Prigioni ‘starting’ to make big impact for Knicks

BOSTON — With the sacred defense of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," the Knicks offer into evidence the following little factoid.

Guard Pablo Prigioni has made five starts. The Knicks are 5-0 in those games.

Want to guess who likely gets his sixth start of the season next to Raymond Felton Wednesday night against the Grizzlies?

"As of late, it's been working," said coach Mike Woodson with the most solid support of the move possible.

The insertion of Prigioni, the 35-year-old rookie from Argentina who starred for years in Spain, has worked in so many ways. It allows Jason Kidd to run the second unit. Felton can concentrate a little more on his offense with essentially a two point guard alignment. And In a way that is very important to Woodson, it helps the defense.

Also, let's not forget that 5-0 thing. But for starters, go with the defense. In those five victories, the Knicks allowed 88.0 points per game, a healthy 7.6 points below the 95.6 they allow on the season.

Prigioni said it's all about pressure and disrupting the opponent's comfort level.

"All my career, I try to press the other point guard full court because I feel if I press the other point guard, maybe he lose some seconds and he have difficulty to organize his team," Prigioni said. "That's why I try to play defense on the other point."

Prigioni had another effective performance in the Knicks 100-85 romp over the Celtics Tuesday night. In 30 minutes, he scored seven points, handed off five assists and came up with two steals.

Woodson, for one, said he appreciates it.

"Pablo, he really has been defensive minded for our ballclub all season and the fact that he initiates the defense when we start games has really helped us, put us in a different light," Woodson said.

Felton, for two, said he also likes the alignment look.

"Pablo has been great for us," Felton said, listing all the usual point guard goodies — smart, low-turnover player. "He's the guy that sparks us to get us started. He's like a little mini-pit bull out there, really aggressive, really gets at guys defensively and he's a very solid point guard. And it gives me the opportunity to play off the ball a bit and look to score a little bit more."

And Prigioni makes three in support because he can be his usual point guard self when Felton freelances, which is sort of important with Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire in the infirmary. The Knicks need more scoring from somewhere.

"When I play with Raymond, he's so aggressive," Prigioni said. "He has points in his hands. He's talented. He can score, so for me if I play with a guard who can score, I try to find him for an open shot or for actions where he can play pick and roll."

fred.kerber@nypost.com

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