Bee: Green light for K-Mart

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/83571.html

A green light for K-Mart
Opposing teams are having trouble adjusting to Kevin Martin's speed and accuracy.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:16 am PST Monday, November 27, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1

The Kevin Martin buzz remained after he had gone, when the newspapers bounced on Seattle porches Saturday morning and another city had been introduced to one of the league's ascending talents.

But the significance of Martin's career-high 35-point night in the Kings' win against the SuperSonics on Friday night went beyond one game. Seattle was the site of Martin's first wake-up call, the 2005 playoffs in which he was left off the roster as a rookie for the Kings-Sonics first-round series.

At the time, Martin knew his role was almost nonexistent but said not suiting up became added inspiration in the subsequent offseason. He sat courtside in civilian clothes, watching Seattle's Ray Allen in amazement and envisioning the day when he could play on a par with the star who remains infamous among NBA players for his role as Jesus Shuttlesworth in the Spike Lee film "He Got Game."

That day is here.

Martin hit 12 of 19 shots in every fashion against the Sonics, from run-out layups and dunks to four three-pointers. His finest moment came midway through the third quarter, when a mid-range jumper came after he drove right in the lane, jabbed left and spun Sonics forward Mickael Gelebale enough to spark "oohs" and "aahs" from the KeyArena crowd. Allen, who had a season-low-tying 18 points, dissected Martin's game afterward.

"It probably took us more by surprise than it would have otherwise because (Martin) hasn't been a guy who scores a lot coming off screens like he was," Allen told reporters in Seattle. "He has an awkward jump shot where he sits the ball here (on his hip), and it's almost like he's passing the ball and he shoots it. It's something that we have to adjust and get used to."

Adjusting to Martin really is a league-wide problem. After he followed his Sonics boom with 27 points in Saturday's win over Portland, Martin maintained his standing among the league's best scorers, ranking 14th overall (24.9 per game) and boasting the best field-goal percentage (54.5 percent) and three-point percentage (49 percent) of any player in the top 15.

And at the moment, there might be no one better in terms of efficiency. Entering Sunday, Martin's 176 field-goal attempts were the fewest among the league's top 20 scorers, with Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett (21.5 points per game) attempting 182 and no other player in the lot taking fewer than 200 shots.

Martin also is the league's only player in the top 20 in scoring, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage (91.1), three-point percentage, steals and minutes (37.9).

Even more telling is Martin's standing in John Hollinger's PER statistic, which rates a player's per-minute productivity based on field goals, free throws, three-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers and personal fouls.

Martin is eighth in the league, his 26.85 rating just ahead of Miami's Dwyane Wade. The next-closest King is small forward Ron Artest, who's 59th with a mark of 17.84.

Kings coach Eric Musselman said early this season that Martin eventually would have to become a go-to player, an evolution taking place more with every game.

Martin's defensive improvements have only made it easier for Musselman to rely on him.

"This was a pretty big step, and he's going to keep getting better," Musselman said. "He's learning a lot defensively. ... He's starting to pick and choose where he can have a lot of freedom offensively, where maybe before he was getting a lot of catch-and-shoot shots and now he's starting to put the ball on the floor. We're starting to isolate him a lot more."

Sonics coach Bob Hill, whose team's two-game winning streak was stopped mostly by Martin, couldn't find a defender to slow him down.

"Kevin had one of those nights where he needed a half an inch, and it was on its way," Hill said. "And he was making them. Ray had a tough time guarding him, Damien (Wilkins) had a tough time guarding him, Earl (Watson) had a tough time guarding him. We even put Gelebale on him. Kevin just had one of those nights."

Those nights, as it turns out, are fast becoming an every-night thing.

About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.

 

[tyrant]

my attitude wasnt very positive towards kevin martin. BUT HE HAS MY ATTENTION NOW! i dont think he's ready to be a #1 go to guy. just let him do his thing. you see what happens when artest tries to do too much.

