Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Metta World Peace each may think they are the toughest guys in the Knicks locker room. But there isn’t a doubt who is the toughest on the basketball court: Kenyon Martin.
And in some ways, with center Tyson Chandler out, Martin has become as important as anyone on the roster.
Sunday’s matinee massacre proved it again. Martin has not played in the Knicks’ two most embarrassing defeats: the 31-point humiliation by the Spurs on Nov. 10 and the 41-point stunner against the Celtics.
Yes, they were both afternoon home games coming off Saturday nights. But they also were games minus Martin, the rugged defender who certainly would have laid a hard foul or two on Jared Sullinger or another Celtic in an attempt to quell the landslide. He doesn’t hamper the offense because he only shoots when he’s wide, wide open.
Martin elected to sit out Sunday to rest his chronic left ankle injury, and he is listed as probable for Tuesday’s game in Cleveland.
Last time he sat out, against the Spurs, it wasn’t his call. The Knicks shut him down as part of their silly platoon system, rotating Martin every other game with Amar’e Stoudemire.
After the San Antonio rout, Martin spoke out to the press then met with coach Mike Woodson. That’s when he convinced the Knicks to abolished the platoon. Martin was allowed to play every game, even back-to-backs. The deal was if he felt his ankle was not right, he would sit.
Martin also was bothered by the ankle situation late last season. According to a source, the ankle swelled up severely in the playoffs against the Pacers. And he played.
The ruggedness and grit may have stopped Boston somewhat. Martin averages 3.6 points and 4.0 rebounds, not a box-score stuffer. But he’s everything else. Missing Martin and Chandler became too much Sunday.
They couldn’t even compete, especially with Andrea Bargnani clanking iron and Raymond Felton and Shumpert trying to outdo each other for ineptness.
The Knicks were dumbfounded by the horror show coming off two terrific 30-point wins. They had no spirit, no jump shot, no energy, no coaching. (The Celtics’ Brad Stevens is available in two years).
Martin makes the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million, and former Glen Grunwald was reluctant to re-sign him until late July, worried about his health. There is still concern about his health. Who knew how valuable Martin would become on this maddeningly inconsistent ballclub?