http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1208suns1208.html
Amare out 4 weeks; Marion must be big
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2003 12:00 AM
ORLANDO - Shawn Marion never has made any secret of the fact that he doesn't love small ball.
But it sure loves him.
Love it or hate it, Marion better get used to it. The Suns learned early Sunday morning that power forward Amare Stoudemire is likely to miss about four weeks because of a sprained ankle. That translates to about 14 games.
A magnetic resonance imaging test showed no fracture, but trainer Aaron Nelson said the injury is a third-degree sprain - with first degree being the least serious - and Stoudemire was fitted with a walking support boot.
"We'll be treating him until he can get back healthy and playing again," Nelson said.
For Marion, that means more minutes at the "big" forward spot when the Suns play small, beginning tonight when they visit the free-falling Orlando Magic.
Orlando has lost a franchise-record 19 straight games since beating the Knicks in overtime to open the season.
Only four teams have lost 20 in a row or more during a season. The 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets share the record of 23 straight losses. The 1973 Philadelphia 76ers and 1993 Dallas Mavericks each lost 20 straight.
Several other teams have lost more over two seasons. The NBA record belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 24-game skid that began at the end of the 1981-82 season and continued into the 1982-83 season.
Meanwhile, Marion knows he'll see more duty at the power position, where he uses an advantage in quickness and leaping ability to give bigger forwards fits.
Marion often flourishes when the Suns go small and he shifts to the power forward spot, as he did in a big comeback at Boston and in a loss at New Jersey, where he scored 25 points, grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds and came up with five steals.
It was the kind of performance that Suns followers expected to see all season from Marion, who has struggled to find a rhythm offensively.
"This is the Shawn we want," Suns coach Frank Johnson said.
The rebounding is a key component of Marion's game, and his quick jumping ability allows him to rebound with bigger players.
"And he can use his quickness and those guys can't stay with him," Johnson said. "The part he doesn't like is the banging part when he has to play those guys."
Marion agreed. He said he likes the small lineups, but playing them for long stretches takes a toll on him physically.
"It's cool," he said. "It just wears on me a little bit, really. That's the biggest thing. Other than that, it's cool."
Against bigger players, Marion is quick enough to drive and defenders usually back off to make him take jump shots. But in New Jersey, he was getting to the basket and hitting midrange jumpers and one three-pointer from the corner.
He also was getting into passing lanes, making steals that got the running game going as the Suns went on a 14-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter before the Nets regrouped and went on to win.
"I always try to do every little thing out there," Marion said. "But you know, Amare went down and everybody has to do a little more."
Amare out 4 weeks; Marion must be big
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 8, 2003 12:00 AM
ORLANDO - Shawn Marion never has made any secret of the fact that he doesn't love small ball.
But it sure loves him.
Love it or hate it, Marion better get used to it. The Suns learned early Sunday morning that power forward Amare Stoudemire is likely to miss about four weeks because of a sprained ankle. That translates to about 14 games.
A magnetic resonance imaging test showed no fracture, but trainer Aaron Nelson said the injury is a third-degree sprain - with first degree being the least serious - and Stoudemire was fitted with a walking support boot.
"We'll be treating him until he can get back healthy and playing again," Nelson said.
For Marion, that means more minutes at the "big" forward spot when the Suns play small, beginning tonight when they visit the free-falling Orlando Magic.
Orlando has lost a franchise-record 19 straight games since beating the Knicks in overtime to open the season.
Only four teams have lost 20 in a row or more during a season. The 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets share the record of 23 straight losses. The 1973 Philadelphia 76ers and 1993 Dallas Mavericks each lost 20 straight.
Several other teams have lost more over two seasons. The NBA record belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 24-game skid that began at the end of the 1981-82 season and continued into the 1982-83 season.
Meanwhile, Marion knows he'll see more duty at the power position, where he uses an advantage in quickness and leaping ability to give bigger forwards fits.
Marion often flourishes when the Suns go small and he shifts to the power forward spot, as he did in a big comeback at Boston and in a loss at New Jersey, where he scored 25 points, grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds and came up with five steals.
It was the kind of performance that Suns followers expected to see all season from Marion, who has struggled to find a rhythm offensively.
"This is the Shawn we want," Suns coach Frank Johnson said.
The rebounding is a key component of Marion's game, and his quick jumping ability allows him to rebound with bigger players.
"And he can use his quickness and those guys can't stay with him," Johnson said. "The part he doesn't like is the banging part when he has to play those guys."
Marion agreed. He said he likes the small lineups, but playing them for long stretches takes a toll on him physically.
"It's cool," he said. "It just wears on me a little bit, really. That's the biggest thing. Other than that, it's cool."
Against bigger players, Marion is quick enough to drive and defenders usually back off to make him take jump shots. But in New Jersey, he was getting to the basket and hitting midrange jumpers and one three-pointer from the corner.
He also was getting into passing lanes, making steals that got the running game going as the Suns went on a 14-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter before the Nets regrouped and went on to win.
"I always try to do every little thing out there," Marion said. "But you know, Amare went down and everybody has to do a little more."
