuesday, 108-97, just two days after thumping the Lakers. What did you expect? Back-to-back victories over NBA royalty?

OK, maybe thats a wistful, throwback, 80s kind of viewpoint. Todays standings amount to a cruel joke played on all NBA fans of a certain age. This aint your daddys big-market league, and these certainly arent your daddys Knicks or Celtics. What kind of weird world is this, in which Atlanta, Toronto, Portland, San Antonio, Memphis and Oakland command respect? Not a good one, unless youre one of those parity freaks.

The loss to Boston snapped a four-game Garden streak, but then losses are victories now, as long as were counting lottery Ping-Pong balls a worthwhile pastime that the Knicks foolishly had abandoned in recent weeks. They thankfully resorted to bad habits against Boston, falling behind early. Carmelo Anthonys knees looked very sore for much of the evening.

We didnt start the game with a purpose and an energy, and the Celtics did, Derek Fisher said. We never really could get the game back under control.

Or, as Anthony put it, We seemed dead out there.

Just another dreary day at the office. If you scripted the worst season possible for an NBA team, it would surely resemble this campaign of 2014-15:

Start with high expectations, due to the arrival of a high-paid, luminary executive, a well-hyped offensive system and the healthy return of a superstar scorer. Then commence with one gigantic losing streak after another, eliminating the team from any remote chance of a playoff spot, demoralizing athletes, coaches and spectators alike.

Next, dump some players, sign a bunch of 10-day-contract guys to fill the roster and retain the cap space. And then, just when it seems that a top draft pick is inevitable, begin to win some meaningless games against weak opponents while utilizing players who surely will not be playing major roles next season. The recent string of wins against bum-of-the-night opponents had served to propel the Knicks above the Sixers and Timberwolves, threatening to lower the Knicks chances of getting Jahlil Okafor.

So there is really no reason to celebrate much of anything. And yet, the fans came again to the Garden. They always do. It is to the great credit, or shame, of this citys loyal, curious spectator base. The Ranger fans are loyal. The Knick fans are curious, though it is hard to imagine what mystery they see in this squad.

Phil Jackson basically declared the season dead last month during one of his rare press conferences, then repeated his funereal speech recently to the New York Times.

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