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Kevin is very special. I hope he can continue to grow and develop. Kid's still young, a bright spot on the team for sure.
King's Martin proving he's special
Web Posted: 12/01/2006 03:52 PM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
He doesn't dwell much on the moment, but Kings guard Kevin Martin doesn't mind an occasional reminder of one of the more amazing plays of the entire 2006 NBA playoffs. After all, it helped set him up for a more prominent role with his team this season.
Spurs fans don't need much of a reminder about it, either. For a few days last spring it made them very nervous about their team's likelihood of advancing out of a first-round series that was much more difficult than the 1-vs.-8 matchup is supposed to be.
It was Martin who streaked downcourt at ARCO Arena after Mike Bibby stole the ball from Manu Ginobili with about three seconds left in Game 3 of the Spurs-Kings series. Martin took a long pass from Bibby and, in almost the same motion, released a shot that barely eluded Tim Duncan's block attempt before rolling once around the rim and settling into the net as the buzzer sounded, giving Sacramento a 1-point victory that set off a rousing celebration.
"It was definitely a good moment," Martin said during a phone conversation Friday after his team's morning shootaround in Dallas, where the Kings were to play the Southwest Division leading Mavericks. "But it was just a moment, and that's how I tried to look at it. I don't really reflect on it."
The Kings won Game 4 last spring, too. Even after closing out the series in six games the Spurs knew they had been tested severely and that Martin was destined for bigger things in the future.
When the Kings meet the Spurs tonight at AT&T Center, Martin will be in the starting lineup, having replaced Bonzi Wells, who foolishly believed a five-year, $38-million contract offer the Kings made in July was inadequate.
Wells and his agent must have been among the very few who failed to understand that Martin's rapid development into a potential star and his toughness during that playoff series made Wells expendable in Sacramento.
"I think the playoffs definitely helped me, confidence-wise," Martin said. "I'd had a good regular season, played well in the starting lineup after Bonzi got hurt (early in the season). The next question (the Kings) had was: 'What can you do in the playoffs?' I felt I did all right, so I definitely had confidence going into the summer."
Martin went to work on his perimeter shooting soon after the Spurs finished off the Kings in Game 6 last spring, hitting the gym nearly every day to get up a few hundred shots and perfect his stroke.
When Wells turned down the Kings' millions – he ended up signing with the Rockets for slightly more than $2 million – Martin knew the starting spot at big guard was his to lose. He has made the most of it. Until a clunker against the Clippers – 1 for 8 – he had been the team's most reliable scorer, with eight consecutive games of at least 20 points.
Martin insists there was no pressure replacing Wells, who had been the Kings' best player against the Spurs in the playoffs.
"I'm just going to go out and play my game," he said. "I started for him half the year last year anyway. We complemented each other really well. So there's no extra pressure. I'm just trying to do what I did last year."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....4348bd74.html
Kevin is very special. I hope he can continue to grow and develop. Kid's still young, a bright spot on the team for sure.
I like Martin's game...
30 pts along with some steals tonight. Too bad it was a wasted effort.
Martin was amazing in the second half.
He comes off screens extremely well.
He's a stud.
Kevin Martin = Mitch Richmond
but alot better defender.
So if he can keep that jumper going Martin > Richmond
He is definitely moving better now without the ball. He and Ron are the only starters on the Kings I feel need to be kept.
Not a lot of flash to his game, very efficient.
I hate to say it, because I love his game, but with his slight build, it's only a matter of time before teams start to punish him the way they do Manu.
Right now Kevin Martin is playing like Manu did in the 2005 Playoffs. Basically making every shot he takes, getting fouled and making his FT's. Only difference is he isn't a good passer. Martin isn't a guy who dominates the ball, but he dominates through his efficiency and converting nearly all his scoring opportunities. As Kori said, he is excellent at moving without the ball and around screens.
I still think he might be overachieving a bit thus far, but he clearly is playing like an all star this season. No doubt about it.
Excuse me?
Explain me how martin is better then 25ppg scorer
Martin plays nothing like Richmond. Only thing they have in common is they both played shooting guard for the Kings.
Richmond averaged as much as Martin does now but had more rebounds and more assists. And he did it every year for a decade.
Martin is a damn good player. He's going to be good for a long time. If I had to compare him, I'd say he's like Reggie Miller meets Richard Hamilton. He's great at using picks and drawing fouls, which is why he's a lot better than your standard run of the mill shooter.
I saw some highlight footage from around the time he was drafted and I was hoping the Spurs would give him a look. Nice pick by the Kings, though
Drafting a shooting guard for like 10 years in a row paid off
Not saying Richmond wasn't a very good SG, but if Martin keeps playing the way he does, his season will be a decent amount better than any season of Mitch Richmond. Yes even the one where he averaged 26ppg.
The reason?
Martin is scoring a lot more efficiently than Richmond ever did. Martin is actually rebounding slightly better. But yes, his passing is his weak point. But hard to argue with that considering he doesn't turn it over and is scoring at a True Shooting Percentage of like 70. Ridiculous.
Richmond was the better defender, but as of now Martin is performing at a ridiculously high level on offense as of today. I doubt he keeps it up this much -- but his 2006-07 season will probably be comparable to Richmond's best -- despite them being stylistically very different.
Does anybody remember that sick pass through Brent Barry's legs a couple years ago? That was Martin.
^that play was ing sick. one of the few times espn showed a kings player some dap.
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