Focus shifts to stopping second-half swoons

A rather eloquent philosopher/ essayist-type once noted, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

So the K nick sin general, and Trey Burke in particular, remember the last meeting with the 76ers, who invade the Garden on Thursday. The Knicks have lost 16-of 17 games, including eight straight, and one of those 16 defeats came Feb. 12 in Philadelphia, where point guard T.J. McConnell forged his f irst career triple-double: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists — and six steals — in a 108-92 Philly win.

“They [brought] it to us last time, their backcourt in general,” Burke said Wednesday after Knicks practice in Tarrytown. “McConnell in particular, I think he had a triple-double. That’s definitely in the back of our minds.”

And Burke stressed the Knicks, who usually fall apart in the third quarter, must finish what they start.

“There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to come out with the intensity we need to win the game, but it’s not the first half,” said Burke, battling a sore wrist. “Everybody knows that. It’s always that third quarter, that second half where we have stretches where we are kind of a different team. We can’t allow that to happen.”

Burke said his right wrist has been bothering him on the inside of his arm but he can still play. After the season, he may have more extensive tests.

“The wrist feels better. I’m about to get treatment on it now,” Burke said, noting rest and ice are his preferred options now. “The inside has been bothering me a little bit. It’s nothing that’s going to keep me from playing. End of the season, you’re going to have those nagging injuries where you can get treatment and continue to ice and take care of it so you’re ready to play. I’ll be ready.

“After the season, I don’t think I’ll need an X-ray, but I’ll get one just to be safe. Right now it’s just about maintenance, continuing to ice it and do the things I need to do to be ready to play.”

Ti m Hardaway Jr. and Lance Thomas (personal reasons) did not practice Wednesday. Hardaway tweaked his ankle against Dallas. Coach Jeff Hornacek did not think Hardaway’s injury was too severe.

“Knowing Tim, if it’s not a stress fracture, he’ll play,” Hornacek said.