And this is why nothing, beyond Commandments, ever is etched in stone.
Coach Mike Woodson explained that in the Knicks’ developing platoon system, Kenyon Martin would sit and Amar’e Stoudemire would play Tuesday against Charlotte.
One Tyson Chandler injury later and the system went by the wayside — along with the Knicks, who early on were at their defensively inept worst and never recovered in a 102-97 loss to the Bobcats at Madison Square Garden.
“I told him [Woodson] before halftime, ‘If you need me, I’m ready,’ ” said Martin, who started the second half and finished with two points and one rebound in 18 physical minutes (four fouls). “I’m always ready. I prepare like I’m going to play. So you never know. Anything could happen. Something did happen.”
And while Martin was a presence in his time, Stoudemire played 11 dreadful minutes. To say Stoudemire — who has undergone three knee surgeries in 10 months — looked rusty, would be to insult the underside of a ’52 Buick. Stoudemire had two points, three rebounds — and five turnovers.
In one cringe-worthy, third-quarter sequence, Stoudemire grabbed a rebound, promptly lost it out of bounds and complained to draw a technical. He then committed another turnover, losing the ball on the Knicks’ subsequent possession.
“It’s going to get better,” Stoudemire said. “I’m just so anxious. I’m my hardest critic. I want to perform at a high level as soon as I can. The coaching staff tells me, ‘Amar’e, this is really your training camp, this is your preseason, so just take it easy. It’s a long year.’”
And a long night.
“It’s very tough. You’re playing 10 minutes a night. From the outside,” Stoudemire said. “It’s hard to really notice how tough it is. You’re out there, the game is so fast and all of a sudden now you have to get pulled out.”
Woodson may have to rethink the workings of his platoon system. But first, he needs word on Chandler, who went down after just 6:35 of the first quarter. Without him, the defense stunk and the Knicks were clobbered on the boards 51-33.
“I got a lot to think about right now, with Tyson being out and Kenyon and Amar’e on restricted minutes,” Woodson said. “Kenyon’s minutes kind of grew a little bit tonight. I got to keep an eye on that … I sense [Stoudemire’s] frustration because I know he wants to be out there. … He had been playing decent in the minutes he had been playing. Tonight he couldn’t handle the basketball. It’s tough because he doesn’t get a chance to practice a lot.”
If Chandler misses any length of time, Martin stressed he is ready — just like last season.
“They brought me back for a reason. I’m here, I’m ready,” Martin said. “I hope it don’t come to that. I hope the big fella is not going to be out but if he is going to miss any time, I’m ready.”