By MARC BERMAN

Donnie Walsh came to New York with a reputation as being this straightforward guy. It took just a couple of weeks in New York to dispel that one.

After denying a Post report Thursday he was meeting with Jackson, Walsh was actually on a plane to Phoenix to do just that.

Walsh was out of the Garden offices Thursday and Friday, leading to rumors he could be out West to meet with Jackson. Walsh said Friday he would give no updates, through a spokesman. As if this pow-wow was going to solve world peace. It’s not like the free world didn’t already know Jax was the lead candidate.

Walsh and Jax actually met Thursday before Jax did the Suns-Spurs telecast tonight. The crew had decided not to address the Knicks coaching search on the air to keep with the secrecy. Walsh is acting like Scott Layden did in his covert operations.