New York Knicks: Why Isn't Marcus Camby Playing More Minutes?

When looking at the New York Knicks' hot start to the season, it's plain to see that their depth has been a major factor.

The Knicks are getting contributions from almost everyone on the roster, which has been key in the absence of Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert.

But despite all this, one player in particular—that being Marcus Camby—has been mysteriously missing from action in the opening month.

Camby did suffer a minor calf injury in preseason, but it was supposed to only keep him out of action for seven to 10 days. Considering that he was aiming to be back by opening day, it's been a shock that he's barely seen the court since.

He has seen a few minutes here and there, but on the whole has only participated in six games for a grand total of 46 minutes.

Partly, this has been due to the resurgent play of Rasheed Wallace in the backup big-man role, but it still doesn't quite add up.

The Knicks have been going with small lineups recently. As a result, they've been nothing short of terrible on the boards.

As a terrific rebounder himself, it would only make sense for Marcus Camby to start seeing some serious minutes.

Even as recently as last season, Camby was the league leader in rebound rate, and in the few minutes that he's played this season, he has been pulling them down well.

At this point, Camby is the solution to one of the team's major problems, but he still is struggling to see the floor.

Camby does have a history of injury trouble, so there is a chance that his calf injury is still nagging him. But the strange thing is that he is still getting dressed and is normally an active player on game day.

As a veteran and a consummate professional, Camby likely has no real problem with sitting. He understands the need to sacrifice for the greater good at this point in his career.

But Camby does have a lot to offer, and if he is in shape as he says he is, you'd expect that he'd be a major part of the rotation.

Considering just how much the Knicks had to go through to bring Camby back to New York this summer—he was their most expensive signing of the offseason—it's worrying that there may still be something holding him back.

This is a player who could probably be starting for a number of teams in the NBA, so to not see him even in garbage time is inexplicable.

Whatever the problem is—if there even is one—the Knicks could use a player like Camby in the rotation pretty soon.

Stats used in this article were accurate as of Dec. 2, 2012.