Martell Webster

[fumanchu]

Wow does he stink. I thought he was a shooter? I've seen 40 year old guys at the gym that can hit open threes more often than him. He can't finish around the rim despite having good athletesism. He can't pass and his court awareness is nill.

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned regarding the three guard rotation is the fact that Webster sucked so bad he shouldn't be starting.

I'm really disappointed that he hasn't stepped up Batum's absence.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Martell Webster has had a grand total of 1 quarter to remember i the NBA. I was cracking up this summer when people were talking about him as a key free agent signing, and that he should be starting over Batum. At least those people can now laugh at themselves.

 

[Shooter]

Webster is not an NBA player. Kind of shocking to say that, since he's been in the league for 4 years, but unfortunately it's true. He looks completely out of his element on the court.

Webster and Outlaw are 2 perfect examples of why the NBA stopped drafting players directly out of high school.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Wow, amazing thread!

I've been saying that Webster was mediocre, and now we get the pendulum swinging too far the other way. Webster is an average non-starting rotation player, not really any better, but
not worse than that.

 

[andalusian]

Web is a nice role player. This "he is not an NBA player" is absurd. He has a PER of 13.9 - which is not starter level - but he is not a starter for Portland - so it's OK.

It is also his best year, production wise, so far.

Star? Not.

Nice role player? You bet.

Let's enjoy the guys we have and the effort they give and hope they become better as time goes on.

 

[Nikolokolus]

After the first week I was starting to think Martell may have turned a corner, but his shot has been so wayward and his court presence so ... spastic ... I'm quickly losing faith that he'll be able to hold down the spot until Batum makes his return. This team needs a Shane Battier type in the worst way, the only trouble is Daryl Morey is no dummy and would laugh KP off the phone if he offered up Marty in a trade.

That Mills over Ime move is looking stupider and stupider by the day.

 

[julius]

I think his biggest draw-back is that his shot is dependent on a quick, wide open catch and release form.

He either doesn't have the ability to, or the confidence to, shoot while being guarded. He can't create his own shots (unless they're drives to the hoop, which is rare) and if you have a man on him he doesn't shoot, or if he does shoot, it's almost a guaranteed miss. I don't know if they should just run him as a spot-up-shooter, or if he can improve on getting his shot off. But right now, he's not having the "break-out year" that they talked about him having last year and this year.

Like MM said, he's basically had 1 good quarter and the rest of his career has been so-so. Not saying he shouldn't get minutes, but it was funny how people thought that he should be the starter. He's not, at least right now, showing that he deserves big minutes.

He shouldn't be ahead of Rudy in relation to minutes. He might be able backup both the SF and SG, but he should be behind Roy (obviously) and Rudy in getting those minutes.

 

[Ed O]

This thread is a dramatic overreaction to a bad game. He will bounce back and get back to where he was earlier in the season, which is an average-starter level player. Given his youth he still might become significantly more than that, too.

Ed O.

 

[julius]

This thread is a dramatic overreaction to a bad game. He will bounce back and get back to where he was earlier in the season, which is an average-starter level player. Given his youth he still might become significantly more than that, too.

Ed O.

I think the OP might be an overreaction, but I don't think mine was (or all of them were).

He has a role. But I think that the reaction to his play is a mixture of people still being disappointed in taking him over Williams or Paul, his slow recovery last year and how it was supposed to be his "blow up year", his season not being anything great so far, and fans needing someone who they can pile on.

With Travis being hurt, some of that will switch to Martell (I don't know if this thread was based on that though).

 

[Luther]

This thread is such a joke...Who has been our best perimeter defender this year? I don't think anyone would shoot well with the way Webster has been yanked out of games so that Steve Blake can play the 2...Inconsistent playing time= Inconsistent shooting.

 

[alex42083]

This thread is such a joke...Who has been our best perimeter defender this year? I don't think anyone would shoot well with the way Webster has been yanked out of games so that Steve Blake can play the 2...Inconsistent playing time= Inconsistent shooting.

