2023-06-03 01:48:27
Just like the Heat this season, Martin’s career has been like a roller coaster. After losing the draft, he spent the first two seasons with the Hornets, and until he came to the Heat for trial training before the start of last season, Martin thought he was ready to leave the NBA. Martin can be said to be a typical unearthed diamond. At that time, rapper J. Cole made a call to Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, hoping to help Martin get a trial position. He himself recalled that when his career was in jeopardy, that time Chances are he’s nervous as hell…
Time goes back to a year ago. In 2022, the Heat played against the Celtics in the seventh game of the playoffs. Due to injuries and lack of experience, Caleb Martin did not get a chance to play at all and could only watch Jimmy Butler on the bench. In the latter part of the fourth quarter, a three-pointer with an opportunity to go out of the frame, and finally lost to the Celtics missed the championship.
Martin averaged 15.5 minutes per game in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, most of which came in the disastrous Game 5 loss.
A year later, in the seventh game this Monday, the same Heat faced the Celtics. Martin was already a starter and a vital presence for the team. A key player entering the championship game.
Not only was Martin totally ready, he rocked the basketball world with his performance. In the current playoffs, Martin ranks fourth on the team in minutes played and third in scoring. Although Martin is only 6 feet 5 inches, he is the main power forward of the Heat, and he performed well on both ends of the offense and defense.
The playoffs are currently averaging 30.7 minutes per game, scoring 14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 43.8% three-point shooting. Shoot the ball, but also guard Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, and serve as the center of the zone defense.
“He is willing to do a lot of dirty work that most people don’t want to do.” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said in an interview that he was most impressed by Martin. “He did all the little things, defense, rebounds, screens.”
“Although he has been a starter for most of the season, he has no problem with starting off the bench. He is the kind of flexible player who can play offense and defense as well as starting and substituting. This kind of person is hard to find.”
Just like the Heat this season, Martin’s career has been like a roller coaster. After losing the draft, he spent the first two seasons with the Hornets, and until he came to the Heat for trial training before the start of last season, Martin thought he was ready to leave the NBA. Martin can be said to be a typical unearthed diamond. At that time, rapper J. Cole made a call to Heat assistant coach Caron Butler, hoping to help Martin get a trial position. He himself recalled that when his career was in jeopardy, that time Chance he was nervous as hell.
Fortunately, Martin won a two-way contract with his good performance, and finally switched to a guaranteed basic salary contract. In the summer of 2022, the Heat used the middle-class special case to sign a three-year 20.4 million contract with Martin. Looking at it now, it is an investment with an explosive CP value.
In the regular season, Martin started 49 out of 71 games, replacing PJ Tucker who defected to the Sixers in the summer. difficulty. “I know everyone is thinking about whether I’m good enough, and I’ll think about it, but I don’t play for everyone, and I don’t want to be PJ. I have my own abilities.”
“I can affect the game in different ways. I am very active and functional.” Martin brought a completely different energy to the Heat in the playoffs, including athleticism and shooting stability. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Martin’s catch-and-shoot hit The shooting rate was as high as 51.7%, which caused heavy damage to the Celtics. The Celtics had to design a defensive strategy to force Martin away from the three-point line, but his cut was also very sharp, and his shooting percentage within 10 feet of the basket was as high as 72.5 %.
When the Heat signed Kevin Love at the trade deadline, Martin had a discussion with Spoelstra, and Martin left the starting lineup. “It’s not difficult for me, because everyone wants to win. I believe in Spo. I have no problem with anything he asks me to do.” In the first two rounds of the playoffs, Martin only got one start. Spoelstra After the Heat’s two-game losing streak against the Celtics, Martin was pulled back into the starting lineup. He scored 21 points on 7 of 13 shots in a single game.
Martin believes that the key to the success of this season so far is “not overthinking” and doing simple things repeatedly. One of Martin’s strengths is being able to play with Butler and Bam Adebayo, two star players who draw most of the attention and allow him to focus on his mission.
Martin believes that psychological preparation is also very important, “I recalibrated my mentality this summer. I know this year will be a crucial season. From my role, people’s evaluation to the league’s test of me, I must Going for it on my own. It’s hard and I have to stay positive all the time.”
The Heat defeated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Championship to advance to the championship. Martin scored 26 points on 11 of 16 shots in the seventh game, and had 10 rebounds and 3 assists. One vote short of Butler.
He didn’t get a chance a year ago, but this time Martin seized the opportunity to impress everyone. Facing the championship, Martin is looking forward to it, “This is the top hall, and that’s why we like the NBA. I’m very excited. I am very eager to compete and challenge opponents.” Martin said, “This is the moment I have been looking forward to for a long time. I will do all the little things to the extreme and help the team carry the gold cup.”
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