Remember Me? I'm Martell Webster
by Ben Golliver on Jun 16, 2009 1:12 PM PDT
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PrintMartell Webster was on hand at the Practice Facility this morning to watch some of the workouts and get up some shots of his own. I mentioned in the BE community podcast last month that it's hard to remember what Martell is all about because it's been so long since we've seen him hoop... let alone seen him in game action.
This first video isn't particularly exciting -- basically it's just him heaving long jumpers -- but he makes a fair percentage from DEEP.
In this second video, Martell discusses his current health and progress. I've transcribed some of the important parts below.
Where are you right now? "I'm just trying to train the muscles, get the muscle memory back. Still a little uncomfortable shooting. The touch feels good. I haven't gotten away from that at all."
You have a great work ethic "Being a gym rat has put me in this situation... I always love the gym. I figure if I'm not doing it somebody else out there is."
Looking forward to next season? "Somebody's got to pay for this. I'm in the gym right now and everybody else is relaxing on their offseason. So someone's got to pay" (laughing)
Are you 100%? "Not 100%. I'm not allowed to run and jump and dunk. I can shoot jump shots. It feels good. I'm kind of taking it at a 3 week process, checking it every 3 weeks to see how it's doing... right now I can do pool, jump shooting for 20 minutes, walking, walking is the most important thing, everyday I'm walking."
Are you ready to go? "I'm eager to get back out there and I know that I have to take every step with caution. It hurts, it hurts [not being out there] but it's going to pay off in the long run."
Martell also says he plans to start working out with Blake and Roy later this offseason.
A footnote: Don't expect Kevin Pritchard to be able to include a player in a trade that still hasn't been cleared to run and jump 6 months after his most recent injury and who still has 3 years left on his contract.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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When his right foot is ahead of his left foot
you can see a gap between his ankles, his jumper looks more fluid and he makes more. When his feet are even he misses almost every one.
Consistency Martell, consistency.
"Tough times don't last. Tough people do."
-Chauncey Billups
If he can be anywhere near Dale Ellis's peak
he will be very helpful to the Trail Blazers. – Elgin
Without you out there, we're nowhere here
shortly after that video was filmed martell broke every bone in his left foot.
blah blah blah blah lame comment - lame commenter
by Bandwagon Butcher on Jun 16, 2009 1:37 PM PDT reply actions
Hopefully from kicking you in the butt
"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii
by 92wastheyear on Jun 16, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Was that really necessary?
That’s not even funny as a lame joke.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
i think his touch looks good. it doesn't look like he's gotten away from that at all.
blah blah blah blah lame comment - lame commenter
by Bandwagon Butcher on Jun 16, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
he was 10-19
in the video. This is from someone who is supposed to be a shooter? In a gym with no one on him? Color me unimpressed.
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08
The guy just started shooting again and obviously isn't 100%
But hey, I guess we should just assume Oden was a bust since he looked pretty bad his first games back from injury.
The Princess of Blazersedge
What I have forgotten
about Web, is what a good interview he gives. Besides Roy and Frye, he is the best interview on the team. He is not uncomfortable infront of the camera like Travis or LaMarcus, he is understandable unlike Rudy, Sergio or even Greg, (who mumbles too much), and he is confident in his word usuage, (he doesn’t say UMMM every other word).
Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?
I have had Martell pegged
for a long time as the guy that could make a transition to broadcaster amazingly smoothly. He delivers speech comfortably and with proper emphasis whether reading a teleprompter or conducting an interview. If you watch the ‘Make it better’ ads during the games Martell’s little bits are easily the smoothest of the bunch.
Everybody was a baby once, Arthur. Oh, sure, maybe not today, or even yesterday. But once. Babies, chum: tiny, dimpled, fleshy mirrors of our us-ness, that we parents hurl into the future, like leathery footballs of hope. And you've got to get a good spiral on that baby, or evil will make an interception.
That interview makes me nervous???
Weren’t the blazers talking like he was possible for a comeback at the end of last year? Now he can’t even run or shoot jumpers for more than 20 minutes? I didn’t know he was that far away from playing. Makes me nervous…
RUDY > MJ
he almost played in summer league…. they decided to take it as absolutely cautiously as possible.
proud hinrichsheeple
to my knowledge he was never seriously considering playing in summer league or at the least was never given the go ahead by the team
by Ben Golliver on Jun 16, 2009 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Initially it was February, then got pushed back further and further
His comeback game in Toronto came way too early. They should have kept him out until the new year at least.
Do you know a lot of babies?
