Playing with mask no bother to Baker
WASHINGTON — Ron Baker subscribes to the old-school no-layup, no-dunk rule. It’s why Jeff Hornacek loves him.
Baker is now playing while wearing a mask because of it, as that philosophy didn’t work out as he had hoped. But Baker’s bold decision to attempt to lay a foul on Anthony Davis as he rose for a monster slam Saturday only cost him one game as he returned for an 18-minute, four-point scrappy stint in Wednesday’s loss to the Wizards. Baker was one of just two Knicks with a plus rating.
After suffering an orbital bone fracture as a result of the incident that inspired memes across the internet, Baker said he liked the mask.
“It went better than I thought it would,’’ Baker said. “I didn’t have issues with sweat, which was a concern. I didn’t miss those layups because of the mask.’’
Baker has become a defensive specialist — his gutsy maneuver keeping “The Legend of Ron Baker” alive. So what if Davis completed a three-point play and Baker received a bloody face, three stitches and a broken bone? Baker will wear a mask for four weeks, he said. His left eye is a mixture of purple and black.
“Our motto is try to stop him from dunking,’’ Baker said after he worked out for the first time with the mask before the game. “I approached it the incorrect way as we’ve seen the result all over social media the last couple of days. That’s how the game goes.
“I’m not big on watching another guy dunking on the basket. I was just trying to send him to the line and earn his points. But he went to the line with the made basket. Unfortunately when you’re 6-4 and the other guy is 7foot, it makes it a little tough on you.”
The most recent Knicks to wear a mask were Lance Thomas and Chasson Randle, and Baker already quizzed Thomas. Baker wears a headband to keep the new contraption balanced.
“I can see fine,’’ said the undrafted Wichita State guard. “That’s the biggest priority. Obviously it’s uncomfortable but I’ll get through it. It fits good. That’s all that matters.’’
Baker actually returned to the game in the fourth quarter in New Orleans because Pelicans doctors didn’t detect a break.
“I guess it wasn’t looked at correctly,’’ Baker said. “But I was surprised kind of surprised myself about the scan.’’
With a cult following, Baker was amused by the social media frenzy after the bloody collision.
“I got a kick out of it,’’ Baker said. “None of that stuff gets under my skin. A lot of people on the other end of that phone can’t say they’ve been dunked on by Anthony Davis.’’
Kyle O’Quinn notched a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds). … Willy Hernangomez saw action in his second straight game — the final 1:38 of garbage time. … At 34 straight, Courtney Lee is 10 free throws away from matching Chris Duhon’s franchise record of 44 consecutive free throws made.