http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/132471.html
This Kings' victory was a real shoo-in
Kevin Martin's hidden inspiration and 33 points spearhead a second consecutive road win.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 11:43 am PST Sunday, March 4, 2007
PORTLAND - It was in the shoes. Literally.
Inside Kevin Martin's Nikes, there was a handwritten note that had been there for a week, a to-do list for the Kings shooting guard who was down as he hadn't been all season and ready to help the Kings move up in the playoff race.
Martin, who said he was inspired after scoring two points and being benched at New Jersey on Feb. 23, scribbled out his goals and stuffed them in his sneaker.
"After the Jersey game, I was real mad, not just at coach but at myself, at my approach," Martin said. "My goal was to lead our team to 5-0 (this week), to get back on track and (earn) my first Player of the Week (award)."
With the Kings' 104-96 win over Portland at the Rose Garden on Saturday night, they came close to one of Martin's objectives while perhaps securing the other.
The Kings have won four of their last five games, and Martin's 33 points against the Blazers capped a stretch in which he has averaged 29.5 points since a week ago.
The Kings remained two games behind the eighth spot in the Western Conference, winning consecutive road games on the same trip for the first time this season after handling the Lakers the night before. And what Martin started -- scoring 15 first quarter points as the Kings jumped ahead 33-25 -- Ron Artest finished.
After trailing throughout, the Blazers cut the lead to 98-93 with 1:17 left. But Artest, who always said he practices the zany and off-balance shots, sank a one-footed, 20-footer as he was falling to his left with 51 seconds left for a 100-93 lead. Artest followed with a spinning jumper in the post that fell through and sent Blazers fans to the exits. It was no aberration, as Artest hit a buzzer beater to end the third quarter while falling to his left and banking the 18-footer in for an 82-74 Kings lead. The Kings won in wire-to-wire fashion for the second consecutive night.
"Sometimes you've just got to improvise, just take what the defense gives you," Artest said. "And in a close game, you don't got much time to think. You just have to react.
"It was a must win, real big for us to come out here and get this victory."
Artest had 23 points and a team-high nine rebounds, and the Kings had themselves a win over a Blazers team with far-fetched playoff hopes of their own.
"It was a short trip, but the best one of the season for us," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "We had a high value for each possession (nine turnovers), did the little things tonight, shot almost flawlessly from the foul line (21 for 22). We played with great effort and energy for 48 minutes, which ... is not easy on the second night of a back to back."
The Blazers had twice beaten the Kings this season thanks to Zach Randolph. And although the forward had 24 points, he dominated only in spurts and faced a savvy and somewhat speedy Brad Miller on defense in the fourth quarter.
After a Francisco García three-pointer with 9:29 left pushed the Kings' lead back to 10 points, Miller began his key sequence. He blocked point guard Sergio Rodríguez in the lane, grabbed the rebound, then fed Shareef Abdur-Rahim underneath for an easy dunk and, finally, took a charge from Randolph down low on the other end.
Martin followed with a 14-footer to capitalize, hitting his 11th shot in 19 attempts and ending the week almost exactly as he'd wanted.
"Coach came to me before the Indiana game and said, 'Get back on track; we need you to play well for us to win,' " Martin said. "This week, I just wanted to see what I could do ... ."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
This Kings' victory was a real shoo-in
Kevin Martin's hidden inspiration and 33 points spearhead a second consecutive road win.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 11:43 am PST Sunday, March 4, 2007
PORTLAND - It was in the shoes. Literally.
Inside Kevin Martin's Nikes, there was a handwritten note that had been there for a week, a to-do list for the Kings shooting guard who was down as he hadn't been all season and ready to help the Kings move up in the playoff race.
Martin, who said he was inspired after scoring two points and being benched at New Jersey on Feb. 23, scribbled out his goals and stuffed them in his sneaker.
"After the Jersey game, I was real mad, not just at coach but at myself, at my approach," Martin said. "My goal was to lead our team to 5-0 (this week), to get back on track and (earn) my first Player of the Week (award)."
With the Kings' 104-96 win over Portland at the Rose Garden on Saturday night, they came close to one of Martin's objectives while perhaps securing the other.
The Kings have won four of their last five games, and Martin's 33 points against the Blazers capped a stretch in which he has averaged 29.5 points since a week ago.
The Kings remained two games behind the eighth spot in the Western Conference, winning consecutive road games on the same trip for the first time this season after handling the Lakers the night before. And what Martin started -- scoring 15 first quarter points as the Kings jumped ahead 33-25 -- Ron Artest finished.
After trailing throughout, the Blazers cut the lead to 98-93 with 1:17 left. But Artest, who always said he practices the zany and off-balance shots, sank a one-footed, 20-footer as he was falling to his left with 51 seconds left for a 100-93 lead. Artest followed with a spinning jumper in the post that fell through and sent Blazers fans to the exits. It was no aberration, as Artest hit a buzzer beater to end the third quarter while falling to his left and banking the 18-footer in for an 82-74 Kings lead. The Kings won in wire-to-wire fashion for the second consecutive night.
"Sometimes you've just got to improvise, just take what the defense gives you," Artest said. "And in a close game, you don't got much time to think. You just have to react.
"It was a must win, real big for us to come out here and get this victory."
Artest had 23 points and a team-high nine rebounds, and the Kings had themselves a win over a Blazers team with far-fetched playoff hopes of their own.
"It was a short trip, but the best one of the season for us," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "We had a high value for each possession (nine turnovers), did the little things tonight, shot almost flawlessly from the foul line (21 for 22). We played with great effort and energy for 48 minutes, which ... is not easy on the second night of a back to back."
The Blazers had twice beaten the Kings this season thanks to Zach Randolph. And although the forward had 24 points, he dominated only in spurts and faced a savvy and somewhat speedy Brad Miller on defense in the fourth quarter.
After a Francisco García three-pointer with 9:29 left pushed the Kings' lead back to 10 points, Miller began his key sequence. He blocked point guard Sergio Rodríguez in the lane, grabbed the rebound, then fed Shareef Abdur-Rahim underneath for an easy dunk and, finally, took a charge from Randolph down low on the other end.
Martin followed with a 14-footer to capitalize, hitting his 11th shot in 19 attempts and ending the week almost exactly as he'd wanted.
"Coach came to me before the Indiana game and said, 'Get back on track; we need you to play well for us to win,' " Martin said. "This week, I just wanted to see what I could do ... ."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
