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Kings notes: Finger can't affect Martin's shot
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Monday, February 12, 2007
Kevin Martin's finger is bad enough that he wears a sleeve designed to keep the swelling down. It was bad enough that when Mike Bibby needed help up from the floor during Thursday's game against Chicago, the Kings shooting guard offered only his good hand. And it's bad enough that every few minutes, Martin tugs at it as if hopeful that one good pull will take the nagging pain away.
Yet for all its annoying effects, the middle finger on Martin's right shooting hand has done nothing to slow down his shot. Since spraining it against Minnesota on Jan. 31, Martin has hit 48 of 93 shots from the field and 16 of 27 three-pointers.
"I don't know what it is," he said. "Maybe (the injury) makes me focus more or something."
Martin said he has not had an X-ray on the finger, but may consider having it checked out if the pain persists through the All-Star break. Seattle, clearly, would not have complained if he opted to rest.
For all of Martin's success this season, he has had his best games against the SuperSonics. He had 24 points Sunday night, and Saturday night he scored 26, this after Martin had 35 points and held Ray Allen to 6-for-22 shooting in a Kings win on Nov. 24.
"I definitely remember the night, and I wasn't happy after that," Allen said. "I had a friend of mine I was playing golf with a month later, and he was saying, 'Yeah, I saw you guys play and you were really fun to watch.' I said, 'What game did you see?' He said, 'The Sacramento game.' I said, 'Oh yeah?' He didn't really say everything he wanted to."
Sonics coach Bob Hill said he jumped on the Martin bandwagon before it got going.
"I liked him last year, when he wasn't putting up these numbers," Hill said. "When he had an opportunity to get into the flow of the offense, he made shots last year. He's a very good player and he's broken out and is going to require special attention."
Martin remains a top candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award. He is the only player to be averaging more than 20 points while taking less than 14 shots per game, and his 10.2-point difference between his scoring average last season (10.8) and this season (21.0) is the most in the league.
Thomas sits -- One night after the Kings learned they'd be without center Brad Miller at least through the All-Star break (foot tissue inflammation), forward Kenny Thomas sat out with a lower back strain suffered on Saturday. Thomas' status is day-to-day.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Finger can't affect Martin's shot
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Monday, February 12, 2007
Kevin Martin's finger is bad enough that he wears a sleeve designed to keep the swelling down. It was bad enough that when Mike Bibby needed help up from the floor during Thursday's game against Chicago, the Kings shooting guard offered only his good hand. And it's bad enough that every few minutes, Martin tugs at it as if hopeful that one good pull will take the nagging pain away.
Yet for all its annoying effects, the middle finger on Martin's right shooting hand has done nothing to slow down his shot. Since spraining it against Minnesota on Jan. 31, Martin has hit 48 of 93 shots from the field and 16 of 27 three-pointers.
"I don't know what it is," he said. "Maybe (the injury) makes me focus more or something."
Martin said he has not had an X-ray on the finger, but may consider having it checked out if the pain persists through the All-Star break. Seattle, clearly, would not have complained if he opted to rest.
For all of Martin's success this season, he has had his best games against the SuperSonics. He had 24 points Sunday night, and Saturday night he scored 26, this after Martin had 35 points and held Ray Allen to 6-for-22 shooting in a Kings win on Nov. 24.
"I definitely remember the night, and I wasn't happy after that," Allen said. "I had a friend of mine I was playing golf with a month later, and he was saying, 'Yeah, I saw you guys play and you were really fun to watch.' I said, 'What game did you see?' He said, 'The Sacramento game.' I said, 'Oh yeah?' He didn't really say everything he wanted to."
Sonics coach Bob Hill said he jumped on the Martin bandwagon before it got going.
"I liked him last year, when he wasn't putting up these numbers," Hill said. "When he had an opportunity to get into the flow of the offense, he made shots last year. He's a very good player and he's broken out and is going to require special attention."
Martin remains a top candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award. He is the only player to be averaging more than 20 points while taking less than 14 shots per game, and his 10.2-point difference between his scoring average last season (10.8) and this season (21.0) is the most in the league.
Thomas sits -- One night after the Kings learned they'd be without center Brad Miller at least through the All-Star break (foot tissue inflammation), forward Kenny Thomas sat out with a lower back strain suffered on Saturday. Thomas' status is day-to-day.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.