Dan D'Antoni's next project: Marcus Banks

[dreamcastrocks]

When I look at Marcus Banks, I see Leandro Barbosa of two years ago. I see someone who is lightning quick, but too quick for his own good. When he gets near the rim, and does not go reverse, he is just too quick and has no touch on his shot, causing him to blow easy layups.

Marcus cannot shoot to save his life, and I remember Barbosa having the same problem with his jumper as well.

Kudos to Dan D'Antoni for making a hell of a player of Barbosa. Could you please move on to Marcus Banks?? Marcus needs you more than Leandro does.

 

[elindholm]

Can Dan D'Antoni learn to speak Hood?

 

[justAndy]

Can Dan D'Antoni learn to speak Hood?

Is that the profile of Banks?
He's been in trouble with Johnny Law?
Beaten his women?
5 kids with 5 women?

 

[sunsfn]

Banks and Barbosa came into the league four years ago. Barbosa has always been able to shoot, but struggled with the language and how to run a team. Bryan Colangelo traded a future pick to San Antonio to have them draft Barbosa for the suns. There is no doubt he is fast and talented, but Colangelo said the main reason was because he could shoot.

Banks is fast and is a very good defender, but can not run a team and is not a good shooter. There is no doubt that coaches can work with him and make him a better player in running a team, but I do not think he will ever be a shooter as good as Barbosa.

Banks has not improved much since he came into the league, and I am beginning to think he is not very coachable, and for him to really improve his game, he needs to go to a team that can start him and play him big minutes, so he can hopefully learn how to be a productive point guard.

He has had a chance the last couple games to earn minutes, and D'Antoni just can not leave him in the game for very long because he slows the team down and then has to take a last second shot and misses. D'Antoni was screaming at him during the last game to hurry down the court, and after the game, Marion was quoted as saying they did not bring the ball up fast enough during this game.

I hope he can improve and help the suns, but at this point if they have a chance to trade him in the next two weeks I think they will.

 

[Covert Rain]

The bid difference is LB always had a lot of raw talent. I don't see that in Banks. Banks will never be a great shooter or passer.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Banks and Barbosa came into the league four years ago. Barbosa has always been able to shoot, but struggled with the language and how to run a team. Bryan Colangelo traded a future pick to San Antonio to have them draft Barbosa for the suns. There is no doubt he is fast and talented, but Colangelo said the main reason was because he could shoot.

Banks is fast and is a very good defender, but can not run a team and is not a good shooter. There is no doubt that coaches can work with him and make him a better player in running a team, but I do not think he will ever be a shooter as good as Barbosa.

Banks has not improved much since he came into the league, and I am beginning to think he is not very coachable, and for him to really improve his game, he needs to go to a team that can start him and play him big minutes, so he can hopefully learn how to be a productive point guard.

He has had a chance the last couple games to earn minutes, and D'Antoni just can not leave him in the game for very long because he slows the team down and then has to take a last second shot and misses. D'Antoni was screaming at him during the last game to hurry down the court, and after the game, Marion was quoted as saying they did not bring the ball up fast enough during this game.

I hope he can improve and help the suns, but at this point if they have a chance to trade him in the next two weeks I think they will.

I don't think that we see eye to eye here. I don't necessarily think that Banks is not coachable. Barbosa has been blessed by only having to deal with one set of coaches. The coaches that he has had to deal with (Boston, Minnesota) were not the best.

Second, last year, Banks he shot 48 and 47% respectively. This year, he has regressed. He needs more work with our coaching staff.

Third, Banks was a good passer last year. Of course assists are not everything, but last year banks averaged 4.3 assists with Minnesota. Barbosa's best year (this year, he is only averaging 4.1)

Fact is, Banks has not played well this year. I do not believe that he is not coachable, or that he can't shoot, or even that he cannot pass, because last year, he dramatically improved from the year before in all of these areas.

 

[Mainstreet]

The bid difference is LB always had a lot of raw talent. I don't see that in Banks. Banks will never be a great shooter or passer.

I see it fairly much as you see it. However, I can see Banks developing into a decent PG in the next year or two. It could be argued the Suns should wait, but I do not see him being the type of pass first PG the Suns need.

