The Perpetual NBA Thread

**ILuvDetailing** · February 2nd, 2006 12:05 AM

Artest's # 93 jersey is gonna be a hot item at least in Sacramento. Coach Rick Adelman put the ball in Artest's hand in almost every possession in the 4th making him setup the offense whether at the post or at the wing, he responded with 3 assists and several more which resulted in free throws in the 4th Quarter, this could be a new role for Artest something he didn't do in Indiana.

**marlon22701** · February 2nd, 2006 01:16 AM

as long as Ron-Ron keeps his cool & doesn't blow his top.....the Kings can be a playoff contender once again.

DANG I miss the CWebb-Peja-Vlade-Bibby-Christie days!

**dieselNUBI** · February 2nd, 2006 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by kimpOy

mukhang hindi mabili ang jersey na ito kahit sale...

san kaya pwede magpabili nito? nbastore kaya meron? parang gusto ko hehehe

**theveed** · February 2nd, 2006 03:17 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...nnsi&type=lgns

No matter how placid the surface may appear, every NBA team must deal with underlying choppiness and turbulence. That's because virtually every player believes he could graduate up to stardom, superstardom or Hall of Fame consideration if only his coach would emphasize him more in the offense.

Shawn Marion is a member of that afflicted majority. What differentiates him from the others is that his coach agrees with him.

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"I know it's a hard thing for Shawn because he could do more if we went to him and really made him the focal point,'' acknowledges Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni, the reigning NBA coach of the year. "But that would take away from helping the other guys.''

Marion is averaging career-highs of 21.4 points and 11.9 rebounds, well on his way to a fifth-straight year of producing at least 19 and 9. Those are enormous numbers for a small forward, yet Marion believes he could do more if asked.

"You can improve anything you want during the summer, but if you don't get to work on it during a game, it just goes away and you go back to doing whatever it is they want you to do,'' says Marion, 27. "That's one thing I don't like. It's frustrating for me because I can do so many other things on the floor and I don't get the opportunity to do it. I'm limited to doing certain things, and that sucks.''

Context must be introduced before this train of thought gets carried away. Is Marion demanding a greater role in the Suns' offense? No. "We're in winning situation,'' says Marion. "You don't get bleep in this league unless you win, I learned that a long time ago. I've been around people who say it's all about them but they're wrong -- it's a team thing.''

What he's trying to say is that he isn't as impressed with his numbers as everybody else seems to be. He knows they could be gaudier.

"When I'm in the summer, playing pickup and working on my game, I'm working on pick-and-roll, handling the ball, doing all that kind of stuff -- but I don't do that here and it just really goes away,'' he says. "I do everything in the summer, I play '1' [point guard] through '5' [center]. I'm a pretty good passer, but I don't get the assists because I don't have the ball.''

See how NBA coaches earn their salaries? Coaches want driven, ambitious players who believe they are unstoppable; at the same time they want players who are willing to detour and divert that ambition to address the needs of teammates. It's a rare form of schizophrenia, and fortunately for the Suns, Marion has it.

"Shawn is totally unique,'' says MVP point guard Steve Nash. "There's nobody with his athleticism capable of guarding so many different types of players.''

"He's the fastest jumper, the fastest second-jumper, and the fastest guy on the floor,'' says D'Antoni. "Put that speed out there and it opens things up. He makes unbelievably hard shots -- floaters and all that stuff. Nothing is conventional in what he does, but it's so effective it's ridiculous.''

Because Marion can generate his own points, D'Antoni is able to emphasize other players in the Suns' offense. "Sometimes it's hard for him to understand because he could go up to that level of a 30-point scorer,'' says D'Antoni. "But the team is better off if we do it this way, and he's a good enough guy to accept that. I think he gets frustrated sometimes like any player would, but he's all about winning.

"He can offensive-rebound, he runs the floor, he'll get a steal, a dunk, we can run some lobs and stuff to him. You don't have to go to him 10 times to get five baskets; you can go to him three times and get three baskets, just because he's so prolific at what he does.''

His efficiency creates more opportunities for his teammates. Despite the absence of Amare Stoudemire, who may return from knee surgery next month, the Suns (30-16) are the No. 3 team in the West because of their dual-hinged balance: They feature seven players averaging in double figures, and their upgraded defense now serves to complement the offense.

Marion's role is essential. In Wednesday's 102-94 win at Boston he led the Suns with his typical 21 points (9 for 17) and 12 rebounds while finishing around the basket and dunking in transition rather softly, as if he were landing via parachute. After trailing by 23 in the first half, Paul Pierce (40 points) made it tight in the fourth quarter, yet the Suns held them off.

Every team but Detroit and San Antonio lusts for the chemistry that Phoenix routinely exhibits, but the truth is that the Suns have the same issues as every team. Their best players are never satisfied. Asked about playing with Nash, Marion can't help but wish that he could assist with the playmaking responsibilities.

"It's good because he's a great passer and a great teammate,'' says Marion. "But at the same time I think you need help out there. I know he gets worn out sometimes, but he holds it down.''

Understand that no one in Phoenix is fretting over Marion's attitude, because he demonstrates his team-first priorities on a nightly basis. The day he stops privately believing that he deserves a bigger role, the day his ambition fades -- that's when they'll start worrying.

**empy** · February 3rd, 2006 11:17 AM

all star starting teams are out:

EAST
AI
Wade
Lebron
Jermaine ONeal (sino kaya ipapalit sa kanya?)
Shaq

WEST
Nash
Kobe
T-Mac
Duncan
Yao

**baiskee** · February 3rd, 2006 11:36 AM

si rasheed ata kapalit ni jermaine...

**empy** · February 3rd, 2006 12:28 PM

guys...you gotta watch the highlights from the Miami-Cleveland game. ginawang And1 Mixtape ni J-Will, Wade and Shaq yung NBA game

binabastos na lang nila sila Lebron and co.

**artpogi** · February 3rd, 2006 12:40 PM

IMHO Yao shouldn't be in the all-stars

**theveed** · February 3rd, 2006 12:43 PM

Man, gotta watch the replay of that...

I think si Bosh or Rasheed papalit kay Jermaine, but Rasheed openly said he'd rather be in Florida with his family hehe.