Think of the Westchester Knicks as a D-League trigonometry class. And think of the NBA Development League as a minor league with a bright future.
The triangle offense was the on-court focus Wednesday night at the Westchester County Center in White Plains as the baby Knicks lost their inaugural home opener, 88-84, to the Canton Charge.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was on hand, taking pictures with fans, and sat next to Knicks owner James Dolan in baseline seats by the D-Knicks’ bench.
“It’s fantastic to be here, my mom was a public high school teacher here in White Plains,’’ Silver said, “and so it is especially gratifying to be back here. I came to events here in the ’70s when I was in high school, so it is special.’’
You can be sure the NBA and the Knicks want to make this team and this league grow in a big way.
Westchester County executive Rob Astorino said the Knicks are committed to making this a long-term success. Former Knick Larry Johnson was courtside, as was former St. John’s star Felipe Lopez, who told The Post, “You can tell the fans are going to love this.’’
The game was streamed live on YouTube.
Some D-Knicks to keep an eye on are former St. Joseph’s guard Langston Galloway and forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the Knicks’ second-round pick in the 2014 draft. Guard Todd Mayo, who is not eligible to be promoted to the Knicks until next season, is a player to watch, too.
“Those guys are really six inches away from making that jump,’’ Westchester coach Kevin Whitted said. “My goal is to see guys go and get that secure contract.’’
Said Allan Houston, general manager of the Westchester Knicks: “I’m excited for the guys, the players. We just want them to feel that this will be a special time for them. We want them to feel our commitment to their development and their growth. We want them to feel that this is a special, unique experience.”
This unique Art Deco building seats 2,100 fans for Westchester Knicks games, and this was a sellout. Most of the seats are right above the action in an old-school gym style. When perennial state champion Mount Vernon plays here in the Section 1 Championships, this place is rocking with 5,000 fans, as grandstands are added.
Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, the anti-triangle coach, used to stop in for games, and this is one intimate venue.
The Knicks City Dancers were here to entertain the fans along with the team’s drummers, called the Knicks Sticks. A hot dog is $3.25.
Whitted is taking on the role of triangle teacher, and why not, he spends so much time at the NBA team’s practice facility, about four miles away, with Knicks coach Derek Fisher and team president Phil Jackson.
“It’s going well,’’ Whitted said. “We’re still in the learning curve in terms of gaining knowledge about it. From a systems standpoint, we know how to run it, the key is getting an understanding of how and why we do things within the system to be an instinctive player.’’
That is the challenge with the Garden Knicks, as well as the 0-2 D-League Knicks.
“Our language is the same [as the NBA Knicks’], so if you have a player from this team joining the Knicks, it’s a smooth transition,’’ Whitted said. “It’s a day-to-day communication with Derek and his assistants. It’s really a family atmosphere’’
Whitted said the most difficult aspect of the triangle is “the mindset.”
“When I say ‘mindset,’ that means surrendering the me for the we,’’ the coach said.
He can’t overload his players with information.
“It’s like serving dinner: You give them a great appetizer, and you don’t want to give them too much meat, steak and chicken is too much,’’ Whitted said. “You have to give them fish. You can digest it quicker.’’
Noted Galloway: “I could have went overseas but I wanted to stay here and develop here. The triangle is all about players moving. It’s not that hard, but you’re pretty much learning basketball all over again.’’
That’s what the D-League is all about.