it's just like those weekly nba team power rankings. it's that week's rankings through a certain number of games. so i don't understand why some are questioning why he's up there with the rest. it's simply based on performance, stats, and the writer's opinion---not to compare him to the other players or to proclaim him at a superstar status. it's cool that he's ranked, because he definitely has been playing nicely so far.
Kevin Martin Ranked 14th Best Player In League.. (ahead Of Duncan And Dwade!)
- Thread starter BALLER4LIFE
- Start date
You couldn't have said it any better. That's exactly what I was going to point out. They're not implying that K-MART is going to be a better player, nor is currently a better player than Wade, Iverson, etc. but at THIS PARTICULAR POINT in the season he's playing more efficient basketball and deserves to be 14th in the league whether other cities know the guy for more than his fade or not. And I don't mean a fading jumpshot. psst. (haircut)
Kevin Ranked Top 15 In The League 2 Weeks In A Row...
do you think martin deserves to be there now?? just curious... he moved up to being ranked the ranked 13th in player rankings....this has happened over the span of 11 games now... he takes a low number of shots and scores a high amount.... very efficient player!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/kelly_dwyer/11/24/player.rankings/1.html
NBA Player Power Rankings
Rank LW Player
1 1 LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron's Cavs split the four games they've played since we last met, but the 21-year-old can't be faulted for the team's mediocre showing. Not when Cleveland's starting backcourt of Eric Snow and David Wesley is averaging but six points and five assists in a little more than 37 minutes a game. LBJ's 27.6 points, seven rebounds and 6.6 rebounds a game still astound, and the fact that he averages less than three turnovers a game in 40 minutes a night help his Cavs stay efficient (11th offensively) in spite of their limitations at the guard position.
2 4 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Diggler has gotten his sea legs back and is the league's most efficient overall offensive performer, making up for a Dallas defense that has ranked among the NBA's worst since the beginning of the season. His Mavericks have won seven straight after dropping their first four contests while Nowitzki has averaged 28 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and just 2.1 turnovers a game during the winning streak. Next up: three games versus the West's best big man defenders: San Antonio (Tim Duncan), New Orleans (Tyson Chandler) and Minnesota (Kevin Garnett).
3 6 Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Boozer is the go-to guy in the clutch for the NBA's best team, but his career year has more to do with his fourth quarter heroics. The bruising power forward is contributing 22.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Jazz while playing just 35 minutes a contest. With Andrei Kirilenko on the shelf, and Deron Williams still (spectacularly, at times) learning the ropes, Boozer's low-post play down the stretch of some of Utah's closest wins has made the difference. Utah boasts the most efficient offense in the NBA, averaging a stellar 115.2 points per hundred possessions -- Boozer is the biggest reason why.
4 2 Yao Ming
Yao Ming
Yao's Rockets won two of three games this week, but they nearly gave away significant leads in wins over New York and Washington, and their inability to find Yao in the fourth quarter has been a bit of a worry since the season began. Guards Luther Head, Rafer Alston and even do-everything-right forward Shane Battier have been among the biggest offenders in the clutch, unable to pull the trigger on suitable entry passes, choosing instead to fruitlessly fire the ball around the perimeter. Still, Yao is averaging 26.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and two blocks in less than 36 minutes a game.
5 15 Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Duncan's Spurs are chugging along and 10-2, while The Big Fundamental is showcasing some of the play on both sides of the ball that made him a perennial MVP candidate from the moment he entered the league. His Spurs are tops in point differential, beating teams by an average of 7.8 points per game. And Duncan has regained that dangerous touch from the triple-threat position, resulting in 22.7 points per game (on 56 percent shooting), 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks in just 34 minutes a game.
6 7 Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
With his goofball supporting cast, you know KG isn't as into the games as he usually is. That said, Garnett appears to be keeping whatever frustrations he may have to himself as he leads the Timberwolves in points (21.5 per game), rebounds (11.7), blocks (1.9) and steals (1.7). At least teammate Ricky Davis is doing his part to lighten KG's load, leading the team in assists, with 4.9 a contest. Still, Minnesota has lost six of 10 to open the year, and show no signs of going anywhere beyond April.
