Raymond Felton played with deep bone bruises in each hand during the early section of last season and never missed a game — or a beat. As far as guys willing to play hurt, Felton is tops on the Knicks, though Metta World Peace could give him a run for his money.
Felton has a strained left hamstring, but it’s been largely ignored because he’s not one to jabber about it. He played last season on Christmas Day with what turned out to a broken pinkie. Broken in three places, he found out later.
Felton was yanked in the second half from the preseason game in Baltimore on Oct. 17 with a hamstring injury then sat out the next two contests. He played in a limited fashion in the preseason finale against the Bobcats on Friday.
The injury has not gone away. Hamstrings tend to be tricky.
“I can’t say I’m 100 percent,’’ Felton said after Tuesday’s practice. “But I’m good. I’m playing.’’
Felton made most fans forget about Linsanity last season, engineering a club with the lowest turnover rate in the league. But Felton wasn’t perfect. He struggled defensively against quicker point guards and was outplayed by Pacers’ George Hill in the Knicks’ second-round playoff exit. In the Game 6 clincher, Felton didn’t have a field goal.
Felton’s hamstring may not be a big issue in Wednesday’s season opener against young Bucks point guard Brandon Knight. Thursday’s quick turnaround for Game 2 in Chicago against Derrick Rose, out for blood after a so-so opener against the Heat, could get ugly.
It would not be surprising if the Knicks put Iman Shumpert on Rose on Thursday in a battle of players with repaired ACLs. (Shumpert is the Chicago guard whom President Obama didn’t welcome back from ACL surgery on Twitter.)
Felton and Shumpert saw little time together in the backcourt during preseason or last season. Felton played best alongside another point guard: either Jason Kidd or Pablo Prigioni. Scouts thought the Knicks’ ball movement was lacking in the preseason, and it is partly Felton’s job to make sure it does not stick. He has talked about being more of a leader this season.
Felton and Shumpert have yet to have enough time together to click as a tandem. Felton might prefers having Prigioni with him to create better ball movement.
“We could put two, maybe three different starting fives on the court,’’ Felton said. “That’s how good we are.’’
Felton doesn’t lack for confidence — in himself or the club.
“We still got pretty much the same team as last year,’’ Felton said. “We got all the depth, talent and leadership. [A title] is the ultimate goal for sure. That’s we’re working hard for.’’
As long as his hammy holds up.