http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14249810p-15066701c.html
Ailene Voisin: Martin's postseason grounding keeps his head out of clouds
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, April 30, 2006
First of all, that rumor about Kevin Martin being able to fly is sheer fantasy. True, he can flap his skinny wings in the air for a while, maybe have time to swallow a sandwich or peek at his text messages. And true, he is a blur between the baselines, his quickness eclipsed perhaps only by the speedy Tony Parker.
But the kid can't fly.
His head never even grazes the clouds. His memory still is cluttered with images of the 2005 postseason, when he was left off the playoff roster and forced to watch the games behind the bench. Even Saturday afternoon, after catching a replay of The Spectacular Shot That Saved the Kings - or at least extended the San Antonio Spurs for another few evenings - the second-year guard pleaded for perspective. Everyone can sit down now. This isn't the time to name a fine wine after him; the Spurs still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
"One lady came up to me in a restaurant (late Friday) and said, 'Thank you,' " Martin said Saturday. "I've never had anyone thank me for doing something in basketball."
Around here it's all about history, of course, all about three people not named Martin. John Stockton in 1999, Robert Horry in 2002, Brent Barry just the other night. So when the ball suddenly, improbably, inexplicably bounces up and into the basket for a last-second postseason victory, when even the looming presence of Tim Duncan fails to ruin the moment, the result is predictably and utterly hyperbolic. Arco Arena becomes deafening. The city turns purple with passion. And the second-year player immediately matures into a local legend.
Indeed, while Martin's speedy progression suddenly has become a national story, the lithe, 6-foot-7, 185-pounder has been a regional hit for a while now, for the past few months for sure. The cameras love him. The 16-year-olds adore him. But he remains amiable and unfailingly polite, and surprisingly without an overabundance of ego or attitude.
"I've had to work really hard for this," he said recently, "so I don't take anything for granted."
The first player from Western Carolina to be drafted in the first round of any professional sports league, Martin spent most of his rookie 2004-05 season getting scolded by the coaches for his lazy defense and passive demeanor. He was a floater, a human version of his favorite shot. Rare was the game when coach Rick Adelman refrained from screeching "Ke-VINNNNN" before directing the Zanesville, Ohio, native to the end of the bench.
Yet there always were whispers. There was frequent mention of explosive dunks and stunning, gravity-defying drives in practices. There were admiring, knowing glances from teammates. There were the obvious physical tools - the wiry frame and long limbs so reminiscent of Doug Christie - and, eventually, there was a work ethic that left him clocking double shifts.
Even as his playing time has increased substantially, Martin remains a fixture at the practice facility, often accompanied by assistant coach Pete Carril, with whom he is particularly close. At Carril's behest, Martin changed the mechanics on his jump shot, shifted the release point to avoid obstructing his view of the basket. He welcomed constructive criticism, absorbed the knowledge, and when Bonzi Wells was sidelined with a strained groin, seized the opportunity. Loose balls. Long rebounds. Critical jumpers. Curls into the lane. Soaring dunks in transition, even in the postseason.
"Kevin's done what he committed to do," said Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, "what people told him he needed to do to improve. He has an inner confidence about him now ... and when you think about where he was, that he wasn't even on the playoff roster last year, that's pretty impressive."
No, he can't fly. He can't leap tall buildings, though, at least once, he has eluded the 6-11 Duncan. But he has become invaluable to the Kings, undeniably fast, and eminently capable of one of those fantastic finishes.
"You see a lot of games that come down to the last possession, but his was certainly one of the more unique ones," Petrie said. "Kevin has that ability to float in the air, twist his body a little bit. He's not as snaky as (Manu) Ginobili can be, but he can sort of hang up there."
Sort of like the other night. Sort of like that.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: Martin's postseason grounding keeps his head out of clouds
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, April 30, 2006
First of all, that rumor about Kevin Martin being able to fly is sheer fantasy. True, he can flap his skinny wings in the air for a while, maybe have time to swallow a sandwich or peek at his text messages. And true, he is a blur between the baselines, his quickness eclipsed perhaps only by the speedy Tony Parker.
But the kid can't fly.
His head never even grazes the clouds. His memory still is cluttered with images of the 2005 postseason, when he was left off the playoff roster and forced to watch the games behind the bench. Even Saturday afternoon, after catching a replay of The Spectacular Shot That Saved the Kings - or at least extended the San Antonio Spurs for another few evenings - the second-year guard pleaded for perspective. Everyone can sit down now. This isn't the time to name a fine wine after him; the Spurs still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
"One lady came up to me in a restaurant (late Friday) and said, 'Thank you,' " Martin said Saturday. "I've never had anyone thank me for doing something in basketball."
Around here it's all about history, of course, all about three people not named Martin. John Stockton in 1999, Robert Horry in 2002, Brent Barry just the other night. So when the ball suddenly, improbably, inexplicably bounces up and into the basket for a last-second postseason victory, when even the looming presence of Tim Duncan fails to ruin the moment, the result is predictably and utterly hyperbolic. Arco Arena becomes deafening. The city turns purple with passion. And the second-year player immediately matures into a local legend.
Indeed, while Martin's speedy progression suddenly has become a national story, the lithe, 6-foot-7, 185-pounder has been a regional hit for a while now, for the past few months for sure. The cameras love him. The 16-year-olds adore him. But he remains amiable and unfailingly polite, and surprisingly without an overabundance of ego or attitude.
"I've had to work really hard for this," he said recently, "so I don't take anything for granted."
The first player from Western Carolina to be drafted in the first round of any professional sports league, Martin spent most of his rookie 2004-05 season getting scolded by the coaches for his lazy defense and passive demeanor. He was a floater, a human version of his favorite shot. Rare was the game when coach Rick Adelman refrained from screeching "Ke-VINNNNN" before directing the Zanesville, Ohio, native to the end of the bench.
Yet there always were whispers. There was frequent mention of explosive dunks and stunning, gravity-defying drives in practices. There were admiring, knowing glances from teammates. There were the obvious physical tools - the wiry frame and long limbs so reminiscent of Doug Christie - and, eventually, there was a work ethic that left him clocking double shifts.
Even as his playing time has increased substantially, Martin remains a fixture at the practice facility, often accompanied by assistant coach Pete Carril, with whom he is particularly close. At Carril's behest, Martin changed the mechanics on his jump shot, shifted the release point to avoid obstructing his view of the basket. He welcomed constructive criticism, absorbed the knowledge, and when Bonzi Wells was sidelined with a strained groin, seized the opportunity. Loose balls. Long rebounds. Critical jumpers. Curls into the lane. Soaring dunks in transition, even in the postseason.
"Kevin's done what he committed to do," said Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, "what people told him he needed to do to improve. He has an inner confidence about him now ... and when you think about where he was, that he wasn't even on the playoff roster last year, that's pretty impressive."
No, he can't fly. He can't leap tall buildings, though, at least once, he has eluded the 6-11 Duncan. But he has become invaluable to the Kings, undeniably fast, and eminently capable of one of those fantastic finishes.
"You see a lot of games that come down to the last possession, but his was certainly one of the more unique ones," Petrie said. "Kevin has that ability to float in the air, twist his body a little bit. He's not as snaky as (Manu) Ginobili can be, but he can sort of hang up there."
Sort of like the other night. Sort of like that.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
.