7 5 Zach Randolph
Zach Randolph
Randolph just won't stop playing the right way. He's made a conscious effort to work on his shot selection, which is apparent every time he receives the ball in shooting position some 20 feet from the goal. Watch Randolph as he eases halfway into his set-shot motion: that's not a fake; he really wants to shoot the ball, though he reels himself in nearly every time. Even with the devil and angel taking up prominent space on Randolph's shoulders, he is averaging 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds this season. The veteran needs to work on his and his team's defense, however, as Portland ranks last in overall defensive efficiency.
8 -- Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
We were ready to write this guy off after a shaky preseason, one that saw the once (and future, apparently) next Buck Williams struggle to emulate the next Mark Bryant. Well, the roué is ready; the crow has been plucked and cleaned while the crust is ready to be filled: we've grown accustomed to the taste of humble pie, and not because of the tasty licks Steve Marriott used to serve. Okafor's been a beast for the Bobcats, his league-leading 3.9 blocks per game has helped a Charlotte team that isn't forcing as many turnovers as it used to. Of course, his 19-point, 11-board averages (with just 1.9 turnovers) are a pretty good help, too.
9 20 Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Few have looked more unstoppable on offense this year than Mr. Anthony, whose 31 points per game mark leads the NBA. And yet, he needs to figure out a way to ply his trade without palming the ball, or risking a charge call under the basket. Melo's 4.9 turnovers also lead the league. Even more troubling is the fact that he is averaging more turnovers than assists (3.6) and nearly as many cough-ups as rebounds (5.1). Still, kudos to Anthony for making more than half his shots, especially in an era when, if you chuck enough, a 42 percent mark from the floor can still earn you a scoring title.
10 9 Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Pierce is stuck between a stone and an adamantine place on these Celtics. He can't take over early in games because the kids who surround him have no idea how to play off the ball or contribute in ways outside of scoring. And yet, after watching Sebastian Telfair drive pell-mell toward the front of the rim for three quarters, the C's usually need a batch of quick shots to pull them back into contention late, leaving Paul holding the bag more often than not. Nowhere was this more evident than in a frustrating Wednesday loss to the Bobcats, which prevented Boston from winning four straight.
11 9 Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson
Hall of Famer Jack McCallum pondered the choice between Johnson and Paul Pierce this week, and while Johnson doesn't seem the sort of player to build a team around, his approximation of Jamal Mashburn at Mash's absolute peak has the Hawks in the playoff mix right now with a 4-5 record. Johnson is averaging 27.7 points while making a solid 49 percent of his shots and 41 percent from long-range. Pretty good for a guy who was drafted to be a stand-alone shooter and sometimes-slasher out of Arkansas.
12 3 Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Redd continues to shine offensively, averaging 29.7 points and making a pair of 3-pointers per game. His lack of defense, however, we can't overlook. Not only is Redd's individual defense porous, but his help-side and team defense is abysmal for a 27-year-old pro who spent four seasons at a good college program. An offensive-minded shooting guard getting beat on the perimeter? That can't be helped. But Redd's inability to see when and where to slide over to help worries us. If Redd is going to be on the court for more than 40 minutes a night, he needs to start pulling down more than 3.3 rebounds a game.
13 14 Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin
Martin continues to fill it up. His true shooting percentage (a measure of how many points a player scores per a player's possessions) of 67.1 is second in the NBA - league leader Steven Hunter) averages just 5.1 points per game. Martin averages 23.7 points a night, and his Kings (stuck at .500) need it more than ever. Martin's astonishing start is best summarized by Tom Ziller, who created the blog Sactown Royalty, and wrote: "I've stopped being surprised by the kid, because he has exceeded every expectation every reasonable Kings fan has had."
14 16 Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade
Wade's 4-7 Heat are struggling, and despite Wade's best efforts, he hasn't been able to carry his team above the .500 mark. Why? His rebounding numbers are down from last season, about a board per game. That means fewer chances for easy transition buckets. Also, his turnovers are up, to 4.4 a game, which is a killer on a team that looks as if it can barely average 70 points a night.
15 11 Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Arenas shot his Wizards out of three wins this week, combining to hit for just 24 of 71 (33.8 percent) in three losses to the Pistons, Mavericks and Rockets. Tough opponents, to be sure, but how are we to reconcile that with his 14 of 24 (64 percent) mark in a win over the Cavaliers? Arenas scored 45 in that conquest, adding six assists with one turnover. Still, that's 95 shots in four games - games in which teammates Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison needed the ball for their quick-hit style of scoring.
