http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/76143.html
Ailene Voisin: Martin standing guard, scoring
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Last Updated 2:11 am PST Monday, November 13, 2006
As for that latest arena rumor? The one about a track meet replacing a tractor pull Sunday night over at Arco?
Not true.
Well, OK, maybe a little true.
Against a Toronto team that sprints along to a simple rap -- have ball, will run -- the Kings' offense threatened to catch up with one of the league's most oppressive defenses. (Theirs, believe it or not.) Mike Bibby's shooting touch returned, the intrusive splint on his right thumb notwithstanding. Ron Artest continued to inhale rebounds and deflect passes, and more so than at any time this year, he scored in seemingly effortless rhythm, and in a variety of ways. Two-handed stickbacks, one-handed floaters, jumpers in transition, jumpers in the halfcourt sets.
But the offensive stat of the night belongs to Kevin Martin: The third-year guard not only led all scorers with 26 points, his season total Sunday exceeded the entire output of his rookie season. It took him six games (in two weeks) to accomplish what it took 45 games to do two years ago in six months.
"That's a great stat," Martin said, with a grin, after the Kings surged past the visiting Raptors. "That's an unbelievable stat. If I can do this in six games, and it took me all that time in my rookie year ... "
Just as his long, skinny legs leap high above the crowd for dramatic dunks and rebounds, his mind flirts with daring flights of fancy. Stubbornly, he neither envisions nor sets limits. Instead, he sees that his scoring jumps from 2.9 points (2004-05) to 10.8 points a year ago, when sometime around midseason, he basically stole an ailing Bonzi Wells' starting job. And Martin hasn't slowed down since. He is averaging 23.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, and with Artest offering constant encouragement, has become a more active, disruptive presence defensively. Despite his rail-thin 6-foot-7, 185-pound frame, he fearlessly positions himself in the way of oncoming traffic -- heavier, stronger foes approaching the basket -- and takes charges. His exceptional quickness enables him to rotate defensively or scamper back in transition. He routinely elevates and challenges layups and dunks, and similar to his teammates, seems strangely delighted by Eric Musselman's continual carping about contesting shots and containing opponents.
"Nothing Kevin does surprises us anymore," the coach said. "He is becoming a real all-around threat."
His greatest progress probably has been his decision-making. Gone are the days when Martin puts down his head and charges blindly into the heart of the defense. Or panics and forces up off-balance jumpers. Or suffers from lapses in concentration and loses the ball. Or thinks so long that he suppresses his natural instincts. Or misses badly from the free-throw line. Lately, he doesn't miss from the free-throw line at all, having succeeded on 36 consecutive attempts.
His expanded offensive repertoire features aggressive drives that result in resounding dunks or balletic reverse layups, curls into the lane and one-handed floaters -- another benefit of his ability to maintain his balance while airborne -- consistent jumpers from three-point range, as well as from the deep corners, once the domain of the slick-shooting Peja Stojakovic.
As for the funky mechanics on his jump shot? The way he begins his motion so low that he appears to be pulling the ball out of his pocket before swinging it right-to-left across his body? The release that appears ripe for a strip or a steal? Unless opponents become more adept at disrupting his motion, neither Musselman nor Martin sees any reason to change. "He gets great separation," Musselman explained. "That's why they (defenders) can't get to it."
No, the major change in Martin's routine this season has been an emotional one. He still arrives at Arco before most of his teammates, warms up and works on his weaknesses, then sits at the bench and glances at the opposition. But he sits alone these days, without mentor and former Kings assistant Pete Carril constantly at his side. Inseparable for two years, the two now chat only occasionally by phone. "It was strange at first, very strange," Martin said. "Kind of lonely. 'Coachie' was my man. I just soaked up his knowledge, whatever he wanted to tell me."
Smiling, he added, "I have to give him a call tomorrow. I want to hear what he has to say."
He would probably say that his young protégé is growing up nicely, and quickly.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com/voisin.
