Why is Kevin Martin playing so poorly?
- Thread starter JJ_Evans
- Start date
Thanks for the link. It's a very interesting story on the whole "Kevin Martin Mystery"...
I couldn't possibly agree more if I'd written it myself.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Er....
This is the "about the author" note:
About the Author: MIKE MOREAU
Mike Moreau is the Director of Basketball at IMG Academies in Bradenton, FL – home of The Basketball Academy and the Pro Training Center. Mike has worked with NBA stars such as Kevin Martin, Jared Jefferies, Chauncey Billups and dozens of others, and is in his first year contributing to HOOPSWORLD and HOOPSWORLD Magazine.
Having Kevin's personal trainer complain about his PT is a little like having Bibby's posse writing an excuse columnn about why he got traded methinks. Likely some element of truth in it, but passing through some heavily shaded glasses.
A larger issue is gee don't I feel like I am in a frickin' time warp with all the excuses made for Pej...er I mean Kevin. The irony being that just like Peja they inevitably make the person they are trying to "help" look infantile and wimpy. Its always somebody else's fault.
P.S. note to author: Kevin's minutes may have something to do with him having far more/better backups competing for minutes behind him than the vast majority of those players listed. We've got four starters at two positions.
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The article itself and Brick's author information are very interesting. I am a big Kevin Martin fan and like Reggie as well. I do think something is going on--we will see. Because the author has a relationship with Kevin does not make the information necessarily invalid and I can't think of one King's player that is a backup to Kevin that is "better." Annie.
jcassio
Starter
I think Kevin's problem is simple. I think it begins and ends with Kevin simply not knocking down his shots. There is always the temptation to over-analyze a simple problem, and I think that's what we're doing here.
Now, the issue of his shot mechanics may be relevant (and I emphasize the word may), but the Artest factor, his relationship with Reggie, etc... is all over-thinking and over-analyzing IMO. When Kevin starts knocking down his shots again - perhaps tonight or the next game, or the one after that - then Kevin's confidence returns and all the concerns and complaints discussed in this string will disappear faster than a speeding bullet.
Now, the issue of his shot mechanics may be relevant (and I emphasize the word may), but the Artest factor, his relationship with Reggie, etc... is all over-thinking and over-analyzing IMO. When Kevin starts knocking down his shots again - perhaps tonight or the next game, or the one after that - then Kevin's confidence returns and all the concerns and complaints discussed in this string will disappear faster than a speeding bullet.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/745487.html
In this recent article it mentions Martin having words with Theus. Maybe he is starting to take the author's advice. It's way down near the bottom past the Artest blow up so is easily missed.
In this recent article it mentions Martin having words with Theus. Maybe he is starting to take the author's advice. It's way down near the bottom past the Artest blow up so is easily missed.
beb0p
Starter
What the...? Martins took more shots than Manu Ginobili, Rip Hamilton, and Andre Iguodala, just to name a few. If Martin is being "marginalized", then Manu, Rip, and new AI are being marginalized too.
He shoots within the offense and he's just perfect the way he is. We don't need Martin to take 30 shots a game in order to win. I recall Theus left Martin in the game many times even when the SG was struggling. If there is an effort here by Theus to margialize Martin then I guess I didn't see it.
Purple Reign
Starter
I Love Kevin....
BUT HE NEEDS TO GROW THE HELL UP.
It is clear to me and I believe to most Kings fans that Kevin Martin is the future of the Sacramento Kings...but he is not the franchise. There is no franchise player on this team. Since Kevin signed his extension, he and his agent and his personal trainer is acting like he is "The Franchise".
Based on what i have been hearing over the last couple of days, Reggie theus is in this young man's corner. Ron Artest is in Kevin's corner. Kevin needs to play and let Artest and Theus (as the leaders of this team) do their jobs to keep him involved. That means playing better defense, rebounding more, being aggressive.
COME ON KEV!!! You are a great (not good) a great player. You are better than this!!!!! Better than Monta, better than Redd, better than most 2 guards in the league. Stop with all of the subliminal messages, the double talk to the media, the kindergarten pouting and body language and play your game. Nobody is against him, right now he is against himself and this team.
BUT HE NEEDS TO GROW THE HELL UP.
It is clear to me and I believe to most Kings fans that Kevin Martin is the future of the Sacramento Kings...but he is not the franchise. There is no franchise player on this team. Since Kevin signed his extension, he and his agent and his personal trainer is acting like he is "The Franchise". Based on what i have been hearing over the last couple of days, Reggie theus is in this young man's corner. Ron Artest is in Kevin's corner. Kevin needs to play and let Artest and Theus (as the leaders of this team) do their jobs to keep him involved. That means playing better defense, rebounding more, being aggressive.
COME ON KEV!!! You are a great (not good) a great player. You are better than this!!!!! Better than Monta, better than Redd, better than most 2 guards in the league. Stop with all of the subliminal messages, the double talk to the media, the kindergarten pouting and body language and play your game. Nobody is against him, right now he is against himself and this team.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
I also have trouble with people who think a guy named Dwayne Wade is in this league. It is an understandable misspelling (just ask Dwyane's parents) but an expert should not make it.
Um, it's most likely the fault of the typesetter or the proofreader. There are such things as typos.
Whatever it's been, I saw a different Kevin Martin out there tonight. His body language was better, he was more animated and he looked like he really wanted to be there. So hopefully whatever it was is better. And if it was a rift or something as has been widely speculated here's hoping that Reggie and Kevin worked it out.