16 17 Steve Nash
Steve Nash
After taking two games off to work on overcoming back spasms, Nash returned this week with a pair of strong performances in entertaining wins over the Warriors and Hornets. The Golden State game, in particular, was a gas: Nash offered 19 points and 15 assists in 36 minutes while turning the ball over just twice in a fast-paced affair. He also hit the game-winning jumper in that contest, showcasing a late-game perimeter touch that was absent in a series of close losses early in this, and last, season.
17 12 Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh
We're not buying the twaddle about how frustrated Bosh is up in Toronto. No doubt he's peeved with all the losing, as his Raptors have lost eight of 11 to start the year, but Bosh is too smart a cat to have not anticipated this. He knows the rebuilding will take a while and he knows the results will likely include a whole heap of wins in games that are fun to fight toward. In the meantime, Bosh is leading his team in points (22) and rebounds (12.8) while making half his shots.
18 13 Chris Paul
Chris Paul
The Hornets have won eight of 12, they're tied for the fourth-best record in the dogged Western Conference, and -- even with the additions of defensive stalwart Tyson Chandler (the Hornets are sixth in defensive field-goal percentage, up from 21st last season) and leading scorer Peja Stojakovic (shooting 44 percent from long range) -- it's Paul that holds it all together. The second-year point guard might be the team's best help defender outside of Chandler; he's averaging 18.5 points and 8.9 assists and keeping this young group happy.
19 10 Vince Carter
Vince Carter
The Nets have lost three straight, and though Carter has put up big numbers during the swoon (26.7 points per game, 50 percent shooting), he really needed to apply his scoring talents down the stretch during road loses to Seattle and Portland. VC was hot against the Trail Blazers and he took 23 shots, but only made it to the line three times, as the Nets seemed to look in other directions while Portland pulled away in the second half.
20 -- Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard
We know that Howard has yet to turn 21, and we know he'll go an entire quarter without seeing an isolation play called for him, but his offensive game still needs a bit of work. He still can't go over his right shoulder, his turnovers (3.7 a game) are up and his free-throw percentage hasn't improved much in his third season. And yet, this gem is still leading his team in points (16.3) and rebounds (13.8) while making 61 percent of his shots. He might be the biggest reason the surprising Magic are 8-4.
do you think martin deserves to be there now?? just curious... he moved up to being ranked the ranked 13th in player rankings....this has happened over the span of 11 games now... he takes a low number of shots and scores a high amount.... very efficient player!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/kelly_dwyer/11/24/player.rankings/1.html
NBA Player Power Rankings
Rank LW Player
1 1 LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron's Cavs split the four games they've played since we last met, but the 21-year-old can't be faulted for the team's mediocre showing. Not when Cleveland's starting backcourt of Eric Snow and David Wesley is averaging but six points and five assists in a little more than 37 minutes a game. LBJ's 27.6 points, seven rebounds and 6.6 rebounds a game still astound, and the fact that he averages less than three turnovers a game in 40 minutes a night help his Cavs stay efficient (11th offensively) in spite of their limitations at the guard position.
2 4 Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Diggler has gotten his sea legs back and is the league's most efficient overall offensive performer, making up for a Dallas defense that has ranked among the NBA's worst since the beginning of the season. His Mavericks have won seven straight after dropping their first four contests while Nowitzki has averaged 28 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and just 2.1 turnovers a game during the winning streak. Next up: three games versus the West's best big man defenders: San Antonio (Tim Duncan), New Orleans (Tyson Chandler) and Minnesota (Kevin Garnett).
3 6 Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Boozer is the go-to guy in the clutch for the NBA's best team, but his career year has more to do with his fourth quarter heroics. The bruising power forward is contributing 22.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Jazz while playing just 35 minutes a contest. With Andrei Kirilenko on the shelf, and Deron Williams still (spectacularly, at times) learning the ropes, Boozer's low-post play down the stretch of some of Utah's closest wins has made the difference. Utah boasts the most efficient offense in the NBA, averaging a stellar 115.2 points per hundred possessions -- Boozer is the biggest reason why.
4 2 Yao Ming
Yao Ming
Yao's Rockets won two of three games this week, but they nearly gave away significant leads in wins over New York and Washington, and their inability to find Yao in the fourth quarter has been a bit of a worry since the season began. Guards Luther Head, Rafer Alston and even do-everything-right forward Shane Battier have been among the biggest offenders in the clutch, unable to pull the trigger on suitable entry passes, choosing instead to fruitlessly fire the ball around the perimeter. Still, Yao is averaging 26.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and two blocks in less than 36 minutes a game.
