Bring Back Shawn!

by UASun on Dec 7, 2010 2:29 AM MST

As I was battling insomnia, reading every Suns/BSOTS article I could find, my weary mind kept hearing the same things: we need to rebound . . play better defense . . . rebound . . defense . . . rebound . . . defense.

And it hit my sleep-deprived psyche like a ton of bricks: That's Shawn Marion!

My pitch: Josh Childress for Shawn Marion. It's clear to me that Josh isn't getting enough burn here in Phoenix, and the same is true in Dallas, where the Matrix is forced to come off the bench. Yes, yes, I get the age difference, etc, but I don't think the current Suns regime has trouble trading young shooting guards for old forwards (see Barbosa, Leandro).

Shawn would immediately slot into our PF spot. He rebounds, still plays great defense, knows the system . . . what's not to like? You could go big - Nash-Richardson-Shawn-Frye-Lopez (when he gets back) . . super fast- Nash-Richardson-Hill-Marion-Warrick . . . or have our first semi-traditional lineup all year- Nash-Richardson-Hill-Marion-Lopez/Frye.

Sure, we've won some games. Done ok. But Marion fits so well. We should all admit to ourselves, when we have to read articles on Earl Barron or Garret Siler filling the gap, this team is missing something. That something is Shawn.

And you know what? It doesn't have to be Childress. As long as it's not Nash-Rich-Dragic getting shipped out, it needs to happen. We can all officially admit letting Shawn go was a misstep (at least). How many fans would be happy to have Trix back? To see one of the franchise's most important players back in the right uniform? It feels right.

And if I have to start making up fake trade rumors, letter writing campaign, bribing the FO . . . it doesn't matter. It needs to happen

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Comments

Can't Happen

Will not happen, should not happen.

You want a complaining Sissy in the group.

We are special because, even with no plays for players they are willing to sacrifice their shots / touches / PT and other STATS for the team. We got Grant / Dudley / Childress & Turk who would not complain about not getting a single play or touch throughout the game.

They are willing to fill their roles and Shawn has shown that he is nit one of them. He will always want a more inflated role whch cannot be done with the current group as constructed.

The team is already having issues providing sufficient PT for most players and we should add a player who will demand his PT and touches ??? A player who will make ckains t be the First Option on the team.

Even J-Rich who is currently our First Option does not complain when the ball is going to Hak, ’Coz he knows its working.

Basically, I am saying that he does not have the character to be the part of the Suns as currently constructed.
+ He’s Old and past his prime. He ain’t the MATRIX anymore. And you will have to support your MATRIX claim with any video of the past 3 Years showing that he still has the HOPS.

On the Gani Lawal Bandwagon.
Suns Future All-Star
Mark these words........

by SS21 on Dec 7, 2010 6:17 AM MST reply actions

Error

make calls to be the first option

On the Gani Lawal Bandwagon.
Suns Future All-Star
Mark these words........

by SS21 on Dec 7, 2010 6:18 AM MST reply actions

Disagreed

Josh Childress will shine. Just wait and see.

by cryogenic_tone on Dec 7, 2010 8:22 AM MST reply actions 5 recs

Trix is a corpse at this point.

RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Dec 7, 2010 8:58 AM MST reply actions

Definitely not the same guy.

He’ll have the occasional big game every once in a while, but he isn’t a consistent force. He wouldn’t really be much of an upgrade.

Anthony Tolliver says "Get that weak stuff outta here!"

EXTEND JASON RICHARDSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Omaha Sun on Dec 7, 2010 9:20 AM MST up reply actions

To Wit, the Shawn Marion is not a corpse

He only appears to be, because
1. He’s not featured offensively, and we all know how slow most fans are to recognize defense.
2. He’s not playing with Steve anymore. I’m pretty sure we all know what would happen to Warrick if he got traded to the Nets tomorrow – he wouldn’t be throwing up 20 point games and he would be a “corpse”

Here is my statistical proof (take it with a grain of salt, if you will). I will not prove my point with YouTube videos of him dunking, because I am not 10.

OFFENSE:
Yes, his points have gone down. But he hasn’t gotten the ball!
His TS% is the highest it’s been since he left the Suns, at .535. For a comparison, Grant Hill’s TS% (who we can all agree is an efficient offensive player) is at .503. Not much of a corpse here.

His 3P FG% has plummeted. But . . 1. It’s not like Shawn was Reggie Miller from behind the arc. and 2. He’s not playing with Steve! He’s not getting those wide open three’s right in the bread basket. At any rate, he’d be hopefully cutting to the basket, etc instead of taking threes. It was always a bad place for Shawn.

His Rebounding numbers have slipped. He’s averaging 6.4 a game. However . . .
He’s playing SF, only 26 minutes a game, next to Dirk (average rebounder) and Chandler (good rebounder) and Haywood (good rebounder). He rebounds per 40 miunute still pan out to be 9.6. 9.6! that would lead the team!
Not to mentioned he would be playing PF, and would instantly be the best rebounder on the team. His Rb% is a very respectable 11.5, and I have no doubt it would increase as a PF playing closer to the rim.

