Joe Mama
Moderator
I don't have numbers to support me, but from watching all the gains over the last several years I would definitely say that Shawn Marion's ballhandling skills have improved.
Joe Mama
Joe Mama
The Marion Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Mad Psyentist
- Start date
George O'Brien
ASFN Icon
We use the term "ball handling" to describe several different things.
1. Does he throw the ball away?
2. Is he easy to strip when dribbling on the wing?
3. Can he dribble in traffic?
4. Can he hit passes in traffic?
5. Can he bring the ball up the court?
Overall, I'd say Shawn does pretty well on #1 and #2. He used to drive in traffic to make those floaters, but that isn't used as much now. As for #4 and #5, I'd say not all.
Bad? Not really. Great? Not really.
1. Does he throw the ball away?
2. Is he easy to strip when dribbling on the wing?
3. Can he dribble in traffic?
4. Can he hit passes in traffic?
5. Can he bring the ball up the court?
Overall, I'd say Shawn does pretty well on #1 and #2. He used to drive in traffic to make those floaters, but that isn't used as much now. As for #4 and #5, I'd say not all.
Bad? Not really. Great? Not really.
Errntknght
Registered User
The main reason it's laughable that Marion wants plays run for him is that the Suns don't run plays for anyone - I don't consider it a play if someone tosses the ball to a guy and expects him to create a good shot for himself. Shawn does that fairly well though the shot is rarely better than a pull up jumper.
Shawn could make himself a lot more valuable to the team if he'd stop standing in the corner so much and work back and forth on the baseline, with curls up from there when the opening presented itself. It's considerably more work than having set plays run but if you pay attention to what the PG is doing and time your moves to intervals when he can pass you the ball, you've created a play for yourself some of the time. Of course, it would work even better if the Suns used off-ball screens but Marion can't complain as he sets screens as rarely as anyone else.
Shawn could make himself a lot more valuable to the team if he'd stop standing in the corner so much and work back and forth on the baseline, with curls up from there when the opening presented itself. It's considerably more work than having set plays run but if you pay attention to what the PG is doing and time your moves to intervals when he can pass you the ball, you've created a play for yourself some of the time. Of course, it would work even better if the Suns used off-ball screens but Marion can't complain as he sets screens as rarely as anyone else.
Joe Mama
Moderator
George O'Brien said:
I would agree with you on #4, but definitely disagree on #5. In fact that was one of my main reason for saying that I believe his ballhandling skills have improved.
Joe Mama
