Martel back for the playoffs???? He says so

I don't know how it is now, but before the injury, Martell had displayed that he had added to his game with a bit more of a handle and attacking the rim. A lot of folks seem to forget that Martell has been the fastest guy on the Blazers the last several years, and team speed improvement almost always helps.

 

I'll believe it when I see it on a consistent basis. Pre-season is always a cheerful time of "So-and-so has vastly improved his game and is bound to have a break-out season!" I'd be the happiest person in the world to see Webster take a big jump forward in his development and become a really good starter. So far, though, he hasn't improved a lot in his career, so I'm in a wait-and-see mode. For now, I'm evaluating based on his last meaningful NBA action (not counting his abortive return from injury).

 

Webster played one pre-season game against what turned out to be the worst team in the NBA. Martell will be a positive addition, but I don't see how using a glorified scrimmage as a barometer for any player's improvement is accurate.

 

martell would be good for a spark off the bench if the blazers really had no one else stepping up. If Batum and Outlaw are brickin' it up, it'd be good to put him out there as some competent relief.

 

A Bowen-type of defender? Only if he means Ryan Bowen.

As for a "diverse offensive game," he's never shown a consistent ability to create offense for himself. Once in a while, he puts it on the floor and creates space to shoot, but the vast majority of the time, he's a spot-up shooter. Frye is also able to put the ball on the floor and be aggressive, he's just not capable of doing it consistently.

 

hey, nate said it not me, but to compare him to frye i still think is laughable. frye is a human black hole.

 

I know. I've never heard him make that comparison and, if he did (without qualifying it in any way), I disagree with it.

Both are predominantly outside shooters who can't create offense for themselves or others on a consistent basis, both are nothing special as rebounders or on defense. To me, the similarities out-number the differences.

Their career PERs suggest that if the comparison is unfair, it's unfair to Frye.

Frye: 13.6
Webster: 11.2

Of course, Frye's career PER is skewed a bit by his fine rookie season which he's never come close to replicating. Over the past three seasons, their PERs would be very close.

 

No way he starts. He has been out far too long.

 

I don't want Martel back this season. I want him healthy, yes, but we have played an entire season without him and we've developed a certain rhythm that I don't want to mess with. Let's bring Webster back into the fold during the training camp this fall.

 

Nate mentioned MW having lock down wing defender potential at the beginning of the season, but then his play continued to show that he was anything but. By midseason KP was regularly noting that the club needed to add a solid wing defender and he continued to say this in the offseason. Then he traded up for Batum. Go figure. I'm big on having the front court being able to defend well. Based on performance, I'd rate Martell and Travis about the same on that end of the court... average on a good night.

On the offensive end I'm not sure what diverse skills you are referring to. Almost 50% of his shots were from 3s and he rarely got to the line. Like Frye, he doesn't get assists... hell, last year and for his career his Assist to TO ratio is about 1 to 1.

I'm happy he's coming back and hopefully he'll enjoy a good stretch of health from here on out. Usually come the playoffs coaches shorten up their rotation to their 8 best or so. Not having played this year, I expect he'll be clapping next to Frye and maybe play some bit minutes if someone gets into foul trouble.

STOMP

 

to discount the results of that single preseason game even further, the Kings were missing their two top players (BMiller, Kevin Martin).

STOMP

 

It would be incredible if he comes back after a year off and isn't rusty to the point of being totally ineffective.

Another question is, does a healthy Martell even have a spot in our rotation next season? So far, he's had a very "underwhelming" career.

He has all the tools, jump shot, great athlete, size, he's not a head-case, but one thing he lacks is that certain edge you need to become a good NBA player. He stands around waiting for his jumper...and though it looks good, it's very inconsistent. Look at his career 3pt % 37% is very average for a wing player.