Ailene Voisin: Martin standing guard, scoring
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Last Updated 2:11 am PST Monday, November 13, 2006
As for that latest arena rumor? The one about a track meet replacing a tractor pull Sunday night over at Arco?
Not true.
Well, OK, maybe a little true.
Against a Toronto team that sprints along to a simple rap -- have ball, will run -- the Kings' offense threatened to catch up with one of the league's most oppressive defenses. (Theirs, believe it or not.) Mike Bibby's shooting touch returned, the intrusive splint on his right thumb notwithstanding. Ron Artest continued to inhale rebounds and deflect passes, and more so than at any time this year, he scored in seemingly effortless rhythm, and in a variety of ways. Two-handed stickbacks, one-handed floaters, jumpers in transition, jumpers in the halfcourt sets.
But the offensive stat of the night belongs to Kevin Martin: The third-year guard not only led all scorers with 26 points, his season total Sunday exceeded the entire output of his rookie season. It took him six games (in two weeks) to accomplish what it took 45 games to do two years ago in six months.
"That's a great stat," Martin said, with a grin, after the Kings surged past the visiting Raptors. "That's an unbelievable stat. If I can do this in six games, and it took me all that time in my rookie year ... "
Just as his long, skinny legs leap high above the crowd for dramatic dunks and rebounds, his mind flirts with daring flights of fancy. Stubbornly, he neither envisions nor sets limits. Instead, he sees that his scoring jumps from 2.9 points (2004-05) to 10.8 points a year ago, when sometime around midseason, he basically stole an ailing Bonzi Wells' starting job. And Martin hasn't slowed down since. He is averaging 23.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, and with Artest offering constant encouragement, has become a more active, disruptive presence defensively. Despite his rail-thin 6-foot-7, 185-pound frame, he fearlessly positions himself in the way of oncoming traffic -- heavier, stronger foes approaching the basket -- and takes charges. His exceptional quickness enables him to rotate defensively or scamper back in transition. He routinely elevates and challenges layups and dunks, and similar to his teammates, seems strangely delighted by Eric Musselman's continual carping about contesting shots and containing opponents.
"Nothing Kevin does surprises us anymore," the coach said. "He is becoming a real all-around threat."
His greatest progress probably has been his decision-making. Gone are the days when Martin puts down his head and charges blindly into the heart of the defense. Or panics and forces up off-balance jumpers. Or suffers from lapses in concentration and loses the ball. Or thinks so long that he suppresses his natural instincts. Or misses badly from the free-throw line. Lately, he doesn't miss from the free-throw line at all, having succeeded on 36 consecutive attempts.
His expanded offensive repertoire features aggressive drives that result in resounding dunks or balletic reverse layups, curls into the lane and one-handed floaters -- another benefit of his ability to maintain his balance while airborne -- consistent jumpers from three-point range, as well as from the deep corners, once the domain of the slick-shooting Peja Stojakovic.
As for the funky mechanics on his jump shot? The way he begins his motion so low that he appears to be pulling the ball out of his pocket before swinging it right-to-left across his body? The release that appears ripe for a strip or a steal? Unless opponents become more adept at disrupting his motion, neither Musselman nor Martin sees any reason to change. "He gets great separation," Musselman explained. "That's why they (defenders) can't get to it."
No, the major change in Martin's routine this season has been an emotional one. He still arrives at Arco before most of his teammates, warms up and works on his weaknesses, then sits at the bench and glances at the opposition. But he sits alone these days, without mentor and former Kings assistant Pete Carril constantly at his side. Inseparable for two years, the two now chat only occasionally by phone. "It was strange at first, very strange," Martin said. "Kind of lonely. 'Coachie' was my man. I just soaked up his knowledge, whatever he wanted to tell me."
Smiling, he added, "I have to give him a call tomorrow. I want to hear what he has to say."
He would probably say that his young protégé is growing up nicely, and quickly.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com/voisin.
Parallels would be eerie if I did not think that there must be some underlying commonality causing them -- nature of the the fanbase, descionmakers for the franchise, whatever.
