Marion for MVP campaign: It's time

[Gaddabout]

Marion has just been ridiculously good this year. He allows Nash to focus on offense and not get bullied, and he's taken pressure off Stoudemire as he's returned. His perimeter defense makes Kurt Thomas that much better as a man-up defender in the post.

Everyone's back and he's still nearly averaging a double-double. He's tied for the league lead in steals. His blocks are actually up over his career numbers, nearly two per game, while still collecting 2 assists.

There are better players than Marion, but is there a better all-around performer night-in and night-out? Is there a person more important to the success of the Suns?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Nash

 

[scotsman13]

i am sorry but if i had a vote this year it would go to nash for the 3rd year.

 

[slinslin]

Marion is definately not a MVP candidate. Until recently he has had a poor year on top of it.

 

[phxrising]

I'm a Marion Homer, He's my fav player. That said Nash would be MVP

 

[Mainstreet]

There are better players than Marion, but is there a better all-around performer night-in and night-out? Is there a person more important to the success of the Suns?

Certainly Nash is the most important player for the success of the Suns, but I know what you are saying.

I think Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic was close to correct today when he referred to Shawn as "Marion's the 'glue' for Suns."


However, Shawn is so much more than glue. He is an All-Star that does not get enough credit because he brings his "A" game and energy every night. I think many fans tend to overlook him because he is so consistent.

IMO, there needs to be a special award for a player of his caliber such as "best all around player." Also Shawn seems to get the toughest defensive assignment whether the player is a PG or PF.

 

[goldseraph]

Marion will never be an MVP-caliber player. All-star, yes. MVP, no. I haven't seen anything to change this. Can you count on him to score in the clutch, or create a shot? No.

 

[Gaddabout]

I appreciate those who would vote for Nash (again) and Nash doesn't need Marion to be a great player in his own right, BUT Marion is probably the No. 1 reason Nash won two straight MVP awards. Not only is Marion still the best finisher on the break, he helps hide Nash's weakness on defense.

 

[Gaddabout]

Marion will never be an MVP-caliber player. All-star, yes. MVP, no. I haven't seen anything to change this. Can you count on him to score in the clutch, or create a shot? No.

Fair arguments and common criticism. My only counter point would be that Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and Karl Malone all won MVPs with a lot of help from their friends to get their shots. Those three were also the hyper-focal points of their team's offense.

I believe Marion is a new kind of player for a new kind of NBA, and may possibly deserve being judged by a different set of criteria. I'm not big on guys who rack up numbers, but Marion racks up so many good numbers in so many different ways, and contributes in huge ways in so many tangible ways, I think it's time we really start to recognize the Suns could not do what they do without him.

 

[Mainstreet]

I appreciate those who would vote for Nash (again) and Nash doesn't need Marion to be a great player in his own right, BUT Marion is probably the No. 1 reason Nash won two straight MVP awards. Not only is Marion still the best finisher on the break, he helps hide Nash's weakness on defense.

Marion covers the weaknesses of a lot of players. He is also perpetual energy. Like I said, I think there needs to be a special award for a player like Marion because All-Star just does not adequately cover what he does.

 

[Gaddabout]

Marion covers the weaknesses of a lot of players. He is also perpetual energy. Like I said, I think there needs to be a special award for a player like Marion because All-Star just does not adequately cover what he does.

At the current rate, it will probably come down to Garnett, Nowitzki, and Marion for the NBA Efficiency crown. At the very least, I think an award should be given for that stat.

 

[Mainstreet]

At the current rate, it will probably come down to Garnett, Nowitzki, and Marion for the NBA Efficiency crown. At the very least, I think an award should be given for that stat.

I still think there should be an award for "Best All Around Player." Garnett and Nowitzki are not even asked to do what Shawn does routinely defensively like guard a PG. Also Shawn has to guard players like Garnett and Nowitzki at a considerable height disadvantage.

I agree an NBA Efficiency Crown award should be considered if a "Best All Around Player Award" is not given.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I still think there should be an award for "Best All Around Player." Garnett and Nowitzki are not even asked to do what Shawn does routinely defensively like guard a PG. Also Shawn has to guard players like Garnett and Nowitzki at a considerable height disadvantage.

I agree an NBA Efficiency Crown award should be considered if a "Best All Around Player Award" is not given.

I can see Dirk in your argument, but Garnett does close to what Marion does.

 

[Mainstreet]

I can see Dirk in your argument, but Garnett does close to what Marion does.

I do not see Garnett finishing as good as Marion or guarding PG's.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I do not see Garnett finishing as good as Marion or guarding PG's.

I don't see Marion getting nearly the amount of assists as Garnett.

 

[SirStefan32]

For God's sake you can't compare Marion to Garnett.

Garnett is a whole level above Marion.

Oh, and Nash for MVP AGAIN!

