http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/90369.html
Now everyone knows where K-Mart is
Teams concentrate on preventing the Kings guard from scoring.
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 10, 2006
Because Sacramento wasn't the only place that noticed the breakout opening month for Kevin Martin, the Kings shooting guard has been slowed to 14.5 points the last six games with the reality check of what happens when he becomes a focus of opponent scouting reports and defenses.
"It's hard, but I've just got to stay with it," he said. "Right now, when I have 15 points, it's like I had to work when I had 30. When I had that really good stretch, I'd have 30 and it seemed like I did the work for 15. Now, it's a lot harder."
That much was inevitable. As Martin transitioned from primarily a reserve role the last two seasons to a main scoring option this season, opponents responded by giving him the other star treatment, the one in which they pick apart his game and make stopping him a priority.
The result is Martin averaging 23.2 points and shooting 52.7 percent in 13 games in November and 17 points and 43.8 percent in eight games in December. Overall, he's at 21.4 and 50.4, respectively.
"This is a whole new experience for Kevin," coach Eric Musselman said. "He's had a national media blitz that he wasn't going through early. Kevin Martin is now a focal point of opposition shootarounds. I'm sure to start the year, his name might not even have been mentioned. They might have said, The (shooting) guard's over here, and this is the cut, and now it's, This is what Martin does, and this is what you have to take away.
"Kevin will come through, because he got to the point where he was a focal point that everybody was talking about."
Back in form -- Ron Artest went from missing three consecutive games with a sore lower back to playing 33 minutes Thursday against Miami to moving so well in practice Saturday that Musselman raved that it was "the best he's ever looked, since the first day of training camp, since I've been around him. Physically, he's phenomenal. He just looks like he's really lively."
Even while carrying a message.
"I feel I'm back to normal," Artest said. "It's been about three weeks (with the back problems), almost a month, where I couldn't practice a lot, couldn't stay in game shape. Now I get a chance to play at 100 percent, like I can play. A lot of teams are going to have a lot of problems now."
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
Now everyone knows where K-Mart is
Teams concentrate on preventing the Kings guard from scoring.
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, December 10, 2006
Because Sacramento wasn't the only place that noticed the breakout opening month for Kevin Martin, the Kings shooting guard has been slowed to 14.5 points the last six games with the reality check of what happens when he becomes a focus of opponent scouting reports and defenses.
"It's hard, but I've just got to stay with it," he said. "Right now, when I have 15 points, it's like I had to work when I had 30. When I had that really good stretch, I'd have 30 and it seemed like I did the work for 15. Now, it's a lot harder."
That much was inevitable. As Martin transitioned from primarily a reserve role the last two seasons to a main scoring option this season, opponents responded by giving him the other star treatment, the one in which they pick apart his game and make stopping him a priority.
The result is Martin averaging 23.2 points and shooting 52.7 percent in 13 games in November and 17 points and 43.8 percent in eight games in December. Overall, he's at 21.4 and 50.4, respectively.
"This is a whole new experience for Kevin," coach Eric Musselman said. "He's had a national media blitz that he wasn't going through early. Kevin Martin is now a focal point of opposition shootarounds. I'm sure to start the year, his name might not even have been mentioned. They might have said, The (shooting) guard's over here, and this is the cut, and now it's, This is what Martin does, and this is what you have to take away.
"Kevin will come through, because he got to the point where he was a focal point that everybody was talking about."
Back in form -- Ron Artest went from missing three consecutive games with a sore lower back to playing 33 minutes Thursday against Miami to moving so well in practice Saturday that Musselman raved that it was "the best he's ever looked, since the first day of training camp, since I've been around him. Physically, he's phenomenal. He just looks like he's really lively."
Even while carrying a message.
"I feel I'm back to normal," Artest said. "It's been about three weeks (with the back problems), almost a month, where I couldn't practice a lot, couldn't stay in game shape. Now I get a chance to play at 100 percent, like I can play. A lot of teams are going to have a lot of problems now."
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
