Shoutbox. » The call from Taylor woke Martin up

MANKATO, Minn. - In the final game of last season, and the final game of Rick Adelmans coaching career, Kevin Martin went down swinging. While most of the Minnesota Timberwolves slogged through one last game in a massively disappointing season, Martin went after the Utah Jazz. He scored a season-high 36 points, attacked the rim to get to the free throw line for 10 shots and even came up with a couple of steals before fouling out in a rare show of aggression on the defensive end from him. Martin was one of the few players on the roster who had a long history with Adelman, having played for him in Sacramento and Houston as well, and he didnt want to see his coach end his career with a loss. Looking back on it now, it was an approach that Martin wishes he wouldve taken much more often during his first season in Minnesota. The clarity came after a phone call this summer from Wolves owner Glen Taylor, who signed Martin to a four-year, $28 million contract. With Kevin Love traded to Cleveland and youngsters Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Anthony Bennett on their way in, Taylor needed Martin to start acting like the accomplished veteran he is and setting a far different tone in practices and in games. Thats when I really had to get my mind right on what kind of situation I was going to have to be in because in the past three or four years Ive been riding these superstars coat tails a€” Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, Russell (Westbrook). ... Its been good the last five years. Now youre in this role that you have to be that big brother. You know theyre going to be looking up to you. So I cant get away with the stuff Ive been getting away with for the last five or six years. Its a new challenge, but I accept it and Im ready to go. When Martin signed with the Timberwolves, he said he did so in large part because of Love. Martin learned while playing in Oklahoma City with Durant and Westbrook that life was far easier on a player when he isnt the focal point of an opposing defence, when he can just camp out at the 3-point line and wait for the kick-out pass from an All-Star who demands double teams in the paint. In Minnesota, Martin delivered a solid if uninspiring offensive season, averaging 19.1 points and shooting 38.7 per cent on 3s. Despite averaging more than five more minutes of playing time per game than he did as a reserve with the Thunder the previous year, Martin only saw his free throw attempts rise by fewer than two per game, a sign that he wasnt being the aggressive, crafty scorer that the Wolves hoped he would reprise while returning to the starting lineup. He didnt rebound. He didnt play defence. And, according to him, he didnt give it his all in practice, either. Im used to playing with a lot of veteran players where we can cut corners in camps and in practices, Martin said, before adding he couldnt afford to do that anymore with so many impressionable youngsters on the Wolves roster. Just showing them the right way. Be there for every drill I can be there with them. Just take this game very serious and not just rely on our talent to get us to where we want to be. The call from Taylor woke Martin up a bit. Its the first time hes ever received a phone call from an owner in 11 seasons in the league. He arranged a 7 a.m. breakfast with Wiggins and LaVine, two dynamic, 19-year-old wing players, and cautioned them to avoid the pitfalls that have ensnared NFL stars Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice in recent weeks. I told them if they fail, I fail, Martin said. I have to keep them on a narrow path, just like people like Bobby Jackson did for me to make me have a successful career. Martins efforts were met warmly by the two rookies, who are about to enter a world in which they are wholly unfamiliar. Im going to learn a lot from him, LaVine said. Hes going to take me and Drew under his wing and you know, hes got a lot to teach us. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . (January 11, 2014) – Once again Kevin Martin proved why he is the all-time TSN skins leader, winning $11,500 in prize money and a spot in the Travelers All-Star Curling Skins Game presented by Pintys final following a semifinal victory over Brad Jacobs earlier this evening at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in Banff, Alta. Quincy Williams Jersey . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important. http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseysauthentic....sh-lambo-jersey. The Irish golfer, whose father Patrick died from cancer, says he underwent surgery for sun spots. The 42-year-old Harrington told Irish radio station Today FM: "Ive had a number of skin cancers removed off my face. Lerentee McCray Jersey . According to a release sent by the league, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only team to exceed the cap. Their total salary expenditure of $4,417,975 was $17,975 over the salary cap of $4. Chris Conley Jersey . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club.BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Ravens hired Marc Trestman as their offensive co-ordinator Tuesday, keeping with their tendency to hire a former head coach for the position.Trestman was fired by the Chicago Bears last month after going 5-11 in his second season. He interviewed with Cleveland for the offensive co-ordinator job before taking the same position with Baltimore.Trestman is the fourth former head coach in four years to fill the position with the Ravens. He follows Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell and Gary Kubiak. Trestmans first head-coaching gig was with the CFLs Montreal Alouettes from 2008-2012.Kubiak, the former coach of the Houston Texans, served one year before leaving to become head coach of the Denver Broncos this week..ddddddddddddFormer Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase also interviewed for the Baltimore job.Ravens coach John Harbaugh moved quickly to fill the position because hes headed to Hawaii to coach in the Pro Bowl.Baltimore set team marks in points (409) and yards (5,838) in 2014. In addition, quarterback Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 3,986 yards and 27 touchdowns while being sacked only 19 times compared to 48 in 2013.After the Ravens fell to New England in the second round of the playoffs, there was hope the offence would be even better in its second season under Kubiak. He expressed a desire to return — until the job in Denver opened up.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL