http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1104marion1104.html
Guarding bigger players test for Marion
Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
There are different labels for the position. For number crunching, it's a four. For bone crunching, it's power forward. For the Suns' Shawn Marion, it's just a lousy fit.
"But it's also reality," Marion said before the season started. "It's what we've got working for us right now."
Marion is built along the classic lines of a small forward - if you're counting, a three. He's sleek, slick and usually a couple of feet ahead or above all of the crunching.
But in a season when the Suns figure to give up several inches in height and muscle, Marion could be thrown into battles that test his body, if not his will.
In an attempt to offset size, Suns coach Frank Johnson is employing a variety of offenses and defenses designed to capitalize on his team's quickness.
Often, that means an alignment that will spread the Suns across the floor to open enough space for them to move in, out and around.
Just as often, however, it means that the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Marion will find himself nose to chest against a 6-9, 256-pound Karl Malone or a 6-11, 230-pound Rasheed Wallace.
It's not exactly a confrontation that Marion wants, or even one he believes he can survive for too long throughout an 82-game schedule.
A couple of years ago, it was projected that Marion might be able to swing one day to shooting guard.
But Marion, a four-year veteran, has been forced in a different direction by a perennially undersized team that grew even smaller last month with a deal that sent center Jake Tsakalidis and forward Bo Outlaw to Memphis.
Initially, it was clear that Marion was unhappy.
He already had suffered through a bruising mismatch against the bigger San Antonio Spurs in the first round of last season's playoffs. Since the start of training camp, however, Johnson thinks Marion has begun to adjust.
"I think he's getting more comfortable," Johnson said. "It is an adjustment, simply because he is playing against a guy who is probably bigger and longer than him."
In games against San Antonio, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers, Marion has averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds.
He has worked to put on weight. He's eight to 10 pounds heavier than he was a year ago. Over the course of playing three and four games a week, however, it may be tough to maintain that weight.
He was at 225 at last year's season opener. About six months later, he was 218 to 220. At practice Monday, Marion said he already has lost three pounds this season.
"I just got to stay in the weight room and away from junk food," Marion said. "I've got to make sure that I keep the weight on me."
If he doesn't, Marion is worried that he could get punished, especially on the defensive end.
"Having to guard somebody bigger than me means I've got to work that much harder to stay in front of them and keep them off the boards," Marion said. "But, hey, that's reality. Know what I'm saying? It's going to happen.
"All year."
He may be able to pick on somebody his own size Wednesday night at Utah. The Jazz has been starting 225-pound Andrei Kirilenko at power forward.
Guarding bigger players test for Marion
Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 4, 2003 12:00 AM
There are different labels for the position. For number crunching, it's a four. For bone crunching, it's power forward. For the Suns' Shawn Marion, it's just a lousy fit.
"But it's also reality," Marion said before the season started. "It's what we've got working for us right now."
Marion is built along the classic lines of a small forward - if you're counting, a three. He's sleek, slick and usually a couple of feet ahead or above all of the crunching.
But in a season when the Suns figure to give up several inches in height and muscle, Marion could be thrown into battles that test his body, if not his will.
In an attempt to offset size, Suns coach Frank Johnson is employing a variety of offenses and defenses designed to capitalize on his team's quickness.
Often, that means an alignment that will spread the Suns across the floor to open enough space for them to move in, out and around.
Just as often, however, it means that the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Marion will find himself nose to chest against a 6-9, 256-pound Karl Malone or a 6-11, 230-pound Rasheed Wallace.
It's not exactly a confrontation that Marion wants, or even one he believes he can survive for too long throughout an 82-game schedule.
A couple of years ago, it was projected that Marion might be able to swing one day to shooting guard.
But Marion, a four-year veteran, has been forced in a different direction by a perennially undersized team that grew even smaller last month with a deal that sent center Jake Tsakalidis and forward Bo Outlaw to Memphis.
Initially, it was clear that Marion was unhappy.
He already had suffered through a bruising mismatch against the bigger San Antonio Spurs in the first round of last season's playoffs. Since the start of training camp, however, Johnson thinks Marion has begun to adjust.
"I think he's getting more comfortable," Johnson said. "It is an adjustment, simply because he is playing against a guy who is probably bigger and longer than him."
In games against San Antonio, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers, Marion has averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds.
He has worked to put on weight. He's eight to 10 pounds heavier than he was a year ago. Over the course of playing three and four games a week, however, it may be tough to maintain that weight.
He was at 225 at last year's season opener. About six months later, he was 218 to 220. At practice Monday, Marion said he already has lost three pounds this season.
"I just got to stay in the weight room and away from junk food," Marion said. "I've got to make sure that I keep the weight on me."
If he doesn't, Marion is worried that he could get punished, especially on the defensive end.
"Having to guard somebody bigger than me means I've got to work that much harder to stay in front of them and keep them off the boards," Marion said. "But, hey, that's reality. Know what I'm saying? It's going to happen.
"All year."
He may be able to pick on somebody his own size Wednesday night at Utah. The Jazz has been starting 225-pound Andrei Kirilenko at power forward.
