Marion: Make me Kobe's b**** http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Marion
As far as small fowards (in top 5)....he's not the best defender in the league is definitely in top 10 or 15, which is pretty good. And he is a great defensive rebounder. He's still glue player, like Shane Battier, but much better. An all-star, mainly because he's more athletic. Ak-47, Tayshaun Prince, Gerald Wallace, Ron Artest, and then probably Marion.
Marion whines and complains a whole lot. He has a deck of "I get no respect" cards at his disposal it seems. But--here's the BIG but--his game is not dictated ONE SINGLE BIT by Nash. Sure his numbers improved with Nash at the PG position, but if you watch Suns games (even casually), they run little to no plays for Marion. All his points are either put backs or spot up threes. That's where the difference in Amare and Marion lie--the former hasn't proven all that much that he can play without Nash while latter has. Here's the tricky part though: On comparing OVERALL abilities alone, Marion is the better player than Amare (better defender, better shooter, pretty even at rebounding) but Amare's attitude is light years ahead of Marion. So who are you willing to part with: the guy that does pretty much everything but always plays with a massive chip on his shoulder or the guy that gives you 20/10 and never really goes emo on you and your team?
You bring up another case for Marion being a glue player. When Stoudmire was about two postseasons ago....the Suns look like they hadn't really lost any steam. Because they could still run and gun and had players who could score anyway. If they lose Marion, they will be losing 17ppg -20 ppg and really good defense. For some reason hearing about Marion lately, and judging from what i've heard about Amare...it's not a surprise.
To be fair though, during Amare's absence, Boris Diaw was playing unbelievable basketball. So the absence didn't hit them as hard because there was another player that picked up the slack. Now if they trade Marion away, the player should be able to bring pretty much the same things to the table. As to where they should trade Marion, I have an idea: Marion and Marcus Banks for Jermaine O'Neal 1. This would be a big "F*** You" to the Suns' "rivals", the Lakers, since both Marion and O'Neal are players that they are rumored to want. 2. This would pretty much vault Phoenix in the "1 of 1" tier of elite teams with San Antonio. A team featuring: O'Neal Amare Hill Bell Nash With Barbosa as the 6th would/could murder the competition any night. 3. Nash's window of opportunity to play at his current level has, what, a 2 year time frame? With O'Neal and Amare at the front line, this is the absolute BEST chance for a ring. 4. Indiana gets back a PF (Marion has played PF before and could switch between 3 and 4 with ease) and a player, I think, just needs a new start on a new team in Banks. They'll miss O'Neal's defense greatly but Marion's no slouch as a defender either. 5. Instead of getting an injury-risk player like Odom and a really BIG question mark in Bynum, Indy knows what they're getting--an All-Star forward with a very short list of injuries and another perimeter player that can still prove his worth on a team that won't be as demanding as Phoenix was. 6. If the Marion experiment doesn't work out, he can opt out and Indy saves a lot of money...probably even go under the cap. Cap space means nothing nowadays in the league, but it does give you wiggle room to make some moves later on.
Nope. Got it backwards. Joe Johnson stated numerous times he went to the Hawks because he could not stand even being in the same room with Amare. Most every single time this Marion wanting out thing comes up, there is a reporter connected to the Suns that after the fact mentions that the reason he wants out is because Amare is such a colossal a-hole that Marion cannot stand it. Not only that, if you watch a lot of Suns games on League Pass like I do, you would notice that Steve Nash cannot stand Amare. He tries his best to hide it, but he won't even hardly look at him. Quentin Richardson supposedly told people Amare was a complete freaking wack job and he too flat out told the Suns he would never play with him again. Now for further evidence watch how Amare acts in a game. The only player in the NBA who is more of an arrogant prick than Kobe Bryant, is in fact Amare Stoudemire.
I'm pretty sure you're right but even if it's true (and it's not that hard to believe), the Suns have dug themselves a gigantic hole by picking and siding with Amare the past few years (they haven't publicly stated it but it's pretty much understood). So right now, either they do the obvious thing and trade away Marion or do something that's a shocker and trade away Amare.