DEFENSE
This is again, where Shawn will help us. The only relative basketball defensive stat I could find was dMULT, which measures how much better an offensive player would perform against chosen defender. For example, Grant Hill got basically a 1.0, meaning an offensive player usually put up an average game for himself playing against Grant. The best stat for the Suns was Dudley, at about .9, meaning offensive players only player 90% as well when Dudz was guarding them. Marion is at .9 . . . and that still doesn’t capture what you can see when you watch a Mavericks game. Marion guarding Monte Ellis, Marion guarding Dwayne Wade, Marion guarding Kevin Durant, Marion guarding Gerald Wallace, Marion guarding Josh Smith, Marion guarding Al Horford . . . and getting the job done. He’s a very smart player defensively, and while he relies on his quickness, he doesn’t need his crazy hops or speed for his defense.

Lastly, isn’t Phoenix where careers are prolonged? Shaq, Hill, Nash . . Marion wouldn’t benefit from a return to our training staff?

by UASun on Dec 7, 2010 10:54 AM MST reply actions

Counterpoint.

He’s a corpse.

RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Dec 7, 2010 12:56 PM MST up reply actions

But at least he's an overpriced, troublemaking corpse.

Auntie Em: Hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog.
Dorothy

by haremoor on Dec 7, 2010 12:57 PM MST up reply actions

Just like Rashard Lewis.

Major sigh…

I'm hitching a ride on the Earl Clark bandwagon with Larfleeze and Bkj and serving as navigator.

I had no idea Steve Nash directed "How to train your Dragon".

by EricSun89 on Dec 7, 2010 3:51 PM MST up reply actions

Fair enough

Not the first and certainly not the last time you’ll ignore conventional basketball wisdom.

Let me ask you this: value aside, nothing about Marion in a purple & orange #31 makes you happy? Wistful, even?
At long last sir, have you no decency?

by UASun on Dec 7, 2010 2:38 PM MST up reply actions

Do you realize who you're talking to?

Anthony Tolliver says "Get that weak stuff outta here!"

EXTEND JASON RICHARDSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Omaha Sun on Dec 7, 2010 3:20 PM MST up reply actions

There was a time my friend....there was a time.

http://seasonsofdiscontent.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/a-matrix-sequel-that-wouldnt-suck/

But that was long ago…before Shawn Marion’s untimely death.

RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Dec 7, 2010 3:21 PM MST up reply actions

Also...it may be business wisdom instead of basketball wisdom but....

I want to pay Shawn Marion 9.3 million dollars in 2013-2014 like I want a mother fucking hole in my head.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/dallas.htm

At that point his corpse will have been long decayed.

RIP Seasons of Discontent

by Scott Howard on Dec 7, 2010 3:23 PM MST up reply actions 3 recs

Scott, you're one of the reasons I stay sane on this site.

I’m serious.

I'm hitching a ride on the Earl Clark bandwagon with Larfleeze and Bkj and serving as navigator.

I had no idea Steve Nash directed "How to train your Dragon".

by EricSun89 on Dec 7, 2010 5:18 PM MST up reply actions

Touche

I feel the same way about Hedo

by UASun on Dec 7, 2010 10:02 PM MST up reply actions

What's the point?

Shipping out a player who’ll be in his prime throughout the entirety of his contract for one who’s past his prime?

by hcblankscreen on Dec 7, 2010 11:30 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

Well, the coach is not sure WHO will be featured offensively

In the next game. And you want to aff Shawn Marion to the mix ???
Noted about he videos and agreed.

Do reply to this point. OK,He is still a better defender than Hill.

But he will be a toxic ingredient in the locker room and after Steve he may actually be the most GIFTED player on the squad.

But I did not like his complaining attitude then and I would not Like it NOW.

On the Gani Lawal Bandwagon.
Suns Future All-Star
Mark these words........

by SS21 on Dec 7, 2010 11:46 AM MST reply actions

That, and he’s now a drug user.

by 8472species on Dec 7, 2010 12:53 PM MST up reply actions

how do you know that?

Blogging Suns Basketball. Twitter: @willcantrellphx

by Wil Cantrell on Dec 7, 2010 7:42 PM MST up reply actions

Species

you’re the guy who doesn’t like referring to players by their first name only because you don’t know them personally (like Lebron James), yet you have no problem throwing about unfounded accusations of drug abuse?

by DaveJD on Dec 8, 2010 2:04 PM MST up reply actions

I think we need to give Josh more time. He might just be as effective as Marion is now if not better when his finger heals. It’s really holding him back right now and you can see it on the court. He really wants to finish strong at the basket, but can’t without the risk of re-injuring his finger.

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Dec 7, 2010 1:36 PM MST reply actions