Kevin Martin's Unprecedented Arsenal
by Ziller
on Apr 17, 2008 3:22 PM PDT
in Commentary
Most high-scoring guards in the NBA fall into two categories: slasher or shooter. Slashers, like Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, draws tons of fouls. Shooters, like Ray Allen and Michael Redd, bomb away from long-range. Very few scorers combine the aspects of slasherdom and shooterdom well -- LeBron does shoot a bunch, but not efficiently from distance (32% career). The same goes for Kobe (34%) and Wade (26%). Redd (6.8/game) and Allen (3.2/game) draw few fouls, comparatively.
(I think you know where I'm headed with this.)
This season, Kevin Martin got 9.5 FTAs per game (#5 in the league). He also took 4.4 3PAs per game, and scored on 40.2% of those. That's good diversity. (<-- Understatement.)
How many players have ever averaged at least 9 FTAs per game and shot at least 40% from three (taking at least 1 three per game)? One. Kevin Martin, this season.
How many players have ever averaged at least 8 FTAs per game and shot at least 40% from three (taking at least 1 three per game)? Two. Kevin Martin and Michael Jordan.
How many players have ever averaged at least 7 FTAs per game and shot at least 40% from three (taking at least 1 three per game)? Six. Kevin Martin, Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Kevin Johnson, Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki.
[Martin's 2008-09 is real similar to Pierce's underrated 2001-02 season, when Pierce finished third-team All NBA and took Boston to the conference finals. Pierce shot more often and rebounded a bit better per-minute, but Martin shot much more efficiently and didn't have as many turnovers. (Pierce went 40 mpg; Martin had 36.) Paul Pierce, of course, is considered one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the world. He'll get a few low-ballot MVP votes, just as he has over his career. (Vince Carter's got a similar mix of numbers with point to a versatile offense, too.)]
But get this again: No one in the modern history of basketball who shoots so well from three has been driven to get to the line this much. Jordan, in 1995-96, shot 40% from three and averaged 8 FTAs per game. Kevin Martin shot 40% from three this year and averaged 9.5 FTAs! (In less playing time, even.)
Martin's offense isn't just at the top of this roster -- the combination of effective slashing and effective shooting is unprecedented in modern basketball history. And he still can't get the ball in crunch time? If Reggie Theus wasn't just blowin' smoke to keep Ron-Ron happy, he needs his retinas checked.
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Kevin is a very good player
Bordering on being a great player. I’d love to see him add a bit more on the defensive side of the ball, and become a bit more of a vocal leader on the court.
"Boo Lakers! Boo Kobe! Go Kings! Go Giants! Boo Dodgers!" - my 5 year-old daughter - 4/15/08
by otis29 on
Apr 17, 2008 3:29 PM PDT
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Just so I'm sure I understand
You’re saying that Kevin Martin is good at the game of basketball?
by Ben Q Rock on
Apr 17, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
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I think this is an accurate interpretation of my post.
by Ziller on
Apr 17, 2008 3:32 PM PDT
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I’m glad we understand each other.
... and I still have no idea how Monta edged-out Speed Racer for MIP last year.
by Ben Q Rock on
Apr 17, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
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Martin's offense vs. being a great player.
Martin’s offense is simply beautiful. There aren’t really words in the english language or basketball slang that can actually describe how sexy it really is.
However, being a great player requires two more things. He needs better team defense, which him and theus have both said over and over again he will work on this offseason. The second thing is balls. He needs the balls to tell theus what’s up once in a while, and he needs the balls to put other people in their place, like ron.
I’m not saying he needs to be condescending, I guess you could call what I’m going after “leadership” but he’s gotta show a little attitude with it so people stop undermining him. Kevin Martin is the present, and future of this organization knock on wood, but if he lets everyone who has “seniority” control everything we will watch this team get knocked out of the first round of play offs At best every year.
by dkons21 on
Apr 17, 2008 3:39 PM PDT
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I got this...
Kevin Martin > Michael Jordan.
any questions?
by kingsTV on
Apr 17, 2008 4:07 PM PDT
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Wow
That’s pretty amazing. Now let’s get him the ball for 20 shots a game.
by Kfan in Korea on
Apr 17, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
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20 shots?
Shit I’d give him 30, and if he wanted more he could have those too.
by dkons21 on
Apr 17, 2008 5:42 PM PDT
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I think the best thing about Kevin is can he play alongside
a chucker and it won’t make a difference. The problem is if that chucker doesn’t pass it won’t be a huge benefit.
Great post on K-Mart btw.
We could build ping-pong ball shrines and make sacrifices at them, like broken ping-pong paddles, or burning Peaches in effigy--LPA
by pookeyguru on
Apr 17, 2008 5:52 PM PDT
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Let's all chip in
And get Reggie an appointment at Newman Lasik. He can even get his King-size discount of $200.
TickTickTickTickTickTick
by LeaguePassAddict on
Apr 17, 2008 6:17 PM PDT
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Ha!
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on
Apr 17, 2008 6:25 PM PDT
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R.I.P. Brendan O'Connor, Local Television Star
2006-2007
by Ziller on
Apr 17, 2008 6:41 PM PDT
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um..
ex kings assistant coach? or someone else?
by kingsTV on
Apr 18, 2008 2:53 AM PDT
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theus' contact info?
we need to somehow send this post to theus. maybe theus doesn’t realize what an amazing scorer he has in k-mart.
by kingsfaninjapan on
Apr 18, 2008 5:21 AM PDT
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Dude
Just because we both reside in East Asia, does not mean that we should have the same Profile Photo. ;p
by Kfan in Korea on
Apr 18, 2008 5:49 AM PDT
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Wait a minute
The profile photo that you’re using is originally from me. Isn’t this a lot like when Kobe said Artest shouldn’t be popping his collar as though Kobe invented it? ;)
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on
Apr 18, 2008 7:35 AM PDT
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Hey, You keep your Western Hemispherical
prejudices to yourself monkey boy.
by Kfan in Korea on
Apr 18, 2008 8:13 AM PDT
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Ha!
I mean, “Ook!”
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on
Apr 18, 2008 8:46 AM PDT
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Get out!
Tim, is that you?
God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214
by KK on
Apr 18, 2008 10:47 PM PDT
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My bad.
I suspect that I suffer from Tourette’s syndrome.
God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214
by KK on
Apr 18, 2008 10:51 PM PDT
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Ok....K-Mart is good
I think we’re over reacting a bit.
I don’t think this is JUST a love letter for Artest. It’s also a slight dig at Martin to work on that D. It’s a little nudge. Some tough love from Theus.
On a side note, i hadn’t seen Martin live in a while, so i caught their game in Oakland a couple weeks ago.
Dude is a superstar. Already. He gets the superstar calls, and he controls the game. And all this with Salmons and Artest seeming to refuse to pass to him.
Kill the Monta comparisons, Monta’s game has a lot of weaknesses that need tweakings. Martin has to work on his D, but thats about it. They both go to the rack and shoot, but Martin has more range on his J.
But i agree that K-Mart needs some balls. I was actually surprised that he said this to the paper. I think Theus wants him to develop a “killer instinct.” When they do the late, close game timeouts, and Theus starts to draw up a play for Artest….he needs to be Jimmy Chitwood (Hoosiers reference). Where everyone grows silent until K-Mart goes “I’m gonna make it,” almost forcing Reggie to draw up the play for him.
by thashyt on
Apr 18, 2008 4:24 PM PDT
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