During that quite nearly fateful 7 minutes and 30 seconds, the Warriors outscored the Kings 18-10, chopping its deficit to two points … but just running out of time, then being forced to pray for missed Kings three throws which would never come.

Remember those circumstances when assessing blame for the near-loss.

And I know exactly how this will come off to Martin critics — that I'm making excuses for a player who shot 1-for-9. I'm not. As I said, his production was gross. That's not the Martin we're used to. That's not the Martin we expect. That's not the Martin we need. You think he doesn't know that, too? But there's a breeze blowing through town, and it's a cold breeze, and it's making people who know better abandon what they know due to a handful of bad games. No one wants to be the last dude in an emptying bar, so everyone's racing for the exits of Kevin Martin Fan Club. You fickle fiends will be back, I have no doubt.

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