After his performance tonight, it's going to be hard to say no. 34 points on 10/13 shooting through 3 quarters
Hell, yeah, if we had won this game ... If the Rockets go to him consistently when he's hot, and he has monster games against the elite teams, he will get more respect.
Playing his best game of the season changes nothing, he is not an all star. Going off like he did still couldn't get the Rockets a victory over the Portland Cripples, I hope people can now realize that we are far more than a defensive big away from being contenders. I have to say, haven't seen someone going off like that since Peja.
91 TS% for 45 points...........sometimes you just have to realize that if the Rockets were, say, a top 8 seed......then he probably does make it. But since the rest of the team sucks...tough luck.
One game does not make a career (or a season). This board is so bipolar, if he plays bad he sucks, if he plays well he is an all star but the team sucks, make up your minds and stick to it.
Another game where Martin disappears in the Clutch. I knew it was coming too. He played great, but when we needed points the most, he wasn't there.
Don't you think after scoring 45 pts he would be tired and gassed in the 4rth? I can't believe some posters here are so stupid they actually think Kevin Martin is the reason why we lost.
How does scoring 9 of the 20 points in the 4th quarter constitute as dissapearing? Subtract his contribution from 20 and it mightve been a blow out. Anyways I think he's an incredibly efficient scoring shooting guard who's only focuses mainly on scoring but he definitely doesn't do much for our defense. He rarely fights through picks, he wasn't really in the face the shooters he was guarding because he was more often than not flat flooted and completely not jumping to contest the shots. If he played more defense and he played for a position like say center he'd definitely be an all star. But like someone had stated before what's the point of being an all star? Its just one more game they have to risk injuries in. I would say he's our version of michael redd. Just my 2 cents.
Tired and gassed in the 4th? This is the NBA, these guys are conditioned to play 48 minutes if they have to. And no, I don't think he was tired at all. Kmart himself would never make that excuse and neither should you. Its not like he took 40 shots and played 45 minutes. I didn't say he was the reason we lost the game. All I said was he disappears in the clutch. I said he disappears in the CLUTCH. He played great, but when it mattered most, he wasn't scoring at will like he was earlier. The guy can put up buckets among the best in the NBA, but when it gets close, I'm more confident going to AB as our goto guy. I was hoping Kmart to be that guy, but I don't think that will happen. You are right, he is an incredibly efficient scoring guard and that's about all.
We need to run screens for KM in the 4th. He's not an iso kind of guy, especially when the defenders load up on him. AB can also be defended by trapping or doubling him. Or when he dribbles the ball off his foot. I thought team offense was our best suit. It always disappears in the 4th.
That is where a superstar-like player would come in handy. Team ball is the way to go, but when it gets close and tight and you need to score, you need a guy that can put the team on his shoulders and will them to a victory. You're not always in position to run set plays or have the time. This is how your million dollar superstar earns his money.
I would rather have Martin over everyone on that list except Kobe, CP3, D-Will, and Westbrook. I think Martin is the second best SG in the west.
Kevin Martin is an All-Star caliber player but he won't make the All-Star because Houston is not doing good. If Houston were a top 5 team in the West while putting up that scoring average he would have a chance to make the All-star team. But just because he doesn't make the team doesn't mean he isn't all-star caliber. Deron Williams and Melo were considered all-star type players before making the team. No I am not saying he is on their level.
Wow, the first sensible post on this thread (after my original, of course). Sure there are a lot of really good guards in the West. But I vote for the guy on my team first if I think he's all-star quality. I'm surprised that others don't do that as well. As for expecting 1 shooting guard to carry an entire team to the playoffs... Kobe never did that by himself. And Kobe is a super-star! Jeez people. What a bunch of ungrateful *$(#-heads.
Yes, I am serious. All three are tier-2 guards, but the numbers don't lie. Ellis is having a better year than Martin, hands down. But, Kevin may have a slight advantage over Gordon based on his 3P and FT abilities. Kevin Martin: 23.2 PPG, 3.10 RPG, 2.3 APG. Monta Ellis: 25.4 PPG, 3.50 RPG, 5.4 APG. Eric Gordon: 23.5 PPG, 3.20 RPG, 4.5 APG.