I agree for the most part. It was just two games ago that Martell had 16 points in 25 minutes. Shooters need to get in a rhythm, and in 10 mins like last night, he's not going to score if he's just going to get yanked after making a mistake.

Look at Channing now, he didn't look like he could play a lick last season and now he's tearing it up.
When Webs plays at least 20 mins, he averages 11 ppg. Under 20 mins, he averages 3.8 ppg. He's not a star by any means, but is a nice role player if given the time. And he's not going to produce in 3-5 minute shifts, especially at the pace we've been playing at.

 

[Luther]

I agree for the most part. It was just two games ago that Martell had 16 points in 25 minutes. Shooters need to get in a rhythm, and in 10 mins like last night, he's not going to score if he's just going to get yanked after making a mistake.

Look at Channing now, he didn't look like he could play a lick last season and now he's tearing it up.
When Webs plays at least 20 mins, he averages 11 ppg. Under 20 mins, he averages 3.8 ppg. He's not a star by any means, but is a nice role player if given the time. And he's not going to produce in 3-5 minute shifts, especially at the pace we've been playing at.

A lot of those points were in garbage time but yea he did have 16. I don't understand why he doesn't get more playing time. He's been playing good defense and for the most part has only taken shots in situations where he should. The biggest thing for me right now is him being on the floor for defensive purposes...None of our guards or forwards are as active as he is on the defensive end.

 

[fumanchu]

Yeah he's good in garbage time. No doubt when the pressure is off he can hit a shot. But when it counts it's a different story.

This was the make it or break it year for Web in my mind and so far he's been so underwhelming that I think he'll be out of the league by the time he's 26.

 

[Idog1976]

Defense clearly means nothing to the people in this thread. Martell has been by far our best perimeter defender this year. His shot is off but so was Rudy's until VERY recently. Blake has continued to be a net negative at defense and blows tons of 3 point shots. Martell's can come back in at any time and he is far from the only player struggling with their shooting. Lets see where he's at in 30 games at mid-season with tons of minutes from the Batum/Outlaw injuries. I think you'll see a more effective player once he gets more minutes. He's effective defensively, now he just needs to dial his shooting back in.

 

[STOMP]

Defense clearly means nothing to the people in this thread. Martell has been by far our best perimeter defender this year. His shot is off but so was Rudy's until VERY recently. Blake has continued to be a net negative at defense and blows tons of 3 point shots. Martell's can come back in at any time and he is far from the only player struggling with their shooting. Lets see where he's at in 30 games at mid-season with tons of minutes from the Batum/Outlaw injuries. I think you'll see a more effective player once he gets more minutes. He's effective defensively, now he just needs to dial his shooting back in.

I don't agree that his perimeter defense has been good... okay might be stretching it. He should get plenty of minutes for the next few months to show his real value. Up until now his career has been pretty consistent statistically reflecting an inconsistent & underwhelming player. We'll see if he's able to dial things up with a bigger role.

STOMP

 

[B-Roy]

Webster is a rhythm player. You can't expect him to play 10 minutes a game and get steady production.

 

[fumanchu]

So we should start him and force feed him 20 shots a game?... um no.

If he can't adapt to being a shooter off the bench then his time in the league will be short.

 

[Paxil]

Reminds me of Tracy Murray... always thought he'd be better than he was. I don't know whether it was lifting weights or what that threw his shot off... but I have more confidence that Blake will hit an open 3 than Webster. He will get more a chance to find his game now that Outlaw is out.

 

[B-Roy]

So we should start him and force feed him 20 shots a game?... um no.

Yes, because that was definitely what I was implying.

All I'm saying is, Webster's defense, shooting, and decision making have all been better as a starter. As a bench player, he seems to force things too much, and tries to play out of his comfort level.

And honestly, given how badly Blake is doing, starting Webster over Blake wouldn't be a huge deal at all.

