Amar’e Stoudemire Could Return For Second Round
Added on Apr 24, 2013 by Scott in
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Injured Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire is still rehabbing a clean-up procedure on his ailing right knee, but he’s confident he’ll be able to return to the lineup perhaps as soon as the second-round of the playoffs, provided New York advances past Boston. He has yet to run at full speed, so there are no guarantees. The Knicks have fared well without Stoudemire, which could stall his comeback.
Veteran Kenyon Martin, who returned from his own injuries prior to the postseason, has been a revelation in two wins against Boston, grabbing 20 rebounds and blocking 6 shots coming off the bench. While he might not possess Stoudemire’s offensive skills, Martin makes up for it with inspired defense and physical play in the paint.
Head coach Mike Woodson believes a healthy Stoudemire can slide back into the rotation with ease, but he might not be overly eager to upset the apple cart. The Knicks will need all the defense they can muster later in the playoffs, and Martin fills that void.
On the flipside, a potential matchup down the road with the vaunted Heat will necessitate a jolt of offense, which is where Stoudemire’s availability would be a luxury. Carmelo Anthony has been lights out as of late, but when facing LeBron, Wade and Ray Allen, another reliable scorer who can play inside and out couldn’t hurt.
Messing with chemistry that is clearly working is always a risky proposition. The current rotation is serving the Knicks well, especially with a healthy Martin regaining some of the magic from his younger days. Taking away minutes from other players who are making valuable contributions to make room for someone who may or may not be 100%, no matter how talented, is a gamble.
Of course all this speculation and debate will be moot if Stoudemire isn’t cleared by doctors. For now, the Knicks should be focused on finishing off the Celtics before concerning themselves with who will or won’t be on the active roster in round two.
Source: ESPN.com