 

[Rain man]

"It probably took us more by surprise than it would have otherwise because (Martin) hasn't been a guy who scores a lot coming off screens like he was," Allen told reporters in Seattle. "He has an awkward jump shot where he sits the ball here (on his hip), and it's almost like he's passing the ball and he shoots it. It's something that we have to adjust and get used to."

And normally I would be worried about the league adjusting to him, people finding different ways to pester him, and trying to harass his funky shot delivery by getting their hands on the ball. In short, I was worried about what elite defenders would do when they got used to his motion and really tried to shut him down as the focal point.

But then I remembered that he goes against Ron Artest, John Salmons, and Francisco Garcia every day in practice. One awesome, and two very good defenders who present different challenges (size, quick hands, quick feet, etc...) for Martin on a daily basis. That certainly makes me worry less about what the Bruce Bowen's of the world will do to Kevin when they "adapt" to him, becaue he has to deal with what these guys throw at him all the time.

 

[Cal-Kings]

Kevin's shot

Kevin's shot is only "funky" when he's out wide-open for a 3 or shooting a free throw. Notice when he drives to the basket and jumps, he's got the ball up and ready to shoot. And if he shoots when well-defended, he also doesn't bring it from his left pocket, he shoots it quickly.

I remember Kenny Smith analyzing Kevin's shot last year and commenting that once Kevin gets the ball above his waist, his shot and follow-through are text-book. It's not like Shawn Marion.

 

[VF21]

Kevin's shot has been the subject of a lot of debate. I don't care if he throws it underhand. It's his shot; and the results pretty much speak for themselves.

 

[Burrito06]

And normally I would be worried about the league adjusting to him, people finding different ways to pester him, and trying to harass his funky shot delivery by getting their hands on the ball. In short, I was worried about what elite defenders would do when they got used to his motion and really tried to shut him down as the focal point.

But then I remembered that he goes against Ron Artest, John Salmons, and Francisco Garcia every day in practice. One awesome, and two very good defenders who present different challenges (size, quick hands, quick feet, etc...) for Martin on a daily basis. That certainly makes me worry less about what the Bruce Bowen's of the world will do to Kevin when they "adapt" to him, becaue he has to deal with what these guys throw at him all the time.

The difference between Ron, Cisco and John is that they won't purposely place their foot under Kevin when he's taking a jump shot. That's what worries me when Bruce guards Kevin.

 

[Cal-Kings]

Kevin's shot has been the subject of a lot of debate. I don't care if he throws it underhand. It's his shot; and the results pretty much speak for themselves.

Yep, if it ain't broke...

 

[KingKong]

Would love to see how Martin fares against Kobe this time around. I can't really think of too many elite defenders at the OG spot. Bowen? possibly, but even he's lost a step. Not sure that Raja bell could stop Martin either. The only person that could probably slow Kevin down is Artest (but even he might not be quick enough) and of course he's one of the good guys.

 

[1kingzfan]

Kevin's shot has been the subject of a lot of debate. I don't care if he throws it underhand. It's his shot; and the results pretty much speak for themselves.

Exactatory.

The real point, though, is what it looks like at the point of release, and if you look at that instant in time, it's a beauty. And it's obviously good enough to be replicated to the tune of the gaudy shooting % stats Kevin put up as a starter last year and to date this season.

 

[uolj]

I remember Kenny Smith analyzing Kevin's shot last year and commenting that once Kevin gets the ball above his waist, his shot and follow-through are text-book. It's not like Shawn Marion.

Exactly.

For fun I try to imitate different Kings' shots when out on the court, and I can really see how the weird wind-up can help and how the rest of the shot is textbook. I used it for a while and my shooting was actually pretty good.

I remember trying Peja's shot for awhile. I did it for a month or two, and there was a few day stretch where I really got it down. Of course, most of the time I was throwing up airballs- that shot is hard to keep consistent. When it was working it was pretty cool because the ball made the same splash his shots made. Bibby's shots, on the other hand, often roll or settle in the net. So when I would dribble to the left one time, then turn to the rim and fire like he does, the occasional time that the shot went in it did the same thing.

