Mardy Gets The Point

Mardy Collins has one heck of a comfort zone.

“I think I bring a little different aspect to the team,” says Collins, the second of the Knicks’ two first-round picks (and 29th overall) in last month’s NBA Draft. “I’ve been playing some point but (Isiah) basically explained to me that he wants me on the team because when the ball’s in my hands, good decisions are going to be made.”

The 6-foot-6 Collins, who’s making his professional debut in this week’s Toshiba Vegas Summer League, carved out a terrific four-year career under the legendary John Chaney at Temple. He led Owls to four NIT appearances, made the All-Atlantic-10 First Team twice and ended his college career as the fourth-leading career scorer in school history (1,919 points).

To hear Collins tell it, the Knicks didn’t register all that strongly on his radar screen as Draft Night approached.

“It never came to mind, but I did do a workout for them. But during the Draft it never really came to mind,” says the Philadelphia native, who turns 22 next month. “When they picked me, I was real excited about the whole situation. But it wasn’t really on my mind. I really didn’t think too much about the Knicks, even though I did work out for them.”

But that workout definitely resonated with the Knicks, and now Collins is being educated in the pro game, from one point guard to another.

“I’m not going to do anything flashy or anything like that,” he says. “I’m just going to make the right pass, the pass you’re supposed to make. I’m just going to try and kind of level the other players off. Playing with Steph or (Steve) Francis, smaller guys, I can guard the bigger guys. Those are basically the things (Isiah’s) been trying to tell me and teach me.”

Signed to a Knicks contract on July 5, Collins has started each of the first four games in Summer League, averaging 6.8 points on .423 shooting (11-for-26 FGA) over 19.0 minutes. He scored 10 points in Tuesday’s 23-point win over Detroit, and has committed just two turnovers in his last three games.

“I always know I have to work on my shooting, that’s one aspect I know I have to work on,” says Collins, a career .399 shooter at Temple. “In Summer League right now, I’m just trying to get some experience, get used to playing with some of the guys on the team, and just try to get comfortable with some of the things Isiah’s going to want me to do.”

In Philly, Collins played in a city where – according to legend – fans would boo Santa Claus. The demanding eye and sophistication of the New York fan, of course, are legendary. But as he embarks on his pro career, Collins already has one in-house critic: his fiancee Ari Moore, who starred on Temple’s women’s hoop team and was named the squad’s Unsung Hero as a senior in 2005.

It makes for some interesting post-game analysis.

“She’s been my biggest critic since we’ve been together, so it’s tough,” laughs Collins, who has an infant son with Moore. “This past season, I had to tell her to calm it down a little bit when I come home. I’m really not in the mood to hear some of that stuff, so I had to tell her to calm it down a little bit.

“She gets on me about little things, because she wants me to be the best player I can be. She’s going to be watching every game and make it to every home game.”

VEGAS FINALE: With a 3-1 mark, Knicks have already assured themselves of a winning Summer League record. . .Following a day off Wednesday, Knicks conclude play in the Toshiba Vegas Summer League on Thursday afternoon, facing the Washington Wizards at Cox Pavilion. Game time is 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, and the game will be shown live on MSG Network with Gus Johnson and Walt Frazier.