"Mike D'Antoni sounds optimistic that he will have Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony for all three games over the next three nights as the Knicks get to see what they're made of.

But as for his own immediate future, D'Antoni knows the heat is still on, even with his Knicks coming off an easy win over the dreadful Pistons.

"The only thing (Tuesday night) proved is that I can get one good night's sleep," D'Antoni said after practice Wednesday in Greenburgh. "That's the only thing that happened. We're still 8-13, and the posse is after me. I'm running as fast as I can run. And hopefully I can turn the posse into a parade. That's my focus, and I'm working as hard as I can work.""