 

[Chaplin]

Banks is fast and is a very good defender, but can not run a team and is not a good shooter. There is no doubt that coaches can work with him and make him a better player in running a team, but I do not think he will ever be a shooter as good as Barbosa.

How can you say he can't run a team? Banks can run a halfcourt team fine, it's the fastbreaking he has problems with. Banks got his contract because he COULD run a halfcourt set like he did in Boston and Minnesota. But not all halfcourt sets are created equal, and let's face it--we only go halfcourt no more than 25% a game. He is fast, no doubt, but his entire basketball career was probably the opposite of what he's had to get used to for the past 5 months.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Keep in mind those half court sets that Banks was in earlier are probably more structured in terms of set plays compared to what the suns run. If we had a lot of plays than Banks can memorize then I bet he'd have an easier time running it. As is he's forced to improvise a lot more because of the way Nash runs the team and I believe that's hurting his overall performance.

 

[sunsfn]

How can you say he can't run a team? Banks can run a halfcourt team fine, it's the fastbreaking he has problems with. Banks got his contract because he COULD run a halfcourt set like he did in Boston and Minnesota. But not all halfcourt sets are created equal, and let's face it--we only go halfcourt no more than 25% a game. He is fast, no doubt, but his entire basketball career was probably the opposite of what he's had to get used to for the past 5 months.

Banks did not do a good job at running a half court game in Boston, that is why they did not exercise his option and traded him. I did not see any of the games he played in MN., but he played well there.
He has not played well with the suns even in their half court plays. He has a hard time getting the ball to Amare or anyone else and ends up taking way too many shots late in the shot clock. He certainly can not run a fastbreaking team and he is proving that every game. He went through training camp and we are over halfway through the season, and he should be playing better than he is.
I remember last year when KT and Bell said it took them a month+ to get the hang of playing the suns game, well Banks has had a lot longer than that and he has not grasped it yet. I realize that KT and Bell are veterans, but Banks has played four years and should be doing better at this time of the year than he is.

 

[azirish]

I do not think the Suns are going to give up on Banks no matter how much grief he gets on the boards. Whether he can follow the same path as Barbosa is hard to say, but two years ago the number of people wanting to dump him was rather considerable.

But Banks is different.... Yes, but that don't mean he can't become a good player. IMHO, the key will be if he can develop his shooting.

Sometimes it just doesn't come overnight. Here were Joe Johnson's stats:

01-02 43% and 27.3%
02-03 39.7% and 36.6%
03-04 43% and 30.5%
04-05 46.1% and 47.8%

Does that mean Banks will find the range and become another JJ? Probably not, but it does suggest that first impressions can be deceptive.

 

[elindholm]

Again, it's much more common for someone to improve his shooting in his early 20s than once he's already 25, as Banks is now. (In fact, Johnson is only a few months older than Banks.) The improvement phase of Banks's career is most likely over.

 

[Espo]

I remember last year when KT and Bell said it took them a month+ to get the hang of playing the suns game, well Banks has had a lot longer than that and he has not grasped it yet. I realize that KT and Bell are veterans, but Banks has played four years and should be doing better at this time of the year than he is.

Thats great that it only took KT and Bell a month+ to get used to the system. They also are a SG and PF which are easier positions in this offense to play. Banks in the PG leading the offense and everything runs through him. In this system the team is extremely dependent on the the point guard. He needs more time then KT and Bell

 

[azirish]

Again, it's much more common for someone to improve his shooting in his early 20s than once he's already 25, as Banks is now. (In fact, Johnson is only a few months older than Banks.) The improvement phase of Banks's career is most likely over.

Unless it isn't. Bell didn't even get into the NBA at this this age.

 

[SO91]

Anybody familiar with what type of system and program they ran at UNLV and how long he played? I realize I may be reaching here, but couldn't we ask a bit more of our coaching staff and their ability to "coach him up". I mean he could be lacking fundamental skills that he just never learned and time maybe what he needs. He may just not be a good fit for this team, considering how likely a championship run is for this group of players. I know I am positive, sometimes to a fault, but I can't help but see that he's not a cancer, he's not complaining, and he's trying.