5 15 Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan
Duncan's Spurs are chugging along and 10-2, while The Big Fundamental is showcasing some of the play on both sides of the ball that made him a perennial MVP candidate from the moment he entered the league. His Spurs are tops in point differential, beating teams by an average of 7.8 points per game. And Duncan has regained that dangerous touch from the triple-threat position, resulting in 22.7 points per game (on 56 percent shooting), 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks in just 34 minutes a game.
6 7 Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
With his goofball supporting cast, you know KG isn't as into the games as he usually is. That said, Garnett appears to be keeping whatever frustrations he may have to himself as he leads the Timberwolves in points (21.5 per game), rebounds (11.7), blocks (1.9) and steals (1.7). At least teammate Ricky Davis is doing his part to lighten KG's load, leading the team in assists, with 4.9 a contest. Still, Minnesota has lost six of 10 to open the year, and show no signs of going anywhere beyond April.
7 5 Zach Randolph
Zach Randolph
Randolph just won't stop playing the right way. He's made a conscious effort to work on his shot selection, which is apparent every time he receives the ball in shooting position some 20 feet from the goal. Watch Randolph as he eases halfway into his set-shot motion: that's not a fake; he really wants to shoot the ball, though he reels himself in nearly every time. Even with the devil and angel taking up prominent space on Randolph's shoulders, he is averaging 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds this season. The veteran needs to work on his and his team's defense, however, as Portland ranks last in overall defensive efficiency.
8 -- Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
We were ready to write this guy off after a shaky preseason, one that saw the once (and future, apparently) next Buck Williams struggle to emulate the next Mark Bryant. Well, the roué is ready; the crow has been plucked and cleaned while the crust is ready to be filled: we've grown accustomed to the taste of humble pie, and not because of the tasty licks Steve Marriott used to serve. Okafor's been a beast for the Bobcats, his league-leading 3.9 blocks per game has helped a Charlotte team that isn't forcing as many turnovers as it used to. Of course, his 19-point, 11-board averages (with just 1.9 turnovers) are a pretty good help, too.
9 20 Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Few have looked more unstoppable on offense this year than Mr. Anthony, whose 31 points per game mark leads the NBA. And yet, he needs to figure out a way to ply his trade without palming the ball, or risking a charge call under the basket. Melo's 4.9 turnovers also lead the league. Even more troubling is the fact that he is averaging more turnovers than assists (3.6) and nearly as many cough-ups as rebounds (5.1). Still, kudos to Anthony for making more than half his shots, especially in an era when, if you chuck enough, a 42 percent mark from the floor can still earn you a scoring title.
10 9 Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Pierce is stuck between a stone and an adamantine place on these Celtics. He can't take over early in games because the kids who surround him have no idea how to play off the ball or contribute in ways outside of scoring. And yet, after watching Sebastian Telfair drive pell-mell toward the front of the rim for three quarters, the C's usually need a batch of quick shots to pull them back into contention late, leaving Paul holding the bag more often than not. Nowhere was this more evident than in a frustrating Wednesday loss to the Bobcats, which prevented Boston from winning four straight.
11 9 Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson
Hall of Famer Jack McCallum pondered the choice between Johnson and Paul Pierce this week, and while Johnson doesn't seem the sort of player to build a team around, his approximation of Jamal Mashburn at Mash's absolute peak has the Hawks in the playoff mix right now with a 4-5 record. Johnson is averaging 27.7 points while making a solid 49 percent of his shots and 41 percent from long-range. Pretty good for a guy who was drafted to be a stand-alone shooter and sometimes-slasher out of Arkansas.
12 3 Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Redd continues to shine offensively, averaging 29.7 points and making a pair of 3-pointers per game. His lack of defense, however, we can't overlook. Not only is Redd's individual defense porous, but his help-side and team defense is abysmal for a 27-year-old pro who spent four seasons at a good college program. An offensive-minded shooting guard getting beat on the perimeter? That can't be helped. But Redd's inability to see when and where to slide over to help worries us. If Redd is going to be on the court for more than 40 minutes a night, he needs to start pulling down more than 3.3 rebounds a game.
13 14 Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin
Martin continues to fill it up. His true shooting percentage (a measure of how many points a player scores per a player's possessions) of 67.1 is second in the NBA - league leader Steven Hunter) averages just 5.1 points per game. Martin averages 23.7 points a night, and his Kings (stuck at .500) need it more than ever. Martin's astonishing start is best summarized by Tom Ziller, who created the blog Sactown Royalty, and wrote: "I've stopped being surprised by the kid, because he has exceeded every expectation every reasonable Kings fan has had."
