From the second last play, he was playing really good D on Crawford. So he obviously knows and is more than capable of playing good defense. Is he just too lazy to do it on a consistent basis?
Crawford is the sort of player Martin can be successful (or, not terrible) defending I think. Players that are very physical, or that use screens really well will give Martin fits.
He can play defense, but he normally doesn't play defense... He can't sustain the intensity on both ends of the court... And that is also why he doesn't usually show up in clutch time...
Last year we also watched some stretches of intense defense by Martin. He absolutely knows how defense must be played, and he has good feet. He's weak, not too long, doesn't have a nice frame nor good elevation, but yeah, his lazy & soft defense by standards it is eminently a matter of being... lazy and soft.
Thats what makes it all the more irritating. He's more that capable of being an adequate defensive players, he's just lazy As much as he gets paid he should pride himself on both sides of the ball.
he can't play post defense on anyone with an ounce of muscle on their body, but he's always had the ability to keep people in front of him and get steals here and there. But even in interviews, he's said most of the issue was effort.
