Kenyon Martin wasn’t worried but Rod Thorn was. But the Nets’ team president was breathing easier, a lot easier, after learning that results of an MRI performed yesterday on Martin’s sprained left knee were negative.
“It is a relief,” said Thorn yesterday before heading to All-Star weekend in Atlanta. “There’s always concern with injuries. Kenyon is such a tough, strong guy that when he couldn’t come back into the game, you have to worry.”
Martin, listed as day-to-day, sprained his knee during the first quarter of the Nets’ 111-85 rout of the Sixers in Philadelphia Wednesday. Martin said he believed his injury was “nothing serious” and the efforts of the bench – plus Kerry Kittles, who poured in a season-high 35 points – eased any pain.
“That’s the way it’s been around here. Someone can’t go or someone doesn’t have it, somebody else steps up. That’s the heart and character of this team,” said Martin. “That’s the great thing about having more than one guy you can go to. Other teams, if their main guy goes down, they struggle. That’s the beauty of our team, anybody can light it up.”
So the Nets sailed into the All-Star break at 34-15, tied with Indiana for the best record in the East. And the Nets insist leaping over the Pacers is vitally urgent for another run to the Finals.
“Without a doubt that’s the goal. We want to have the best record [in the East],” said Byron Scott.
“It gives us confidence at the end of the first half [ending] on a good note, winning 6-of-7 and also finishing [tied] at the top of the Eastern Conference. We all understand what that means from last year,” said Jason Kidd, who rebounded from a stomach virus to play in Philly. He intends to play Sunday in the All-Star Game.
“We want to be the best team in the Eastern Conference,” said Richard Jefferson, a two-event guy (including the dunk and the second-year team vs. rookies) in Atlanta. “We want to have one of the best records in the NBA, and that’s what we have. Indiana hasn’t gone through half the adversity that we’ve gone through, so that’s really the bottom line.”
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Brian Scalabrine is making the most of opportunity provided by injuries to Jefferson, Rodney Rogers (calf, could be back Tuesday in Orlando) and Martin. In his last 10 games, Scalabrine has averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25.5 minutes.
“You know this is a chance for you and there are so few chances you get in your life, so you want to take advantage of each one that you get. I think I’m doing a good job,” Scalabrine said.
Jefferson noted that Pacers haven’t faced the adversity the Nets have. When it was jokingly pointed out Ron Artest can be a burden, Jefferson paused. “Well, last year we had Kenyon Martin. He wasn’t exactly being a great citizen, either, and we still found a way. Just as [Artest] has some negative things, he does so much positive for that team that you can’t [fault him] for some of the negative things he does.”