 

[elindholm]

Unless it isn't. Bell didn't even get into the NBA at this this age.

Sure, that's why I said "most likely." One of the reasons that Bell comes immediately to mind is that his case is so unusual.

 

[Mainstreet]

I do not think the Suns are going to give up on Banks no matter how much grief he gets on the boards....

IMO, the question is not whether the Suns are going to give up on Banks but whether the Suns are going to pay LT for him next season based upon his contribution to the team. I think the Suns will unload him if possible before the trading deadline if the opportunity arises.

 

[azirish]

IMO, the question is not whether the Suns are going to give up on Banks but whether the Suns are going to pay LT for him next season based upon his contribution to the team. I think the Suns will unload him if possible before the trading deadline if the opportunity arises.

I would not be shocked if Banks got traded, but that is because he's the only guy outside the top 8 that makes more than minimum. That being said, I don't think they would simply cap dump him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I would not be shocked if Banks got traded, but that is because he's the only guy outside the top 8 that makes more than minimum. That being said, I don't think they would simply cap dump him.

This raises the question, how are the Suns going to get below the LT next season?

I think Eric may have suggested a buyout of KT might be an option. In regard to Banks I think he is more of a luxury tax liability than JR (I'm not sure when his contract expires). As of now I would like for the Suns to keep at least two of their potential three first round picks this year and possibly trade the third for a first round pick the following season.

I hope the Suns do not use any of the picks to dump contracts or sell them.

 

[sunsfn]

Thats great that it only took KT and Bell a month+ to get used to the system. They also are a SG and PF which are easier positions in this offense to play. Banks in the PG leading the offense and everything runs through him. In this system the team is extremely dependent on the the point guard. He needs more time then KT and Bell

I agree it takes a point guard longer to learn a system.
But he is a four year player that has been through training camp with the suns and now has played going on five months and he does not look any better than when the season started. The suns signed him with the thought he could play now.

When I watch him play, I am hoping the next play he makes is a good one. I am not down on him as a person, just down on him that he can ever run this team.

I hope his light goes on, but I am skeptical it will in the suns offense.

If you compare him to Barbosa, all the time Barbosa was playing and making mistakes, I always thought he would be a good player for the suns eventually. I said that many times on here sticking up for him when others did not. I do not feel that way about Banks, but hope I am wrong.

 

[SO91]

I agree it takes a point guard longer to learn a system.
But he is a four year player that has been through training camp with the suns and now has played going on five months and he does not look any better than when the season started. The suns signed him with the thought he could play now.

I'm not a huge fan of Banks, but I wouldn't exactly call what this team had a training camp.

 

[Team G]

D'Antoni has said that they will be very patient with Banks. I think he has until next season's trading deadline to get it before they try to unload him. He showed some value with his defense in the Spurs game and that will be important in the play-offs.

 

[Covert Rain]

D'Antoni has said that they will be very patient with Banks. I think he has until next season's trading deadline to get it before they try to unload him. He showed some value with his defense in the Spurs game and that will be important in the play-offs.

Problem is with the luxury tax situation, Sarver won't be. I can't see them hanging on to him after this season if he doesn't contribute more often.

 

[sunsfn]

I believe they are trying to trade him right now, his big contract is the issue in any trade, because he has not shown he is worth that.

I also think if they can make a trade, they would include a first to make the deal work. They will not keep all of their picks anyway, and Sarver does not want to pay the luxury tax, so getting rid of his salary and the pick is not that bad to do as far as Sarver is concerned. The only thing is, the last pick in the draft this year is going to be worth more than the 3 mil they sold their pick for last year, so giving up that much money to get rid of a contract might be tough to do.

Whether they trade Banks or not, I am expecting the suns to do something by the trade deadline.

 

[azirish]

I'd be very surprised if they traded Banks during this season. With Nash's health iffy, that leaves only Barbosa and Raja as guards. Banks can play defense, which is why he gets the nod over the vastly superior offensive player in Rose.

Next summer the Suns can shop for a push PG in the draft or through free agency, but right now their options are limited.