 

[odenied]

he is just how i remembered him before he got hurt a streaky player

 

[fumanchu]

If Blake loses his starting spot I don't see it going to Webster or Bayless, but rather Mr. Fernandez. Frankly I think it's a matter time. Miller, Fernandez and Roy seems like the most logical combo.

 

[Natebishop3]

Could somebody direct me to the "Blake sucks" thread? I think I'm lost and in the wrong thread.

 

[STOMP]

Webster is a rhythm player. You can't expect him to play 10 minutes a game and get steady production.

he's averaging 21 MPG...

With this year shaping up to be about the same performance level as his others, we probably can make a decent guess as to what to expect from him by now. It is what it is.

STOMP

 

[B-Roy]

he's averaging 21 MPG...

With this year shaping up to be about the same performance level as his others, we probably can make a decent guess as to what to expect from him by now. It is what it is.

STOMP

Of course, his minutes are skewed by him starting the first 5 games of the season, where has actually played well. He's been producing less after being put to the bench and has games of 13, 16, 13, and 11 minutes.

 

[STOMP]

Of course, his minutes are skewed by him starting the first 5 games of the season, where has actually played well. He's been producing less after being put to the bench and has games of 13, 16, 13, and 11 minutes.

playing well isn't what usually earns a demotion. Martell was almost mediocre as a starter and has been struggling coming off the bench.

STOMP

 

[Blazed Mania 52]

Webster is not an NBA player. Kind of shocking to say that, since he's been in the league for 4 years, but unfortunately it's true. He looks completely out of his element on the court.

Webster and Outlaw are 2 perfect examples of why the NBA stopped drafting players directly out of high school.

U can add Telfair to that mix, along with Kwame Brown, and a handful of others. At least Martell and Outlaw have shown substantial development over the years.

 

[Ed O]

playing well isn't what usually earns a demotion. Martell was almost mediocre as a starter and has been struggling coming off the bench.

Do you really think he was demoted because of what HE did (or did not do), rather than what Miller can do?

Ed O.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't agree that his perimeter defense has been good... okay might be stretching it.

Well, in playing 11 games so far (5 as a starter, against Joe Johnson, Melo, Battier, Gay) he's holding opposing players (generally the best wing player on a team) to a PER of 10. Ten. 34% below an "average NBA starter". Guess that qualifies as a stretched "okay". He's outperforming the players he's defending by 3 PER points. Say what you want about his offense, but it's ridiculously close-minded to bring up perimeter defense as a detriment of the only guy actually playing it on our team.

He should get plenty of minutes for the next few months to show his real value. Up until now his career has been pretty consistent statistically reflecting an inconsistent & underwhelming player. We'll see if he's able to dial things up with a bigger role.

STOMP

Agree. And I've been stating for 3 years now (though last year doesn't matter) that, if in 2005 Nate would've given Webster Outlaw's role and vice versa (giving Webs the green light to gun for the 2nd unit, and making Outlaw into a perimeter defender) our team would be much better, each of the two players would be better/more advanced players, and Webs would look like a 6th-man of the year candidate. I guess we'll finally see now. (Hopefully)

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's seriously the same player he was four years ago. He really doesn't do anything well and he's as inconsistent as ever. Role player,I guess, but not a very good one. He'll show spurts of being solid but those are far and few between.

 

[magnifier661]

I love it when people call Webster a "shooting specialist" or a "pure shooter". LOL. Outside of Blake, he probably gets the most open looks from the outside on the team. People are still waiting for this guy to turn into Glenn Rice?

And for all the shit Outlaw gets, he's still a better player than Brickster.

Webster plays SF, Outlaw plays PF. There role on this team is entirely different. And is your definition of sucking, not scoring? Because I would rather have those roles for Roy, Aldridge and Miller right now. Eventually Oden will be the third option scoring.

Fact is, Webster is cheap and he does play good position D. We need role players like him. Maybe he's no "Glen Rice" but I could see him be a role like Stacy Augmon.