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Around SBN: VIDEO: Watch I'll Have Another Win the Preakness Stakes

Go Speedracer. Go Speedracer. Go Speedracer, go.

Last night, Kevin Martin scored 22 points on eight shots.

Last night, Kobe Bryant scored 24 points on 22 shots.

Obviously, Martin had a terrific game and Kobe had a poor game. But with the ridiculuous hot streak Speed has going lately (77 points on just 34 shots in the last four games, three of which were Kings wins), you wonder what the kid's ceiling is.

Is it Mitch Richmond? It was Rock's sophomore season when he turned into a great NBA shooter, hitting 49.7% from the floor and putting up a true shooting percentage of 57.6%. His usage rate was high at 23.5 (meaning he used 23.5% of the Warriors' possessions when he was on the floor - 20 is average, as five players each taking up 20% of the possessions would equal 100%).

Richmond peaked during the 1996 and 1997 season, at ages 30 and 31. The peak saw his three-point shooting get better, and saw him get to the line more. At his peak, Mitch hit 43.7% from three.

This season to date, Kevin Martin is hitting 40.2 percent of his threes. That's coming in the midst of a hot streak, sure. But remember that Speed started off terrible this season, missing 19 of his first 23 three-balls. He's had a bad stretch and a good stretch, and he's standing above the 40% mark.

Martin is getting 5.2 free throw attempts per 40 minutes this season, while Mitch's lowest season-average was the same. For his career, Mitch got to the line 6.3 times per 40.

What about another sweet-shooting off-guard? What about Walter Ray Allen?

Mr. Shuttlesworth's age 23 season was the strike-shortened 98-99 year, so let's look at Allen's age 24 season instead, for comparison's sake.

That year, Ray hit 45.5% from the floor, including an incredible 42.3% from three, for a true shooting percentage of 57.0%. His usage rate was 24.4, and he got 5.2 FTAs per 40.

We all know what Ray has done since: become a top-three NBA shooter and a franchise cornerstone.

Can Kevin do the same? The numbers look good - Martin is leading the league (!) in true shooting after Tuesday's display, with 63%. He's shooting very close to 50% from the floor, and 86% from the line. He's #12 in the NBA on free throws made per field goals attempts, which shows that his FTAs per 40 should go up as his FGAs per 40 rise. The indications are all very good.

But the biggest problem is that we won't be able to find out Kevin Martin's ceiling if he's only getting six shots a game. I know that winning is the only goal, but doesn't it seem ridiculous that a guy that goes for 17 points on literally perfect shooting and plays the entire second half only gets three shots up in the final two periods?

It's on Rick Adelman, it's on Mike Bibby and it's on Kevin Martin himself. He's getting the minutes. Now, he must get the shots.

Your turn - what do you think Kevin Martin's ceiling as an NBA player is? Ignoring his Hideo Nomo stroke, which past or current off-guard does he remind you of?

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Are You Out of Your Gourd?
"We all know what Ray has done since: become a top-three NBA shooter and a franchise cornerstone."

How can a guy be a "franchise cornerstone" when he has the defensive ability of Damon Jones with a sprained ankle?  YOU'RE DEAD TO ME ZILLER.

I love this Martin kid (that was a nice block on Warrick last night), but thems Sacto announcers need to drop the "K-Mart" moniker with a quickness.  He seems to have a slow release and he's got quite a hitch in his shot.  But hey, it goes in and that's what counts.  I would be crazy-excited about him if I were a SAC fan.

by Matthew Powell on Feb 8, 2006 11:46 AM PST reply actions  

Ha ha
I hate me some Shuttlesworth, too. But, um, he got game.

by Tom Ziller on Feb 8, 2006 11:48 AM PST up reply actions  

Subject:
He's as bad a defender as Mike Bibby.  Capiche?

by Matthew Powell on Feb 8, 2006 2:09 PM PST up reply actions  

Yeah?
Well he can't be as bad defensively as the reigning MVP. Because no one in the league is. Not even Chucky Atkins. Or Michael Redd. Or Sam Cassell. (Okay, maybe Chucky Atkins.)

by Tom Ziller on Feb 8, 2006 2:58 PM PST up reply actions  

Touche
You're right.  But Nash as MVP was a joke.  Did you know that there are only (2) MVPs in the history of the league that played a smaller percentage of their teams minutes?

I would have voted for Nowitzki.  He at least plays some defense and grabbed nearly 10 rebounds a game and 1.5 BPG.

by Matthew Powell on Feb 8, 2006 3:12 PM PST up reply actions  

Agreed.
Nash should've never happened. He went to Santa Clara University for god's sake.

I thought Garnett deserved it. With him, they almost snuck into the playoffs. Without him, they would've been Hornetsesque.

by Tom Ziller on Feb 8, 2006 3:29 PM PST up reply actions  

Hahaha
...his Hideo Nomo stroke...

Nice analogy.  LOL.  Now every time I see Kevin shoot, I'll think of Nomo's delivery.  Thanks a lot, TZ!

But back to Kevin... I've been shocked at times with the way he has played lately.  Pleasantly, of course.  He has improved drastically.  He looked lost out there on the court last season and for a good part of this season, but lately, he has been sensational.  His stroke looks weird as ever, but dude, his shots go in!  And I love the pull up jump shot in the lane.... kind of like Rip Hamilton.  

GO KINGS!!!

by Krazy4Kings on Feb 8, 2006 2:11 PM PST reply actions  

For what it's worth...
Coach Carril, who apparently works with Kevin more than he does any other Kings, has said Martin has a Rip-style game. I'd like that.

by Tom Ziller on Feb 8, 2006 2:57 PM PST up reply actions  

Wait a minute!
He's as bad a defender as Mike Bibby.  Capiche?

Let's not get carried away here.
First of all, he is learning defense at the master's knee. He couldn't possibly be expected in only two years to accomplish the defense Bibbyliscious gives us. It takes time to run like you had lead shoes. Plus I have never seen Martin dribble the ball off his foot.

by Jubilado1 on Feb 8, 2006 3:33 PM PST reply actions  

No, YOU Wait a Minute
I was talking about Ray Allen, not Kevin Martin.

by Matthew Powell on Feb 8, 2006 3:46 PM PST up reply actions  

Hey now.
Mike doesn't dribble off his foot - he slaps the ball off his foot!

by Tom Ziller on Feb 8, 2006 3:51 PM PST up reply actions  

You are right
Mike does sort of slap the ball rather than give it a direct dribble on to the foot. I just wonder how Bibbyliscious is going to handle it if Martin becomes the next Peja. Bibby likes his moment in the sun (crab walk) and is not one to abide anyone that will jepardize his "leadership". Maybe Kevin should take him aside and say "I like your fingernails and oh I think your dad is doing a great job too".

by Jubilado1 on Feb 8, 2006 7:07 PM PST reply actions  

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