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David Fizdale’s playoff trip telling sign for Damyean Dotson

Road trip!

Knicks coach David Fizdale is taking Frank Ntilikina and some of his young charges to Boston for Wednesday’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at TD Garden, according to an NBA source.

Fizdale, whose stated goal is to establish “great relationships” with his players, will bring along two of his young point guards in Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay as well as the Knicks’ 2017 second-round pick, shooting guard Damyean Dotson, on a trip to Beantown.

According to the source, Fizdale hopes it will be a bonding experience they learn from, as the three players, all 24 and younger, experience the intensity level and atmosphere of a championship-level playoff game.

The Celtics beat the Cavaliers 96-83 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead and move a victory from the NBA Finals. Ntilikina returned from a five-week visit to France on Sunday and met with Fizdale for the first time on Monday at the Knicks’ Tarrytown facility. Fizdale had an informal workout with Ntilikina, Mudiay, Troy Williams and Dotson, who could become an integral part of the young core with Fizdale.





Dotson, 24, likely will move up on the ladder next season over Ron Baker, who went through an injury-riddled sophomore jinx of a campaign and was considered Jeff Hornacek’s guy.

LeBron James entered Game 5 possibly two games from the end of his time with the Cavaliers. Fizdale has a past relationship with James, who is expected to become a free agent.





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