Kings-Spurs notes: Martin will have his hands full with Parker
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, April 25, 2006
SAN ANTONIO - Kevin Martin has taken the Lombard Street approach to his second season.
Learning curve after learning curve, the ride not quite as nauseating as San Francisco's famed twister of a road but no less challenging to maneuver. And while this isn't quite the way the Kings shooting guard wanted his starting job back - coming because of Ron Artest's suspension for his elbow to the head of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili - Martin will enjoy the ride like he always does.
"It's just another learning curve," he said after practice Monday. "One game's not going to make or break my career. I had to grow up fast this year, getting the starting nod after the season (when Bonzi Wells was hurt). And I'm going to have to grow up fast (tonight)."
Fast being the operative word.
Not only will Martin be counted on to provide a spark the Kings lacked Saturday, he will spend most of the night guarding point guard Tony Parker. Kings coach Rick Adelman said that was the altered plan with or without Artest.
Martin's speed rivals that of some of the league's quickest players. Experience, however, is on Parker's side. He owns two championship rings and has competed in 68 playoff games. Martin, who started 41 games this season, is entering his second career playoff game.
"I'm ready," he said. "We'll both be warmed up at the beginning of the game, so there'll be no excuses there. I'll definitely watch tape of him, especially last game because he had 23 points at halftime. I've just got to get down and stop him from getting to the hole."
Martin won't be doing it alone.
"We were going to rotate people on (Parker)," Adelman said. "(Losing Artest) just gives us one less person."
Tough call - Artest was given a chance to speak his mind about his suspension, talking by phone to the man who made the decision: NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson.
"His attitude was the same that it always is: very good," Jackson said. "Personally, I like Ron and his demeanor and certainly (like him) as a player. He explained his case, his intent on the play, and I recognized that. But he also recognized my decision and the reasons for my decision. And while he didn't agree, he accepted it."
On guard - While the Kings were down about the Artest news, the Spurs are wary of a letdown of their own.
"Sometimes it can be your worst nightmare when a good player is out for another team because everybody always seems to pick it up, especially come playoff time," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think we'll have to be even more respectful than we were the first game. ... If we let up at all, or show any satisfaction from the first game, it'll bite us in the rear end."
No, not a good day - Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie skipped Monday's practice and media sessions at the AT&T Center because he was feeling poorly. But nothing serious, he reports.
Petrie expected to recover before tonight's game. Of greater concern was the absence of Artest.
"We're all disappointed," Petrie said, "but there's no court of appeals. The team will just have to be ready for tonight, and Ron will have to be ready Friday."
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, April 25, 2006
SAN ANTONIO - Kevin Martin has taken the Lombard Street approach to his second season.
Learning curve after learning curve, the ride not quite as nauseating as San Francisco's famed twister of a road but no less challenging to maneuver. And while this isn't quite the way the Kings shooting guard wanted his starting job back - coming because of Ron Artest's suspension for his elbow to the head of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili - Martin will enjoy the ride like he always does.
"It's just another learning curve," he said after practice Monday. "One game's not going to make or break my career. I had to grow up fast this year, getting the starting nod after the season (when Bonzi Wells was hurt). And I'm going to have to grow up fast (tonight)."
Fast being the operative word.
Not only will Martin be counted on to provide a spark the Kings lacked Saturday, he will spend most of the night guarding point guard Tony Parker. Kings coach Rick Adelman said that was the altered plan with or without Artest.
Martin's speed rivals that of some of the league's quickest players. Experience, however, is on Parker's side. He owns two championship rings and has competed in 68 playoff games. Martin, who started 41 games this season, is entering his second career playoff game.
"I'm ready," he said. "We'll both be warmed up at the beginning of the game, so there'll be no excuses there. I'll definitely watch tape of him, especially last game because he had 23 points at halftime. I've just got to get down and stop him from getting to the hole."
Martin won't be doing it alone.
"We were going to rotate people on (Parker)," Adelman said. "(Losing Artest) just gives us one less person."
Tough call - Artest was given a chance to speak his mind about his suspension, talking by phone to the man who made the decision: NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson.
"His attitude was the same that it always is: very good," Jackson said. "Personally, I like Ron and his demeanor and certainly (like him) as a player. He explained his case, his intent on the play, and I recognized that. But he also recognized my decision and the reasons for my decision. And while he didn't agree, he accepted it."
On guard - While the Kings were down about the Artest news, the Spurs are wary of a letdown of their own.
"Sometimes it can be your worst nightmare when a good player is out for another team because everybody always seems to pick it up, especially come playoff time," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think we'll have to be even more respectful than we were the first game. ... If we let up at all, or show any satisfaction from the first game, it'll bite us in the rear end."
No, not a good day - Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie skipped Monday's practice and media sessions at the AT&T Center because he was feeling poorly. But nothing serious, he reports.
Petrie expected to recover before tonight's game. Of greater concern was the absence of Artest.
"We're all disappointed," Petrie said, "but there's no court of appeals. The team will just have to be ready for tonight, and Ron will have to be ready Friday."
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