ATLANTA — Don’t take my word for it.

Don’t take the basketball bloviators’ word for it.

Hell, don’t take your own word for it, or rely on your own lyin’ eyes to make an argument for it.

Take the Knicks’ word for it. Specifically, take Miles McBride’s word for it and, let’s be honest, if Deuce is willing to say this — and Deuce will never be confused with Charles Barkley for saying things that grab you by the lapels and make you pay attention — then you can take it on faith that this represents the majority view in the Knicks locker room: