Beaches are nice this time of year, and with the money owed to Kenyon Martin, he could have relaxed on one. Or bought one.
But the Nuggets’ Martin didn’t retire and limp off with guaranteed money after his second microfracture knee surgery. Instead, he diligently rehabilitated. And now, he is earning his money by banging his body against the big bullies in the paint.
Lately, the power forward has played his best basketball of the season. Martin averages 10.7 points per game and 6.5 rebounds, but in the past five games he has averaged 13.0 and 8.8.
“It’s tough to come back from one microfracture, and he’s coming back from two,” Nuggets center Marcus Camby said. “Slowly but surely, he’s getting back to running and getting himself as the Kenyon Martin from New Jersey. And we’re definitely happy about that. And we definitely need it, with Nene being out.”
Martin, who signed a seven-year, $92.5 million contract in 2004, was previously an all-star with the Nets, where he thrived on intense defense and mammoth dunks. He has been doing that lately for Denver. In Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Jazz, Martin scored 18 points with 10 rebounds in 43 minutes. He also made four steals, tying a season-high. His double-double was the second in as many games, and fifth on the season.
“I’m healthy, and just trying to keep doing the same things I’ve been doing,” Martin said. “And the more minutes I get, I think the more productive I can be.”
Nene is out indefinitely following the removal of a testicular tumor, so Martin is really Denver’s only brawny power forward.
While Martin’s numbers are up, he pointed out that some of his most rewarding work isn’t quantifiable.
“The way this league is, people get caught up in numbers — steals, blocks, things like that,” he said. “But I do my job well — I’m first and foremost known as a defender.”
Fixing a hole.
After Wednesday’s overtime loss to Utah, in which Denver trailed by 15 at halftime, forward Carmelo Anthony spoke candidly about his team’s frightening ability to dig itself first-half holes.
Sometimes, as against Charlotte on Feb. 2, the Nuggets climb out of the hole to win. Against Utah, they caught up but couldn’t win the game. Asked what could be done, coach George Karl said: “As coaches, most of the time when you play poorly it’s: Play with more passion, play harder, play more together. When you’re behind, there’s no secret: Don’t go more to individuals, do more together. And usually the game will reward you. We, at times, have an NBA cruise control, rather than put the foot down on the pedal and play aggressive early. If you play well early, sometimes you don’t have to play late.”
Looming injury bug.
With two players out for a month, an open roster spot and numerous other injuries, Denver is often depleted. Karl said the Nuggets have practiced “probably less than five” times since Jan 1. “We do video and extended walk-throughs and shootaround. Most of the time, around Feb. 1 is when you cut back on practices anyway. But because of our injuries and circumstances and schedule, I think we’ve cut back a little bit more than normal.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
WASHINGTON AT DENVER
8:30 p.m. tonight, ALT/ESPN, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Antawn Jamison: The Washington forward is one of just five NBA players to average 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds. He earned an all-star bid, his second, thanks to 21.2 points (17th) and 10.4 rebounds (10th). Asked to describe Jamison’s game, Denver’s Kenyon Martin said, “Awkward, but effective. He gets it done, and that’s what counts.” Jamison had 16 points and 14 rebounds against the Sixers on Tuesday night.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: In the only other meeting of the two teams, Denver won at Washington 118-92 on Nov. 9. Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 32 points. . . . Denver is 20-6 at home. . . . Guard Allen Iverson has three double-doubles in the past four games. He has 22 this season, and in those games the Nuggets are 20-2.
Wizards: Caron Butler, who averages a career-high 21.4 points, is listed as day to day with a left hip flexor strain. . . . Washington has lost four of its past five games against Denver. . . . Guard Antonio Daniels has taken over the point guard spot with former all-star Gilbert Arenas out (knee surgery). Daniels is 18-14 as a starter, while averaging a career-high 5.1 assists per game this season.
Benjamin Hochman
