AROUND THE NBA : Can MacLeod’s Knicks Ever Make the Grade?

Some people would appear to be slow learners, but then they don’t have the advantages New Yorkers have. They don’t get daily reports from the Knicks’ hierarchy. They don’t have the nation’s most sophisticated media probing, analyzing and explaining exactly what the Knicks are up to . . . which is why people from other parts of the country keep calling and asking, “What are the Knicks doing?”

First, some background. Stu Jackson was fired because General Manager Al Bianchi, who insisted the team had the talent to win a championship, said the Knicks were underachieving. John MacLeod, a master teacher on par with Grasshopper’s mentor in “Kung Fu,” was brought in to channel the greatness in the proper direction.

Everyone, cynics included, must have noticed that two of MacLeod’s initial moves were to install Jerrod Mustaf as the sixth man and insert John Starks into the playing rotation.

So it is quite simple to deduce that once MacLeod teaches the Knicks to play fundamental basketball, and a 21-year-old rookie and CBA graduate are comfortable in their roles, the Knicks will be on their way to a championship.

Now, is that so hard to understand?

The Clippers have a reputation of being a mixed-up franchise, and recent reports indicate the reputation is deserved. The Clippers have been accused of trying to trade Danny Manning, but they say they are not. Executives from other teams say the real story is that Manning is available, but the Clippers don’t know what they want. That makes perfect Clippers sense.

Around the league: The Lakers are assured of representing the NBA in the fifth McDonald’s Open next October in Paris. . . . The gory quote of the week was made by the Lakers’ Sam Perkins after Bernard King scored 40 against L.A. Perkins was asked how King could be stopped, and he responded: “Cut off one of his arms, hang him on the wall and call him art.” . . .