14 16 Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade
Wade's 4-7 Heat are struggling, and despite Wade's best efforts, he hasn't been able to carry his team above the .500 mark. Why? His rebounding numbers are down from last season, about a board per game. That means fewer chances for easy transition buckets. Also, his turnovers are up, to 4.4 a game, which is a killer on a team that looks as if it can barely average 70 points a night.
15 11 Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas
Arenas shot his Wizards out of three wins this week, combining to hit for just 24 of 71 (33.8 percent) in three losses to the Pistons, Mavericks and Rockets. Tough opponents, to be sure, but how are we to reconcile that with his 14 of 24 (64 percent) mark in a win over the Cavaliers? Arenas scored 45 in that conquest, adding six assists with one turnover. Still, that's 95 shots in four games - games in which teammates Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison needed the ball for their quick-hit style of scoring.
16 17 Steve Nash
Steve Nash
After taking two games off to work on overcoming back spasms, Nash returned this week with a pair of strong performances in entertaining wins over the Warriors and Hornets. The Golden State game, in particular, was a gas: Nash offered 19 points and 15 assists in 36 minutes while turning the ball over just twice in a fast-paced affair. He also hit the game-winning jumper in that contest, showcasing a late-game perimeter touch that was absent in a series of close losses early in this, and last, season.
17 12 Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh
We're not buying the twaddle about how frustrated Bosh is up in Toronto. No doubt he's peeved with all the losing, as his Raptors have lost eight of 11 to start the year, but Bosh is too smart a cat to have not anticipated this. He knows the rebuilding will take a while and he knows the results will likely include a whole heap of wins in games that are fun to fight toward. In the meantime, Bosh is leading his team in points (22) and rebounds (12.8) while making half his shots.
18 13 Chris Paul
Chris Paul
The Hornets have won eight of 12, they're tied for the fourth-best record in the dogged Western Conference, and -- even with the additions of defensive stalwart Tyson Chandler (the Hornets are sixth in defensive field-goal percentage, up from 21st last season) and leading scorer Peja Stojakovic (shooting 44 percent from long range) -- it's Paul that holds it all together. The second-year point guard might be the team's best help defender outside of Chandler; he's averaging 18.5 points and 8.9 assists and keeping this young group happy.
19 10 Vince Carter
Vince Carter
The Nets have lost three straight, and though Carter has put up big numbers during the swoon (26.7 points per game, 50 percent shooting), he really needed to apply his scoring talents down the stretch during road loses to Seattle and Portland. VC was hot against the Trail Blazers and he took 23 shots, but only made it to the line three times, as the Nets seemed to look in other directions while Portland pulled away in the second half.
20 -- Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard
We know that Howard has yet to turn 21, and we know he'll go an entire quarter without seeing an isolation play called for him, but his offensive game still needs a bit of work. He still can't go over his right shoulder, his turnovers (3.7 a game) are up and his free-throw percentage hasn't improved much in his third season. And yet, this gem is still leading his team in points (16.3) and rebounds (13.8) while making 61 percent of his shots. He might be the biggest reason the surprising Magic are 8-4.
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And there you have just hit on my biggest problem with Muss so far this season. He has not tried to get his most productive player more shots, very, very rarely placing him in isolation to take advantage of his skill set...until tonight when you got a glimpse of what could be.
In the early 4th, Muss finally called the "Kevin Martin offense" for several series in a row and gave him the ball at the top of the key with no bigs in the way at the elbows. You saw what happened.
Nobody in the league can stay in front of Kevin on the face-up drive any more than on an infrequent basis.
VERY Kobe-esque. VERY Wade-esque.
You got a glimpse of what could be, if the coach is willing to call the right play...at least every now and then.
In Kevin's usual offensive positioning, receiving the ball on the deep wing, no screens being set out there for him, a big and his defender "in the way" down low on his side of the floor, so most times the ball gets dumped into the big and the designed offensive scheme begins.
Neither Kobe nor Wade would do much better in that situation.
So Zanesvile Fan actually has it right: Put the ball in Kevin's hands, GIVE HIM ROOM TO WORK, and see what happens. The word "All Star" is being used more and more to refer to Kevin. He's still got a lot to learn, but maybe it's not as much as most might think, if he is placed in a situation where he can maximize what he can do.