Maybe you have already met
"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii
by 92wastheyear on Jun 16, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for this ben
and the transcript. Allows those of us at work to check it out.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Man, this guy's had some bad luck. I think it's his turn for something to go his way this year.
Travis Outlaw fan from the beginning.
"Are you ready to go?"
Kind of a stupid follow up question considering the answer immediately preceeding it.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
But I love that he is still a joker in the locker room
Every team needs one of those guys. If anyone on the team can ever make Bayless laugh before a game… it will be Webs!
The Princess of Blazersedge
Ben,
Thanks so much, It is amazing how something so simple like seeing a few jumpers can make my week.
RoadBlazer
is that really a fair percentage??
i seem to remember reading in a jason quick behind the beat last offseason that elite 3 point shooters such as steve blake and james jones were able to hit around 75% of their practice 3 pointers.
this might have been a specific drill but the piece was actually about sergio and how is shooting had improved. he had hit like 45 or 50 percent of his shots in this drill. there was then a throw in line like "for comparison’s sake steve blake or james jones can normally hit… etc.
he looked to hit only about half of them. is that really all that good?
given the circumstances it was an impressive performance.
don’t confuse this jump shooting with the standard shooting drill the plays do, which resembles a slower-paced 3 point shoot out — taking 5 shots consecutively from 5 different spots around the key, all in rhythm with passes. the guys in that situation hug up on the 3 point line and the guards usually shoot no worse than 60 percent as they work through a rep of 25 shots. if they get hot 80% is not uncommon especially for a guy like blake.
notice martell is a few feet behind the line on many shots, using ball fakes on others, not catching the passes in rhythm and also he is in discomfort. further more he isn’t in game shape and hasn’t been for months and is limited to 20 minutes of shooting at a time. all things considered i would say shooting better than 50% percent is impressive.
by Ben Golliver on Jun 16, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks for the clarification...
i was wondering what the drill was where players shot such a high percentage. it sounds a bit like the 3 point contest except you have the ball passed to you rather than picking it up out of a rack.
yep, if you ever go to a game early guys from almost every team will work through this type of setup or something similar, it’s worth watching if you get the chance.
the key really is the pass in rhythm which causes the percentages to spike up. these guys often miss their first shot in a rep of 5 then “callibrate” their shot and hit 3 of 4 or 4 of 4 from the same spot.
by Ben Golliver on Jun 16, 2009 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions
i saw nash hit about 15 in a row
he was in the right corner with a coach rebounding and giving it back to him. rebounding consisted of taking the ball out of the bottom of the net. it was remarkable how accurate he was. i’ve watched guys in shoot around a million times mind you but normally they aren’t taking it as seriously as nash was taking this drill.
honestly it was almost mesmerizing to watch.
Yeah, Martell is taking a lot tougher shots than in these drills.
Shoot, I hit around 50% of my threes when I take 10-15 from the same spot without moving, and my career 3pt% is probably pushing single digits during games!
I much prefer seeing guys move around between shots, dribbling, etc since this is what they’ll be doing in games.
The Princess of Blazersedge
I'm encouraged.
Martell is obviously just now starting to get back into things, so I don’t expect a high percentage when he’s not used to jump shots, but in the last few seconds of the interview he was very confident that there is real progress with his foot, which is exciting.
I’ve always been a Webster fan, and thought that last year would be his breakout season. Hopefully this year he’ll get the chance to really show his all-around game.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
This is depressing.
We certainly won’t be able to use Martel as a trade chip. We can only hope that everything will heal and that Webster will become an important player for us.
At the worst -- I’m really glad he signed a nice contract before his injury which should set him up financially very well for the rest of his life - if he plays it smart (and it is obvious to me that he is one to do that).
But that’s the worst scenario. Best? He’ll play NBA ball for many years.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
No, but
Martell packaged with Outlaw who comes off the books next year (or this year if said team renounces him) to a team looking to shred salary or jump below the luxury tax would be inticing – especially considering Webster’s perimeter game and the free agency market next year – oh and Webster’s contract is reasonable for his services, is unlikely to miss much more time due to injury, and is young.
Martell is one of my favorite Blazers.
I’m glad he is showing his desire to play, I think it’s completely honest. With his work ethic, determination and intelligence he’ll surely improve next year.
Martell wanted to play in the playoffs
In the last weeks of the season Martell had hopes of playing in the first round of the playoffs. Two months later he still hasn’t been cleared to run or jump? That can’t be good.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jun 17, 2009 7:59 PM PDT reply actions
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