I think Martin's struggles are directly correlated with the fact that he always starts off BLAZING hot every season and it hyper-inflates his actual value. Then when he comes back down to earth, everyone asks, what the hell is wrong? Well, I think right now it's his legs aren't fresh. The 60 something games they've played this season are wearing on his body and he hasn't developed the stamina to play an 82 game seasons at an elite clip yet. The past two seasons his play has faded down the home stretch. I really think that's the simplest and most plausible explanation for his reduced play of late.
Heuge
Starter
Another thing I think contributes to his weak play as of late is that the offense is counter what what would allow him to succeed. We are putting Ron in the post and allowing him to draw doubles and kick to spot up shooters. There is less cutting, less ball movement, leaving Kevin with less opportunity to do what he does best.
Your theory might - and I emphasize MIGHT - be worth considering had you not forgotten one critical detail. Kevin missed 17 games because of his groin injury. I'm really surprised you didn't remember that.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
And I have heard that several times, and all I have to say is if Kevin Martin cannot play with a strong post presence, then we need to trade him now, today (well, in two months) and never look back. The next team to win anything without a post presence will be the first.
Heuge
Starter
True, and I think you may be right.
With that said, movement does seem to be much more stagnant with a sf as that post, particularly Artest. Our offense in the halfcourt set does not appear to be wide open, which would favor Kevin. Also, Ron is not the quickest decision maker in that post, potentially frustrating other players. And clearly Kevin is not the only wing player frustrated or slowed down at this time , ie. Salmons.
I think having Artest in the low post as the 4 AND Salmons on the court as the 3 could be another problem, not only for Martin but for the flow of the game in general. You can have Salmons OR you can have Artest. As long as the league only allows one ball on the court at a time, however, you cannot have both.
HndsmCelt
Hall of Famer
First of all I too object to the term bum. Bums go out and don't try, I doubt that is what is happening here. I don't think this is exactly rocket science nor is it some kind of coaching conspiracy. As with most things in the world there are various factors no simple cause and effect that can get a quick fix. And those factors are: 1. Defenses are increasinginly keying on Kevin, 2. Whith Bibby gone gaurds are even more focused on Martin. Bibby kept them some what honest as a major scoring threat himself. (See Beno's caree high stats as a starter for evidence) 4. Shooters have slumps, even Bird had bad spells (just short and rare) 5. With a some what changing offense with larger min for bench development not only do Martins min get trimed a bit, but the guys arround him are frequently less focused on getting him the ball as making plays for them selves. Probably the best thing for Kevin is long min with Brad. Now factor in OTHER cutters. Once upon a time Kevin leaked out and cut to the hoop more as one of the only guys who had the hops and the speed, now there are other cutters and more and more Kevin is on the peremiter. Now we go back to 1 incresed focus, with Kevin on the permiter more and gaurds booking him mor accuratly they KNOW he will burn them if they don't give him space so they give him space allowing him to take the lower percentage out side shot and forcing quick passes with a high low double.
Two things will help Kevin get more of his game back. A stronger outside shooter on the team with him (Play Cisco at the 4 more) and increasing high post passing by runing the ball through Brad more and when he is off court working on Miki and Spencer's high post passing.
Two things will help Kevin get more of his game back. A stronger outside shooter on the team with him (Play Cisco at the 4 more) and increasing high post passing by runing the ball through Brad more and when he is off court working on Miki and Spencer's high post passing.
Thank you. That bugged me, too.
Wicked
Prospect
I realize I am NO NBA genius, but just a fan, but IMHO he is in a slump, it happens to shooters, especially a shooter on a team going NOWHERE.
I dont mean to put down another long suffering Kings fan and her exuberance, but being a blind homer is NOT going to do anything to help this team. Yeah, I realize the Mafools arent reading this board and could give a rats behind what we think, but seriously...vision problems???????????????????? What next...AIDS.... congenital heart disease...Parkinsons disease?????
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Glenn
Hall of Famer
If you can't come up with an idea, maybe it's best be a little more pleasant than ripping a new hole into someone who I think had a novel and possible theory of what might be wrong. Maybe Martin DOES need glasses. It's a constructive idea even if it may be wrong. At least it contributes to the discussion and the idea was backed up by observations.
So your theory is that he's in a slump? I guess that settles it then.
So your theory is that he's in a slump? I guess that settles it then.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I deleted the problematic post. That does not mean I am in general support of a sudden blindness excuse every time one of our players goes into a funk.
GameBall
Bench
Zero points for Kevin Martin in the fourth quarter last night against the Lakers. Yes, you give Kobe's defense against Martin credit, as much as I hate to, but Martin has proven just like Peja he is not a fourth quarter player. Kobe and players like him in the fourth quarter are looking to score in the fourth. Martin (Peja) is looking to pass in the fourth. Yes, you can say Artest (Webber) hogs the ball, but the point I'm trying to make is that if we are ever going to be a championship contender again, our best player needs to be a winner. We all hate Kobe, but he's a winner. Jordan was a winner. Duncan's a winner. Magic, Bird, Shaq, et al were winners. I love a lot of things about Martin, but he is not a winner. When Peja had the right pieces around him, he was a great player. Maybe that's Geoff's goal--to get the right pieces around Martin.
tyrant
Starter
you cant tell some of these people anything. they still think martin is a second option on a championship team. this puppy love for k-mart has to stop. he's a 3rd option player at best. not even someone you can set up a final play for. i hope he gets better. really, i do want this guy to be a very good player. but how much longer are we gona watch this peja abra cadabra act.
GameBall
Bench
It's making me wonder, and I know some will be upset by me saying this, but for all the talk about trading Artest this season, I starting to wonder if Martin is the guy that we trade in the offseason. I know he has that big five year deal that kicks in starting next year, but he's a good young player and we can probably still get value for him.