Advance to the very front of the KMart bandwagon, Z'Ville Fan.
In the early 4th, Muss finally called the "Kevin Martin offense" for several series in a row and gave him the ball at the top of the key with no bigs in the way at the elbows. You saw what happened.
Nobody in the league can stay in front of Kevin on the face-up drive any more than on an infrequent basis.
VERY Kobe-esque. VERY Wade-esque.
You got a glimpse of what could be, if the coach is willing to call the right play...at least every now and then.
In Kevin's usual offensive positioning, receiving the ball on the deep wing, no screens being set out there for him, a big and his defender "in the way" down low on his side of the floor, so most times the ball gets dumped into the big and the designed offensive scheme begins.
Neither Kobe nor Wade would do much better in that situation.
So Zanesvile Fan actually has it right: Put the ball in Kevin's hands, GIVE HIM ROOM TO WORK, and see what happens. The word "All Star" is being used more and more to refer to Kevin. He's still got a lot to learn, but maybe it's not as much as most might think, if he is placed in a situation where he can maximize what he can do.
Advance to the very front of the KMart bandwagon, Z'Ville Fan.
Some of the comments in this thread are funny. How DARE they put Martin ahead of Wade or Duncan or anybody else who is a known name based merely on such a lame thing as performance and not what his name is?
He's put up some great numbers, nothing wrong with him getting a little recognition nationally for it.
He's put up some great numbers, nothing wrong with him getting a little recognition nationally for it.
"try trading Kevin for Wade in your fantasy league and let me know how it works out for you."
Wade isn't exactly a fantasy anchor because he doesn't have a game beyond the arc.
And while there's no doubt that Wade is a phenom and has years ahead of him to prove me wrong, he hasn't accomplished anything without the proverbial 400lb gorilla on his team. Unless you count 'leading' Team USA to a bronze medal, and 'leading' the Heat to a pathetic start this season.
So argue all you want about Wade being the more accomplished superstar, the better overall player, and the leader of his team (and doing a bang up job of it, by the way) - nobody's denying that. But at this early juncture of the season, Martin has played better ball. Why is that so embarassing?
Wade isn't exactly a fantasy anchor because he doesn't have a game beyond the arc.
And while there's no doubt that Wade is a phenom and has years ahead of him to prove me wrong, he hasn't accomplished anything without the proverbial 400lb gorilla on his team. Unless you count 'leading' Team USA to a bronze medal, and 'leading' the Heat to a pathetic start this season.
So argue all you want about Wade being the more accomplished superstar, the better overall player, and the leader of his team (and doing a bang up job of it, by the way) - nobody's denying that. But at this early juncture of the season, Martin has played better ball. Why is that so embarassing?
No, it's not ridiculous if you buy into the whole silly player ranking idea in the first place.
The writer is rating players based SOLELY on current performances. He's not taking name into consideration, nor should he if he's going to be ranking players on how they're performing and not just who they are.
Martin is just starting to warm up. As has been said previously, if the Kings actually start utilizing him the way he can and should be utilized, we could see some really good things as a result.
The writer is rating players based SOLELY on current performances. He's not taking name into consideration, nor should he if he's going to be ranking players on how they're performing and not just who they are.
Martin is just starting to warm up. As has been said previously, if the Kings actually start utilizing him the way he can and should be utilized, we could see some really good things as a result.
kevin martin has been outstanding so far this season. his stat line is certainly impressive enough:
25 pts/gm, 55% shooting, 5 rebs/gm, 2 asts/gm
that's all-star level material right there, and as of right now, he's playing amongst the elite at his position. all that said, its still difficult for me to rate him against some of these other stand out stars in the league. i'm still waiting for kevin to show some serious killer instinct. its clear that the game comes very very easy to him, at least on the offensive end. he has no trouble at all getting open with his quickness, and has no trouble hitting what he considers to be high percentage shots (which means from just about anywhere on the floor). however, he isn't quite yet a game changer. he can consistently rail on a team for the better part of the minutes he spends on the court, but is he ready to demand the ball when it really matters? is he gonna be able to take over important games in those decisive fourth quarters that the kings have proved inconsistent in? i don't think he's there yet. that's my personal opinion, and i don't think its a bad one to hold, because that line of thinking allows kevin room to grow. he's been stellar so far this season, that much is obvious. but he's still only a third year player, and he's still trying to find his way in this league. he's got time, and he'll get there...i have no doubts anymore about that. we just need to give him that time, and enjoy the spectacle as it happens.
