Is Kevin Martin fools gold?

Is this the thread where people try to micro-analyze the defensive woes of a team with a 6'6 starting center?

 

Did you watch the Rockets 2 years ago when they finally made it out of the first round? Whenever McGrady played it was a totally different team. His mere presence cost them several games and in the end a division title and possible playoff advancement.

 

Can the Rockets coaching staff and Chuck Hayes please work with Kevin Martin on defense? I think Chuck Hayes could teach Kevin a trick or two how to defend.

 

I'm thinking he should start using the Battier hand in the face trick. It won't work all the time, but it will be a start. I have noticed that he has been hustling more on defense lately in the past three games.

 

He was working last night, DD. The biggest problem Martin was having is something I'm not sure he can fix. He's so light that the big athletic guys he was up against were pushing him around. I didn't see a lack of effort. I saw a body that needs at least ten pounds of muscle, which would make a huge difference, IMO. Yes, he needs some lessons from superb defensive players like Chuck and Shane, who turned back the clock during this game (long may it last!), but you have to think that he gets those in practice. KMart is so light that he gets shoved around, often being fouled in the process. Last night, those fouls weren't called. Often, they are.

He was working his ass off for 40 minutes, DD. If he didn't "care enough," he fooled me. I think he does care. Is he consistent on defense? No, but in far too many matchups, his slight frame fails him. Without his offense, however, we lose that game, pure and simple. I saw a great effort. You obviously saw something else. The effort can be there for Martin, and any other player on defense, but if you're out matched physically you have to find a way to still make a difference. Martin did.

I think he needs a new trainer. The fellow he has writes a good column about what they do when Martin works during the summer, which is a nice read, but not good enough results. He puts in a lot of work, but not enough, or the right kind, to add significant strength. Kevin needs to try someone new. Maybe stay in Houston instead of going to Florida and work with our staff next offseason. Worth a try.

Damn, I'm envious of the young, tall and athletic team we played. If they keep that group together, they are going to be much better than they are now, which is pretty damned good. I suspect Leeb was drooling during the game, just looking at their team and the talent.

 

The effort Martin and Miller puts on the floor are not much worse than that of Brooks.

They all suck on defence, but they all try.

 

This thread would be a lot more useful, for fans and even those more involved, with some video clips of, say, one game (versus gathering clips of a player's worst moments throughout the season, which wouldn't be fair), showing KM dogging it on D, if that's true. Otherwise, it's only just a bunch of people's hearsay versus others people's hearsay.

 

NO! he's not fools gold. bye.

 

Some of us watch every game. Sometimes, more than once. Martin's defense has sucked, and sometimes he looks like he's dogging it on the defensive end. Last night, however, he put in an effort for 40 minutes. He got abused, but he's too light for his size and Oklahoma City has waves of tall, strong and athletic guys to throw at you. Martin needs a new trainer and should train in Houston with the staff next summer, IMO. Way too light. But yeah, this place is full of opinions. I think it's supposed to be, though.

 

martin is not going to change. That needs to be accepted. He can still play team defense and it can be covered by putting good defenders around him. That may mean not having him play as much when bud or brooks are playing since those guys can't play defense either.

martin is not fools gold but he is not the steal that some might have thought. He will be useful but he is not going to get those flailing calls and forced up shots for fouls in the playoffs as much or in the 4th quarter of the game. His shot selection and overtrying to get a foul late in games is already getting tired to me.

To that end I am worried because he is not going to change and that means he will be trying to draw fouls,and then not getting them in the 4th/playoffs. Anyone remember when cuttino got raped by shaq in that one playoff game at the end? The refs dont like to call fouls late in games.

So perhaps we will need his foul drawing through the meat of the game and by the 4th either we have the lead or we plug in a defensive minded set to close out last 2-3 minutes of tight playoff games. It could work.

Either way at this point the scoring load should go like this yao,brooks,scola or martin. So this means he is a number 3 scorer. So no, he's a number 3 not a number 1. We ordered a number 3 with a side of no defense. that's what we got.

 

Good one. Updated my post to clarify.

 

Martin is what we have seen from him the last 5 years...an injury prone, score in bunches, draw fouls by flopping, stand still shooting, no defense playing , great 2nd or 3rd option, cardiomaniac ballplayer....I like him just not with this team at the present moment...But when Yao comes back then we will see a more aggressive K-Mart....works backwards with him

 

had to throw so optimism in there somehow

 

My point is, I don't have a beef with KM, so no need for me to post a video. However, if someone wants to make more than just a point, some video evidence would be more effective. If you're just fine with voicing your opinion and not expecting anything to come of it, then we're all good here Just a friendly tip!

No one said this is a hearsay message board. It's much more than that when people take the time (ie posting player video highlights), and fun to experience as well

 

yeah but that's our lot in life. We chose to be with yao and this route and we will either sink or swim. Overall that approach so far has gotten us first round exit and a 2nd round exit. Not terrible but certainly not great either.

The problem is now this team is finally finally built around yao and guess what? no yao.. the other problem is we keep piling losses. We might be the greatest 8th seed if we can make it to that. I smell a streak coming and I do think we can start to put some wins together. the problem is how far in the hole we already are. We dont get scheduling favoritism like the lakers and we just have to eat that crap sandwich too. It's our lot in life to not get any breaks and certainly didn't get any love from the media/refs even when we won in the 90s.but doesnt that make it sweeter?

you still cant teach 7 foot 6. As long as that ray of hope still remains and we make the playoffs , that automatically puts us within reach that other 8 or 7 seeds may not have..without yao we simply aren't going to get over that hump. and that's when people like martin become more scrutinized.

martin is exactly who we thought he was.

 

ps I come from the minority mindset that the collective talents on this board can actually help the players and the front office, (think crowdsourcing, which is what I do) such as identifying weaknesses (and strengths) and providing evidence of such in a manner that players, coaches, staff can easily, and efficiently, absorb. For instance, it's those montage clips on the Daily Show showing the same thing from different points of view that drive home a point.

What I'm saying is that people's opinions on this board do matter, but the people that can do something about aren't going to pay attention if it's not in a medium they can effectively understand it, or see it proven. Of course, if one couldn't care less or simply believe that one's opinion can't make a difference, then that's another opinion.

 

Fool's gold had another great game in a win tonight.