Well the way Amare played in the playoffs in 2005 and then especially the WCF's of course they would side with him. Losing Richardson didn't mean jack to them, but losing Joe Johnson hurt that team a lot. Now losing Marion because of it? And of course in the meantime Amare has micro fracture. The thing that really attests to Amare's character is that he KNEW ahead of time his knee was completely busted and he kept it a secret, made up some lie about why he was not working out to the Suns, then signed a max deal. It is this type of behavior that makes you just shake your head in bewilderment when supposed Rockets fans actually think the Rockets would be better of with Amare rather than Yao. Yao is all about the team, Amare is all about Amare. It's just like with Kobe, no matter how great the player is, if he's a prick no one can work with he won't help you. I wouldn't be surprised if before long Amare tries to run Nash out like Kobe did with Shaq to "prove he's the real man." That kind of arrogance those guys have blinds them. Can't even see how it will hurt their careers. There's also a lot of talk about how Amare healed from that surgery. Really? He had another scope on his other knee, he almost had to have another micro fracture. He was almost having another knee surgery on the hurt one, etc. He's not even close to the player he was before that injury. Anyone saying so forgot the 2005 playoffs. With the way Amare plays the game 240-250 pounds constantly flying up and pounding the floor he will always be a threat to hurt those knees. It's why all the Amare is better than Yao arguments were always a joke. Anyone should have seen Amare's injuries coming. Another thing is micro fracture is not permanent. Seems few even know that. It's a temporary repair. That knee only has so many miles on it. Plus with Amare he just doesn't give a damn on D. Too many excuses about it's all from D'Antoni. BS. Why do Bell and Marion play D then? Amare is just like Pau Gasol they actually RUN from the offensive player coming toward the basket. I am sure the Suns have a lot of second thoughts now on giving him that contract.
If Suns trade Marion at last, I really want to see WHAT SUNS WILL BE? Marion is more important than Amare in Suns defensive and offensive system. season 05-06, Amare wat injured almost a full season. But their rank wasn't down with help of Nash and Marion.
1. I would not hope that thing about running Nash out of town is not the case...let Amare lead the team 34 win season. 2. Someone has actually mentioned the health thing....really Amare has had more serious injury than Yao has...and people are quick to point out Yao's injuries when in fact his were caused by other players through a collision or fall. 3. Amare is not even a true center (who is 2nd best player on his team), he plays like PF and should be such. A center has to have double duties more so, than any other player on the floor. The center has to be presence in paint on both sides of the court, to get easy points and to stop the other team from getting easy points. At the same time, the center in a since has an easier job on the floor, because he's much closer to basket. On offense, you need consistent post game to keep the defense on their heels and make them collapse in the paint or move away from to draw easier baskets (whether it's the center scoring underneath or other players getting to it or shooting quick jumper). On defense, he basically just needs to alter the shots of the opposing player when they get towards the basket....remember center doesn't really have to guard people on the wing or chase guards around to be an effective defender...if he can players out of paint and stop the easy baskets. He doesn't need to be magnificent shot blocker or even a shut down defender....little effort. I would say he is overrated....and as crazy as it sounds... If you replaced Amare with another good big man like Duncan, Garnett, Yao, or Shaq....the Suns would've been NBA Champs already.
This statement is ludicrous. If you don't think he's worth $20 mil. a year, fine. Neither do I. But it's obvious that salaries are exploding and in the recent market, I don't think it's too far off for him to demand that type of money. Rashard Lewis is making similar cash and Marion is much better/more complete player than Lewis. But I fail to see how Marion is an overrated player. Career Avgs: 18.6 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.3 bpg, 48% FG, 34% 3PT Playoff Avgs: 17.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg, 46 % FG, 35% 3PT There are not many guys who can fill a stat line like Marion. He is one of the most complete threat players in the league. He's also missed 12 games over the last 7 seasons, while playing roughly 40 min. a night. I'm not quite sure what more you are looking for in a player. He's not Michael Jordan, okay. But you would have to have very little understanding of the game of basketball to say Marion is overrated. I'm sorry, but that is just the truth.
The year before that, the Suns won 44 games, went to the playoffs, and Marion put up over 21 ppg. Argue with that.
It's all a part of the media hype of the run n' gun Suns and their "2 time MVP." A lot of people didn't know jack sh*t about Marion before Nash and D'Antoni's offense came along and now they think his stats are simply a product of the system they run. This is not Kenyon Martin we're talking about people.
Very long analysis at 82games.com (lots of numbers) http://82games.com/dpoy.htm According to them, Marion = DPOY I dont personally agree... but the previous poster did have point when saying he's a great defensive player
the funny part i see in this is that none of us really thinks of him in a rox jersey. when Ak-47, made trade demands, we jump on it. When Kobe made trade demands, we jump on it, same goes for most big name players. I do hope marion goes to lakers, as that will prolong both their career at the very least. heck if lakers can somehow squeeze a trade for both marion and o'neal, we be seeing the another big 3 with no bench.
if this goes through, dont you guys know what this means? it would mean that the suns season would be essentially over (barring they get another glue guy who plays out of his mind like marion)!! I say this because everyone knows that marion plays a huge part in the suns gameplan. he gives them points, extra possessions, hustles, and is a huge spark for the team night in and night out. its my theory that regardless of what they do, the suns will NEVER make it to the finals (because offense doesnt win championships, never has, never will. sorry guys.), and marion's demands will only increase my belief in this. if he does get traded, the suns will for sure never make it to the finals. tis a good day to be a suns hater.
