So Did Martin "Stick It" To Westphal?

[Kingster]

That is the talk on the radio. That Martin on the last play of the Denver game willfully disregarded what the coach wanted. Could he be that stupid not to know what Westphal wanted? He's not a kid anymore.

 

[Bricklayer]

That is the talk on the radio. That Martin on the last play of the Denver game willfully disregarded what the coach wanted. Could he be that stupid not to know what Westphal wanted? He's not a kid anymore.

On what radio? Talk by who?

It just doesn't fit with what we think we know about Kevin.

 

[startingtohurt]

i dont get kevins approach to last second shots. it seems like every time he's in that situation he drives, puts up a forced shot and tries to draw a foul. players KNOW that refs rarely call a foul in that situation, so why not try to get the best quality shot you can instead of forcing it?

 

[ReinadelosReys]

On what radio? Talk by who?

It just doesn't fit with what we think we know about Kevin.

Grant Napear.

He made it basically his number one topic of conversation on his radio show today, saying he wasn't "crucifying Kevin" but bascially ragging on him for the whole show. This is what was referring to

http://www.nba.com/kings/video/2010/02/02/westphalCustomYoutubemov-1216247?ls=iref:nbahpt2

At the 1:20 mark (lightly paraphrased)

Sam Amick: What about the last couple of possessions for you, Spencer hits that three, but after that you didn't get to seem what you wanted?

Coach W: No. No we didn't. I-....I know the one when we were down, we didn't want to run-take the last shot. We just wanted to score as soon as possible. So we had a little mix up of communication on that. (Then goes on to talk about how ultimately the Nuggets defended well and the Kings turned the ball over too much)

Reporter: Any thought of when you were down two, when Martin took it the hoop, any thought of taking the 3?

Coach W: Sure. Yea, the play didn't unfold exactly how we drew it up unfortunately. But, situations like that we wanted to attack, make their defense rotate a bit and make whatever we could get either something going to the basket or 3. Unfortunately it did not unfold in our favor.

Reporter: How did you draw it up

Coach W: I'm not going to get into all that its just didn't work. We might want to use it again, and run it right.

Now, I'd have to see the play again (I could be wrong) but I remember Kevin with the ball and the rest of the guys sort of around the perimeter as if it was cleared out. So, maybe it was the whole team not following the play? I don't know, like I said I'd have to see it again.

 

[Hoovtrain]

Grant Napear.

He made it basically his number one topic of conversation on his radio show today, saying he wasn't "crucifying Kevin" but bascially ragging on him for the whole show. This is what was referring to

http://www.nba.com/kings/video/2010/02/02/westphalCustomYoutubemov-1216247?ls=iref:nbahpt2

At the 1:20 mark (lightly paraphrased)

Sam Amick: What about the last couple of possessions for you, Spencer hits that three, but after that you didn't get to seem what you wanted?

Coach W: No. No we didn't. I-....I know the one when we were down, we didn't want to run-take the last shot. We just wanted to score as soon as possible. So we had a little mix up of communication on that. (Then goes on to talk about how ultimately the Nuggets defended well and the Kings turned the ball over too much)

Reporter: Any thought of when you were down two, when Martin took it the hoop, any thought of taking the 3?

Coach W: Sure. Yea, the play didn't unfold exactly how we drew it up unfortunately. But, situations like that we wanted to attack, make their defense rotate a bit and make whatever we could get either something going to the basket or 3. Unfortunately it did not unfold in our favor.

Reporter: How did you draw it up

Coach W: I'm not going to get into all that its just didn't work. We might want to use it again, and run it right.

Now, I'd have to see the play again (I could be wrong) but I remember Kevin with the ball and the rest of the guys sort of around the perimeter as if it was cleared out. So, maybe it was the whole team not following the play? I don't know, like I said I'd have to see it again.

What a joke. He's not trying to crucify him? He has had a raging hard on for Kevin ever since he questioned his toughness after the broken wrist. Unfortunately the only AM station i get at work is 1140 so I have to sit there day in and day out and listen to Grant crucify Kevin non-stop. It is a joke. I don't know what his issue is with Kevin, but the way he talks you would think Kevin slept with his wife or something. Knowing what a spineless punk Grant is, I'm sure he feels he can get away with trashing kevin regularly since he is such a nice guy and never has a terse word for anyone. Sorry for the rant, but the not trying to crucify comment got me going because that is exactly what he has been doing for months. Same crap when he called out Bobby J when he had the abdominal tear. It's shameful.

 

[Kingster]

On what radio? Talk by who?

It just doesn't fit with what we think we know about Kevin.

On 1140 with Napier on Lamb. Westphal said after the game that the last play wasn't run properly. Apparently, not close to what he wanted. Martin was the guy running the play. Ergo, Martin did what he wanted, not what Westphal wanted. Westphal didn't want to go into it, but he was irked. So, Napier brought it up. As we all know, there is stuff Napier can bring up, and stuff he can't. Like confidential conversations with other players, for example. My guess is that he knows even more about the situation than what he could say on the radio. But he said enough.

 

[Bricklayer]

On 1140 with Napier on Lamb. Westphal said after the game that the last play wasn't run properly. Apparently, not close to what he wanted. Martin was the guy running the play. Ergo, Martin did what he wanted, not what Westphal wanted. Westphal didn't want to go into it, but he was irked. So, Napier brought it up. As we all know, there is stuff Napier can bring up, and stuff he can't. Like confidential conversations with other players, for example. My guess is that he knows even more about the situation than what he could say on the radio. But he said enough.

I can easily believe -- indeed coach said as much -- that Kevin ****ed up the play. Both the shot itself, and the timing. But there is a jump there from Kevin screwed up to Kevin INTENTIONALLY ignored the coach on the way to screwing up. That's the accusation I am curious about. I have a hard time believing it unless, and here's my one speculative unless, UNLESS Kevin has been unhappy with his reduced role. Unless maybe even that horrible slump on the roadtrip was a reaction to Westphal telling him to back off. Because really it would take that sort of unhappy player to intentionally ignore his coach's instructions in an end game situation.

 

[rainmaker]

Interesting. I listened to Grant today from 3-4, and that was pretty much all he talked about. One thing about Grant is, eventhough he tends to blow things out of proportion, when he makes a big deal about something, there usually is some merrit to it given what he is privy to behind the scenes.

Personally, I can't see Kevin blowing off Westphal purposely. But I did see the postgame comments, and coach wasn't happy. I won't make this more than it is, but i will be watching Kevins body language tomorrow.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Just a follow up from today:

n a side note, I did catch wind of Grant Napear's concocted controversy regarding Martin's final attempt in Denver. The KHTK and Kings' company man who so clearly has a beef with Martin ripped me for not asking the shooting guard about the miscommunication Westphal had alluded to in Tuesday's editions.

Had he asked me - which he curiously never does, leading me to this current Donovan McNabb-Terrell Owens-esque state of 'Keep my name out of your mouth' - I would have informed him that all involved said the miscommunication was simply a case of poor timing and nothing more. Martin took too long to get into the play, as it began with 18 seconds left and he drove some 10 seconds later. He shot it with 2.7 seconds left, meaning the Kings would hardly have had enough for a last-ditch attempt had they grabbed the offensive rebound, not to mention the possibility of a drive and kick to shooters on the perimeter if Martin's path was blocked. Not ideal by any means.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/morning-after.html

 

[Gary]

So it all makes sense now.. Brick = Napear!!!! Sorry had to say it. You bag on Martin as much as Grant does lol.

 

[VF21]

Interesting. I listened to Grant today from 3-4, and that was pretty much all he talked about. One thing about Grant is, eventhough he tends to blow things out of proportion, when he makes a big deal about something, there usually is some merrit to it given what he is privy to behind the scenes.

Unfortunately, Grant also goes off on tangents. Remember when he accused Bobby Jackson of dogging it about an injury?

Sorry, but Grant doesn't know everything that goes on behind the scenes. He's not privy to as much as some of you would want to believe.

 

[rainmaker]

Unfortunately, Grant also goes off on tangents. Remember when he accused Bobby Jackson of dogging it about an injury?

Sorry, but Grant doesn't know everything that goes on behind the scenes. He's not privy to as much as some of you would want to believe.

I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. I never said I believe every word that comes out of Grants mouth, nor do I always agree with him.

I don't know what you think I think Grant is privy to, and to what extent, but he does know more about what goes on behind the scenes than we do. All I said, was given what Grant is privy to, I find it hard to believe there isn't any truth to what he said, given how much time he spends with the team. When he comes on the air, and initiates conversation about this for well over an hour, and he seems worked up about it, I have a very hard time believing he fabricated it out of nothing.