Posted by firefly:

Just found this....

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2008/09/16/nba-top-50-kevin-martin-no-23/

NBA Top 50: Kevin Martin (No. 23)
Posted Sep 16th 2008 10:30AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)



FanHouse's Tom Ziller argues his ranking of the top 50 players in the NBA.

Kevin Martin is unique, most will agree. His funky wind-up, his throwback hairstyle, his extensively modest persona, his assortment of runners, floaters, jukes, jives, step-backs and cross-overs. But in a much more basic sense, his combination of slashing and shooting prowess is absolutely unmatched in the NBA.

Only two players in the history of the NBA have been potent enough off the dribble and from behind the arc to average eight FTs a game and shoot 40% from three: Michael Jordan and Kevin Martin. The purple #23 even went one better last season, averaging nine FTs a game while nailing 40% of his bombs.

Guys like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are extremely good off the dribble. They finish a lot, they find teammates, they draw fouls. But neither can shoot reliably from behind the arc. In this aspect of versatility, only Manu Ginobili and Kobe Bryant can offer the same sort of flexible potency ... and even then, Martin's more efficient in both sectors than both guys.

Scoff if you will, but this cat is clearly one of the best offensive weapons in the NBA.

For the past three years, Martin has seen his offensive role expand. In 2005-06, as a part-time starter in place of Bonzi Wells, Martin served an "energy" role extremely well: on the floor with Mike Bibby and Brad Miller, Martin got clean for the backdoor pass frequently, and worked as a one-man fast break (aka "cherry picker") occasionally. In '06-07, Martin took a featured role despite the best intentions of Bibby, Ron Artest and Eric Musselman, who at times seemed to shut him out. Due to his unnerving efficiency, Martin became the team's leading scorer despite taking less shots than Bibby or Artest.

Last season ... well, before a rough groin injury in December, Martin sat in the top-5 in the league in scoring ... despite coming behind Artest on the pecking order (still). Reggie Theus limited Martin's minutes quite a bit late in the season, understandable amid a losing season. Martin slipped under the 24-ppg mark for the season ... which still left him No. 7 in the league in scoring, despite the lower minutes. Only one guard (Kobe) scored more per-minute.

So Martin uses a bunch of offense (finally) and scores a lot. So do a lot of guys, what's the big deal?

In each of those seasons -- the "energy guy" season, the starter season, the focal point season -- Martin had a True Shooting percentage over 60%. For perspective: Tracy McGrady has never had a TS% higher than 56.4%. Allen Iverson's peak was 56.7%. Kobe's high: 58%. Wade's high: 58.3%. LeBron: 56.8%.

Almost no high volume scorers (especially perimeter players) shoot this efficiently so much as once in their career. Martin has done it three straight seasons. Amare Stoudemire has joined Martin in the "20/60 club" the last two seasons: 20 points a game, 60% True shooting. The last player to do it two straight seasons? Reggie Miller, 1995-97. This is a rare feat, left to only to most potent, efficient scorers in the land.

Not to diminish Amare's achievement -- you'll see him higher on this list -- but Martin didn't have a Nash setting the table, or a deathcab offense keeping the opposing defense off-kilter, or a creative genius manning the controls (sorry, Reggie). Martin did this with a point guard (Beno Udrih) who hadn't played in two years or started an alley-oop in 13 years (estimate), a frontcourt that wouldn't scare a marshmallow and a "sidekick" (Artest) who thinks he belongs in the MVP race and shoots, dribbles and leads as such.

Kevin Martin has done all the things I wrote above in really anti-optimal conditions. Imagine how could he'll be if the roster around him develops?

The guy is a flat-out unbelievable shooter. If he came here, in this offense, he would best Houston, Ray Ray(pre buy-a-ring Celts), Peja, Redd, Gordon etc. Crawford isnt even a comparison.

[Edited by - firefly on 02-18-2009 11:07 AM]

Posted by firefly:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Kenyon Martin is a good player who you could build with or use in a sign and trade in 2010. Everyone on the Knicks should be available for him.

Kevin? Because if we traded for Kenyon, I would join DJ in Canada.