 

[slinslin]

I don't see Marion carrying a bunch of nobodies to more than 25 wins a season unlike Garnett.

And why the hell could Garnett not finish as well as Marion? He is not even playing on a fastbreak team that gets easy baskets and he is shooting over 50% from the field and over 30% from the 3.

Garnett 21.6ppg 12.0rpg 3.7apg 1.6spg 2.0bpg 50.5%FG 31%3s 38mpg Garnett 7'

Marion 20.1ppg 9.4rpg 2.0apg 2.1spg 1.8bpg 51%%FG 30%3s 39mpg Marion 6'7

Sorry but I am going to go with the guy who does everything better than Marion except getting steals and about 5" taller.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

For God's sake you can't compare Marion to Garnett.

Garnett is a whole level above Marion.

Oh, and Nash for MVP AGAIN!

I don't see Marion carrying a bunch of nobodies to more than 25 wins a season unlike Garnett.

And why the hell could Garnett not finish as well as Marion? He is not even playing on a fastbreak team that gets easy baskets and he is shooting over 50% from the field and over 30% from the 3.

Garnett 21.6ppg 12.0rpg 3.7apg 1.6spg 2.0bpg 50.5%FG 31%3s 38mpg Garnett 7'

Marion 20.1ppg 9.4rpg 2.0apg 2.1spg 1.8bpg 51%%FG 30%3s 39mpg Marion 6'7

Sorry but I am going to go with the guy who does everything better than Marion except getting steals and about 5" taller.

 

[Ollie]

Marion would be a great fantasy MVP, but you have to do a little more than stockpiling shiny stats to be a MVP in the real life... he's a very good player, but not a true great one.

 

[Chaplin]

Why do these threads turn so hateful? Garnett is a better player than Marion, but not by much, and people use the comparison to underrate Shawn--and then in turn complain that he's underrated.

That said, he is not a league MVP, but he is certainly one of the absolute top players in this league.

I'm just sick of both sides, those that complain that he's getting too much acclaim, and those (like Shawn himself) that complain that he's not getting enough.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Marion's game is so much suited to "team" and yet he and everyone else seems to give him individual recognition. Marion is absolutely essential to this team's success. But so is Steve and so is Amare. None of them would be what they are without the others.

The most important award for Marion to win this year is the Larry O'Brian Trophy.

None of the rest matters.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't see Marion getting nearly the amount of assists as Garnett.

That's because Marion is such a great finisher.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't see Marion carrying a bunch of nobodies to more than 25 wins a season unlike Garnett.

And why the hell could Garnett not finish as well as Marion? He is not even playing on a fastbreak team that gets easy baskets and he is shooting over 50% from the field and over 30% from the 3.

Garnett 21.6ppg 12.0rpg 3.7apg 1.6spg 2.0bpg 50.5%FG 31%3s 38mpg Garnett 7'

Marion 20.1ppg 9.4rpg 2.0apg 2.1spg 1.8bpg 51%%FG 30%3s 39mpg Marion 6'7

Sorry but I am going to go with the guy who does everything better than Marion except getting steals and about 5" taller.

I'm just having some friendly banter.

Certainly Garnett and Nowitzki have more height. And what's the saying, "you can't teach height." However, Shawn shouldn't have to guard PG's and PF/C's but he does. When Shawn is thrust into defending a player 4" or 5" taller in the playoffs this leads to a lot of fans criticizing him. It is not Shawn's fault that he is often placed into such mismatches. He does it because the Suns need him to do it. This just makes me think more highly of Shawn.

However, IMO a player of Garnett's caliber should have already been able to carry his team to a championship. For the record, I really like Garnett and Nowitzki as players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Shawn Marion is a great NBA Player and perenial all-star who is the second best complimentary player in the league (KG being the first) - an MVP he ain't.

 

[msdundee]

Marion is absolutely essential to this team's success. But so is Steve and so is Amare. None of them would be what they are without the others.

After seeing the interplay between starters over this 11-game run, it would be hard to disagree, although the Suns get credit for showing heart and coming pretty close to being "what they are" last year without Amare. There's no doubt he was the missing piece to the puzzle.

As of now Nash is playing better than in his two MVP years and that isn't going unnoticed throughout the league. He continues to be amazing and it wouldn't be surpising to see him take #3. Marion IS essential to the Suns game and we know management sees it. How this season plays out will determine what happens at the end of the year but it would be a shame to let him go, I'd hate to see him in another uni.

IMO this year's Suns are one of very few teams running with five, maybe six players essential to success. They may not have a "superstar" (and that's very debatable) but they have five players that could be considered indispensable. Take away any one of the starters and they're in some trouble, although not insurmountable. LB and Kurt off the bench are almost as important. It's pretty rare that a team gets through an entire season without injuries. That's the scary part and one reason why I get nervous when they're up against certain teams/players with a history of "unintentional" accidents. The Suns can weather minor bumps but no crashes, please.