25 pts/gm, 55% shooting, 5 rebs/gm, 2 asts/gm
that's all-star level material right there, and as of right now, he's playing amongst the elite at his position. all that said, its still difficult for me to rate him against some of these other stand out stars in the league. i'm still waiting for kevin to show some serious killer instinct. its clear that the game comes very very easy to him, at least on the offensive end. he has no trouble at all getting open with his quickness, and has no trouble hitting what he considers to be high percentage shots (which means from just about anywhere on the floor). however, he isn't quite yet a game changer. he can consistently rail on a team for the better part of the minutes he spends on the court, but is he ready to demand the ball when it really matters? is he gonna be able to take over important games in those decisive fourth quarters that the kings have proved inconsistent in? i don't think he's there yet. that's my personal opinion, and i don't think its a bad one to hold, because that line of thinking allows kevin room to grow. he's been stellar so far this season, that much is obvious. but he's still only a third year player, and he's still trying to find his way in this league. he's got time, and he'll get there...i have no doubts anymore about that. we just need to give him that time, and enjoy the spectacle as it happens.
kevin martin has been outstanding so far this season. his stat line is certainly impressive enough:
25 pts/gm, 55% shooting, 5 rebs/gm, 2 asts/gm
that's all-star level material right there, and as of right now, he's playing amongst the elite at his position. all that said, its still difficult for me to rate him against some of these other stand out stars in the league. i'm still waiting for kevin to show some serious killer instinct. its clear that the game comes very very easy to him, at least on the offensive end. he has no trouble at all getting open with his quickness, and has no trouble hitting what he considers to be high percentage shots (which means from just about anywhere on the floor). however, he isn't quite yet a game changer. he can consistently rail on a team for the better part of the minutes he spends on the court, but is he ready to demand the ball when it really matters? is he gonna be able to take over important games in those decisive fourth quarters that the kings have proved inconsistent in? i don't think he's there yet. that's my personal opinion, and i don't think its a bad one to hold, because that line of thinking allows kevin room to grow. he's been stellar so far this season, that much is obvious. but he's still only a third year player, and he's still trying to find his way in this league. he's got time, and he'll get there...i have no doubts anymore about that. we just need to give him that time, and enjoy the spectacle as it happens.
25 pts/gm, 55% shooting, 5 rebs/gm, 2 asts/gm
that's all-star level material right there, and as of right now, he's playing amongst the elite at his position. all that said, its still difficult for me to rate him against some of these other stand out stars in the league. i'm still waiting for kevin to show some serious killer instinct. its clear that the game comes very very easy to him, at least on the offensive end. he has no trouble at all getting open with his quickness, and has no trouble hitting what he considers to be high percentage shots (which means from just about anywhere on the floor). however, he isn't quite yet a game changer. he can consistently rail on a team for the better part of the minutes he spends on the court, but is he ready to demand the ball when it really matters? is he gonna be able to take over important games in those decisive fourth quarters that the kings have proved inconsistent in? i don't think he's there yet. that's my personal opinion, and i don't think its a bad one to hold, because that line of thinking allows kevin room to grow. he's been stellar so far this season, that much is obvious. but he's still only a third year player, and he's still trying to find his way in this league. he's got time, and he'll get there...i have no doubts anymore about that. we just need to give him that time, and enjoy the spectacle as it happens.
Sigh......I'm not real into either team rankings or player rankings, but I still don't get why people are having such a hard time grasping that no one is saying Kevin is better than Wade (heaven forbid) they are saying he is putting up better numbers this week.
Personally, I'm just glad he is on our team and we are getting the chance to watch someone really blossom right in front of our eyes.
Personally, I'm just glad he is on our team and we are getting the chance to watch someone really blossom right in front of our eyes.
^agreed. If i really cared about power rankings, i would have killed myself a long time ago. Kevin has a yet to reach his potential and to be in lebron's or wade's class (he is close IMO). Wade is a better playmaker, but Martin has the shooting touch on him. Martin has a chance to improve this though, as does wade....
I added the text of the article from Nov. 24 into post #35. Hopefully people will take a few moments to read it to better understand what this is all about. It isn't about comparing Kevin Martin to players with rings or titles or anything. It's about comparing his current performance to that of other players in the league.