Both Webber's And Divac's shots were fun to try, and Christie's as well, but today's Kings are't quite as much fun. Artest's shot is sort of boring and Miller's shot is too easy (pump-fake and then pass the ball). I'm afraid I'd break my wrist if I tried Garcia's motion. I think I almost did pull a muscle in my arm trying Thomas' and Abdur-Rahim's shots which are very similar but difficult to get right. It's a fun thing to try for those of you who fancy yourselves to be decent shooters, especially if you want to ruin your own shot for life.

 

[gunks]

Hmmm..Now that he's officially getting the "green light" I wonder If we'll see his ppg slowly inch up even higher.

Course the flipside of that is his fg% will probably drop. But its not like we can expect him to shoot 49% from beyond the arc the entire season.

 

[KiNgSbOi101]

If You Want A Accurate & Nice Lookin Shot, Marion's Is For You

 

[1kingzfan]

Hmmm..Now that he's officially getting the "green light" I wonder If we'll see his ppg slowly inch up even higher.

The color of Muss' traffic signal really has not changed.

Muss is quoted as saying that he is getting Kevin into isolation more, but that's just not true. Aside from one game where Kevin got the ball for a few possessions in a row at the top of the circle in 1-4 offensive set with everyone out of his way, he is not being afforded much of an opportunity to isolate and create. He has to do it within the scheme of the offense mostly.

While Kevin gets his fair share of single and double screens running back cuts, he is rarely afforded that opportunity when receiving the ball on the deep wing, the usual place he first gets a touch on offense. It's not part of the offense.

I'm still waiting for Muss to call no big coming over to the strong side down low when Kevin gets it on the wing, then let him create. Switching it up to give Kevin the ball at the top, a la PG, is fine, too.

Either way, it doesn't happen as much as it should. Maybe we'll see a bit more of that tomorrow night. Until it does, I don't think Kevin's ppg will go up very much, if at all.

 

[RaY Z]

Kevin's shot has been the subject of a lot of debate. I don't care if he throws it underhand. It's his shot; and the results pretty much speak for themselves.

yup quite a few of the good shooters today have an unorthodox shot style... take a look at peja for example...

love kevins fugly shot

 

[Evenstar]

Kevin's shot has been the subject of a lot of debate. I don't care if he throws it underhand. It's his shot; and the results pretty much speak for themselves.

i concur!

 

[Fear the Putin]

Kevin shouldnt just have the green light for a couple street blocks....he should have the green light at ALL times
or, so it should be in his mind
he gets too tentative when his shot isnt falling and doesnt breakout until he hits an open shot
if only he would have that green light on for the entire game, it would make his game that much smoother

 

[SacTownKid]

I don't know about the adjustment thing. I used to be a little worried that his release wouldn't be quick enough but he has shown time and time again that he can catch and shoot when he needs to as Cal-Kings mentioned. He has really sped up his release and that will help.

 

[Bricklayer]

I don't know about the adjustment thing. I used to be a little worried that his release wouldn't be quick enough but he has shown time and time again that he can catch and shoot when he needs to as Cal-Kings mentioned. He has really sped up his release and that will help.

The speed up was quite noticeable from yr 1 to yr 2. A major step.

And yes I suspect there are still adjustments coming -- its only been a few games now that we've really seen Kevin treated as a primary concern. If it keeps going like this he's eventaully going to draw attention as THE primary concern. All of whihc will likely result in some stagnation of Kevin's ppg and perhaps a dip in FG%, but will help the other guys (thinking esepcially Mike) by drawing attention away. That said, I cannot see any collapse in Kevin's effectiveness. It just won't be as easy. He takes smart shots, and open shots, and he drains them with startling efficiency. The difficulty will be on the rest of the shots where he's going to be increasingly likely to draw the other team's best defender with double team help as needed. But like I say, any player who can draw that kind of attention is good for the team as a whole (so long as he passes) even if his own numbers suffer a bit for it.