As you can guess from my previous Mavs post on the new guys, the big 1 I was saving for last was Shawn Marion. He gives the Mavericks something they have never really had before. A shut down defender that can certainly guard 4 and maybe all 5 positions in some situations. Don't expext Marion to check Kobe or Lebron for a full game. Do expect him to cover these guys in crunch time and be the on the ball defender for last shots. We've already seen this a few times. Anyone who thinks it unwise to have him in Chris Paul or Baron Davis in last shot scenarios has got to realize he can for them to pass or into bad shooting situations with his height.
That alone would have made him a valuable addition. But when you consider his scoring and rebounding ability he becomes a huge bonus. His offense is inside or outside, jump shot, 3 pointer or penetration. An absolute 2 way threat who doesn't have to command the ball but is there when you need him.
It's as if he has been unshackled from constraints thrown on him in Phoenix. He asked off of the Suns because he knew what he could do and how the Suns offense had degenerated into a Nash and Stoudamire dance, with no defense to back it up.
In Dallas he is a valuable, positive part of a team that I believe is poised to surprise alot of the ESPN experts this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment