Michael Ventre

Technically, Madison Square Garden isn’t considered part of The Great White Way, where shows like “Spamalot” and “Mamma Mia” are wowing audiences in matinee and evening performances. But when certain athletes hit town and play within its confines, the lights seem a little brighter, and eyes grow a little wider.

Kobe Bryant, he of the 81 points, is such an individual. And Tuesday night he comes to New York to play the Knicks with his popularity on the rise after a long slog through a sexual abuse case, a spat with Shaquille O’Neal, the breakup of a championship-caliber team and an aimless sojourn to find his place in the NBA pecking order.

But now that he’s found it, he would be wise to forget the outpouring of awe that came with his record-setting 81-point effort against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22 and learn to share.

In a strange paradox that typifies the unexpected twists of a high-profile professional sports career, the 81 points raised the appreciation level of someone considered by many to be the game’s finest all-around player. Yet it also could ignite a downturn in his approval ratings if he doesn’t learn from it to shoot less often and work harder to get his teammates involved.

That’s why this MSG special is so intriguing. Which Kobe will everyone see? The perceived ball hog who will use the old “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” adage as a challenge to hoist a veritable thunderstorm of shots? Or will it be Kobe the Magnanimous, who will pass the basketball to Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom and Sasha Vujacic, even though, despite the best efforts of many, they’re still Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom and Sasha Vujacic?

EXPLOSIVE KOBE BRYANT Bryant starts new month, in Indiana Big January sets high expectations Ventre: Kobe must share if he wants title Kobe 'embarrassed' by talk of 81-point night TSN: Most dazzling, but not most valuable JT the Brick: One of greatest of all-time Litke: Kobe-haters running out of excuses Vote: What will Kobe do next? Where does scoring night rank?

There have been many mysteries played out on the stages of this theatrical mecca, but few with this kind of natural intrigue.

Unfortunately, clues as to what will happen when Kobe and his Lakers take on the Knicks in their only New York appearance of the 2005-06 season Tuesday night can’t be gleaned from the opening game of L.A.’s seven-game road trip, which occurred Sunday in Detroit. In that one, Kobe threw up 28 shots — Mihm and Smush Parker were the next closest teammates in that department, with 12 field-goal attempts apiece — and made 12. He finished with 39 points, still above his average of 35.9.

But the Pistons are a good team. Check that, they’re a great team, with a great defense. Kobe’s performance against them was not indicative of a player with choices. The Pistons threw a blanket on him, he responded fairly well. But he wasn’t allowed the free will to decide whether to be a chucker or a sharer.

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The Knicks are a different kettle of dead fish altogether. Coach Larry Brown has prided himself on his teams’ defense over the years. But he doesn’t have the henchmen on this current Knicks’ squad to carry out his wishes. Currently New York is 26^th out of 30 teams in terms of points allowed, giving up just a hair more than 100 per contest.

In the previous meeting this season between the Lakers and Knicks, on Nov. 16 in Staples Center, Bryant scored 42 points on 15-of-36 shooting to lead L.A. to a 97-92 victory.