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Not that Im surprised but why would Theus publicly humilate Kevin Martin by say Ron is there only clutch player? Do you think it is part of his psychological game he has been playing with Kevin this year or is really just a loud mouth idiot that says things without thinking them through?

I personally love Ron and think he should stay with the Kings however I think in order for us to return to the promise land of contention we need Kevin to become that player Reggie talked about in the Sacbee article.

I agree. If Theus really believes what he said, I guess hes not seeing what everyone else sees on the court. Maybe Ron got in Reggie's head, because he was comparing Ron to how Kobe, and Tmac need the ball at the end of games. I think thats the worst idea I've ever heard, Ron needs to stick to what he does best: defense.

Kmart needs to step up and become that go-to-guy and by watching him the last couple of weeks it was evident that hes certainly capable of carrying this team w/o Artest.

Kevin Martin isn't the guy to isolate with 5 seconds left and pary for a game winning shot, yes, Artest is better at that. I have no problem with Martin taking the last shot, he just shouldn't create it alone.
Regardless, Theus has got to stop with this messages through the media, WTF is up with that? Just memorize some cliches and throw them around every once in a while.

Id rather see Kmart isolated with 5 seconds left than Artest. For a couple of reasons for one theres 0 percent chance Artest will swing the ball to an open guy. Kevin has a better chance of scoring in that scenario than does Ron. The defense will colapse on Ron and since hes a horrible leaper he won't get a shot off. Kevin the last couple of weeks is showing me different aspects of his game. He was creating his own shot off the dribble, playmaking for others, and showing some real leadership out there. I think hes going to take his game another level next season and show that hes not so dependent on moving w/o the ball to score.

I'd venture to say Francisco Garcia is our most 'clutch' player.

Wow Garcia is our best clutch player. Im hoping that was a joke?? Coming from you though it probably wasnt.

I agree that Martin is much better with 5 secs left than dumping it to Ron, he isnt as creative and as mentioned would never think to pass. Kevin will draw the foul or get one of his guys a wide open look when they collapse/double him. I think too if we can add a good Big with a post presence Kevin will be much better off especially if Artest is still here.

GMcapable wrote:Wow Garcia is our best clutch player. Im hoping that was a joke?? Coming from you though it probably wasnt.

I agree that Martin is much better with 5 secs left than dumping it to Ron, he isnt as creative and as mentioned would never think to pass. Kevin will draw the foul or get one of his guys a wide open look when they collapse/double him. I think too if we can add a good Big with a post presence Kevin will be much better off especially if Artest is still here.

Were you even paying attention this season? How many game winning or game sealing shots did Garcia hit this season? I'd say it was easily 5+ and more than any other King.

Yeah Id say Garcia is the most clutch. But thats at hitting a stand still shot. Not creating on his own, Id take kevin creating his own shot over anyone else on the team.

andaaaay wrote:Id rather see Kmart isolated with 5 seconds left than Artest. For a couple of reasons for one theres 0 percent chance Artest will swing the ball to an open guy. Kevin has a better chance of scoring in that scenario than does Ron. The defense will colapse on Ron and since hes a horrible leaper he won't get a shot off. Kevin the last couple of weeks is showing me different aspects of his game. He was creating his own shot off the dribble, playmaking for others, and showing some real leadership out there. I think hes going to take his game another level next season and show that hes not so dependent on moving w/o the ball to score.

Ron isn't great leaper, but he's a very strong player and creates space for himself very well, and his shot can't be bothered easily, he had some great showdowns in clutch situations before (off the top of my head, against Houston this season).
Kevin creates off the dribble, I'm not denying that, but I don't know, he gives this passive feeling, and I've never really seen him do it before, EDIT: actually the only time I remember him trying to do it was against the Cavs at Arco, he tried to get a boundary call, not very successful IMO.

_SRV_ wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Ron isn't great leaper, but he's a very strong player and creates space for himself very well, and his shot can't be bothered easily, he had some great showdowns in clutch situations before (off the top of my head, against Houston this season).
Kevin creates off the dribble, I'm not denying that, but I don't know, he gives this passive feeling, and I've never really seen him do it before, EDIT: actually the only time I remember him trying to do it was against the Cavs at Arco, he tried to get a boundary call, not very successful IMO.

I've seen plenty of times last couple of seasons where Ron has tried to "take over" at the end of games and he just doesn't have the athletic capabilities to do so. Ron by far has had the most opportunities having the ball in his hands to win a game. And more times than not he blows it and dribbles the ball to death, not looking to pass, driving into double/triple teams, or taking awful shots. If Kevin Martin is going to be a main component to the future of this franchise than he should be taking all these shots and gaining this experience since Ron, in all likelihood, will be gone after next season anyway.

I'm not arguing that Ron is great at it, but he's more suitable the Kevin, Ron has his flaws, but Kevin hasn't shown a lot to indicate he's better.

If Kevin Martin is going to be a main component to the future of this franchise that he should be taking all these shots and gaining this experience, since Ron will, in all likelihood, be gone after next season anyway.

Martin is a great scorer, he's not a main component of a franchise. Even if he is, that has no bearing with who takes the last shot, Duncan and Shaq are the main components Manu and Kobe take the last shots.

We just wasted a lot of money on him if hes not a main component to our franchise. My argument is this...Ron isn't in the long term plans of the Kings organization, and Martin is and giving him the experience will only benefit us in the long run.

He's not paid like a main component really, otherwise he would've gotten the max.

Smills91 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Were you even paying attention this season? How many game winning or game sealing shots did Garcia hit this season? I'd say it was easily 5+ and more than any other King.

Ok so you want Garcia to be starting right? I mean if your really think he gives us the best chance to win at the end of games. I bet if you look back Kevin is the one who got Garcia at least 3 or 4 of those wide open looks. By creating the double that lead to Garcia being free to leak to the corner and spot up. Come on Smills dont do yourself like this, Im starting to think you dont care about the Kings or know much about Basketball.

I tend to agree with Theus.....

GMcapable wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Ok so you want Garcia to be starting right? I mean if your really think he gives us the best chance to win at the end of games. I bet if you look back Kevin is the one who got Garcia at least 3 or 4 of those wide open looks. By creating the double that lead to Garcia being free to leak to the corner and spot up. Come on Smills dont do yourself like this, Im starting to think you dont care about the Kings or know much about Basketball.

No I don't actually.. I love Garcia as a 6th man. His energy off the bench is HUGE both on offense and defense. He reminds me of a wingman version of Bobby Jackson. He's the guy with ice in his veins and has many of the leadership attributes that so many others that is lacking on the Kings roster. He's going to be a very valuable player for this franchise. And I never said guys like Ron/Kevin didn't open those looks up for Cisco..they probably did, but Cisco still hit those shots. It's an all-around kudos. I think martin is pretty clutch as well. But Cisco was just phenomenal this year in that aspect. I think you're being awfully assumptive in your posts about me.

GMcapable wrote:Not that Im surprised but why would Theus publicly humilate Kevin Martin by say Ron is there only clutch player? Do you think it is part of his psychological game he has been playing with Kevin this year or is really just a loud mouth idiot that says things without thinking them through?

I personally love Ron and think he should stay with the Kings however I think in order for us to return to the promise land of contention we need Kevin to become that player Reggie talked about in the Sacbee article.

Maybe it's because Martin has never demonstrated that he is a reliable clutch player while Artest has? I swear, some of you completely overrate Martin's abilities at times and freak out way too much when anyone questions his abilities. I fear there will soon come a time when Martin fans will sound identical to Peja fans.

WHy is it publicly humiliting Martin by saying Artest is our best player?

Martin averaged 23.7 points/game. Ron 20.2.
However Ron was 2nd in the league in steals and, like it or not, IS the focal point of Reggie Theus' offense.

I mean being second fiddle to a player of Artest's caliber is nothing to be ashamed of. THe guy is a baller as is Kevin MArtin.

andaaaay wrote:We just wasted a lot of money on him if hes not a main component to our franchise. My argument is this...Ron isn't in the long term plans of the Kings organization, and Martin is and giving him the experience will only benefit us in the long run.

He's not? What magic crystal ball told you that? I certainly have not heard anyone other than the blather idiots named Grant Napear and Peter Vescey make any statements like Artest is not in the team's future. You're arguments are really just showing that you don't like Artest and think he's standing in Martin's way and have little to do with what is actually right for the team.

Throughout the season, we see that Martin/Artest CAN co-exist one another...But at times, Artest excludes him (and everyone else as well) of the offense, which is his fatal flaw. Either way, if we sustain some consistency of chemistry between Martin/Artest, we will be hellva successful in both regular and clutch scenarios IMO.

So, Theus need to talk to everyone about their roles in the team. IMO Ron would be very successful if he plays the "Doug Christe" role of the team i.e energy is on defense MAJORITY of the game, hit the open shot and etc... And Martin should be #1 option. We know that Martin will improve his game over the summer i.e. ballhandling, defense and etc...If he becomes better in these areas (Which I have faith on) Martin and Artest would be a great combo...