Jeff Van Gundy sent as loud a message to his team as the Nets did last night, suggesting a major shake-up after the Nets convincingly earned bragging rights as the best basketball team in the area.

As the second half opened and the Knicks trailed by 23 points, Allan Houston sat on the bench, alongside Mark Jackson, both wearing looks of gloom.

With the newfangled lineup that included offseason former Jazz additions Shandon Anderson at shooting guard and Howard Eisley at point guard, the Knicks staged a manic rally, crawling back into the game in the third quarter. The Knicks actually got within two points in the final minute of the third before collapsing in a 109-83 changing-of-the-guard-type loss at the Meadowlands.

Is Van Gundy at least entertaining thoughts of using Anderson and Eisley in the starting lineup tomorrow in L.A. against the Clippers and benching Houston and Jackson? Van Gundy wouldn’t say as the steamed coach told reporters afterward:

“There’s a bunch of hard decisions coming for our team. It would be premature for me to speak about anything right after an emotional loss.”

Van Gundy’s statement raised all sorts of scenarios, even the return of Charlie Ward to the rotation. Van Gundy could have been referring to potential trades, too, after such a demeaning loss that dropped them to 4-6 as they head out West for a three-game trip that also includes Golden State and Phoenix. But Van Gundy was not specific and said “not to infer” specifics.

Houston continued his defensive problems and was sloppy with the ball (four turnovers). Anderson is a much better defender. The overmatched Jackson was unable to keep up with Jason Kidd in the first half. Kidd ripped through the Knick defense in dishing out 12 first-half assists.

Asked about possible lineup changes, Latrell Sprewell, who finished with 25 points, said, “It’s totally Jeff’s call. I have no say. We had somewhat of a wakeup call. Jeff ripped us at halftime, so regardless of who was in the game, I think guys would’ve stepped up whoever was out there. It just so happened it was a changed lineup. We just came out with the passion it takes to compete. We didn’t compete until the third quarter.”

Kerry Kittles, not Kidd, won back the game for the Nets, hitting a trey, putting in an offensive rebound, and stripping Houston at midcourt, sailing in for a breakaway layup in the final minute to push the lead back up to nine points after three quarters.

“It was tough because we were right there and we let it slip,” said Houston.