Marks hopes role grows this season

[azirish]

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/100047

Marks hopes role grows this season

Jerry Brown, Tribune

While the Suns’ nucleus was rumbling to 15- and 17-game winning streaks and piling up another 60 wins last season, there was also behind-the-scenes grumbling at the end of the bench by those frustrated to not be playing a bigger role in the roll.

Sean Marks understands both sides. As a player with NBA skills, it’s frustrating not to be in a position to use your talents. But after spending the last four seasons with elite teams in San Antonio and Phoenix, the affable New Zealander also realizes there are worse places to be.

“You can’t control playing time. And if you worry about what you can’t control, you’ll drive yourself crazy,” Marks said. “There are a million guys who want this job. Why spend the day not happy that you have it?

“Don’t get me wrong: Everyone wants to play. I want to prove I can play. I’m not content with not playing. But I also understand there are a lot of positives to the situation I have.”

That’s why after appearing in only three regular-season games and playing in a grand total of 17 minutes, the 6-foot-10 Marks re-signed for another tour with the Suns. His hope was with Kurt Thomas headed out and the Suns’ backup big-man options limited by finances, the chance to make a contribution to a team “loaded with incredible guys” might present itself.

And while many were surprised when general manager Steve Kerr mentioned Marks as a player who could step up in Thomas’ absence, Marks has impressed in preseason. Taking advantage of minor injuries to Amaré Stoudemire and Brian Skinner that left plenty of playing time in the post, Marks averaged 26 minutes and 12.7 points in the first three preseason games, showing off his accurate jumper, passing skills and ability to run the floor.

Marks played only nine minutes in Thursday’s 118-97 rout over the Clippers in Los Angeles while the coaching staff got their first extended look at Skinner (26 minutes). That could flip-flop tonight when the two teams meet again at Staples Center.

“I always felt in the right situation that Sean could be a real contributor,” said Kerr, who left San Antonio the year before Marks arrived (2003-04) but heard nothing but praise from confidants. “Being a bench player on a winning team isn’t easy. A lot of guys simply can’t do it, they get frustrated and that spills over. Sean is a wonderful person. He understands the dynamic and brings the perfect attitude.”

The Suns don’t have one player who does all Thomas did, but they are hoping that Marks’ offense and Skinner’s defense and rebounding — not strong points for Marks — will morph into the same production for a fraction of the price (nearly $6 million less).

“Sean’s played really well,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He shoots the ball really well from the outside, he spaces the floor and he’s able to keep the pace high.”

Even though he knows all his teammates well, Marks still feels like a new player on the floor because he basically sat out all of last season.

“I was talking to L.B. (Leandro Barbosa) about how I’m not used to playing with him and I’m still learning where he likes the ball on a pass or how to lead him,” he said.

“Even though we scrimmage every day, you still have to get used to playing this pace at true game speed. I feel a little like our opponents — it’s fun and you hang in there for a little bit but then you die because you’re not used to the helter-skelter nature of the style.”

And if Marks winds up out of the rotation again — you won’t hear about this surfing fan making waves.

“I know that could happen. I knew that when I (re-signed) here,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to play for two incredible organizations that not only treat players great but pay close attention to your families as well. I’m in the right atmosphere and that makes a big difference.”

 

[Griffin]

Marks definitely has the right attitude about everything. Compare that with Burke who kept complaining about not playing enough and not having a bigger role. Marks should have gotten Burke's minutes last year.

Now Marks is still here while Burke is trying to make GS roster. It doesn't look like he will. Averages over 4 games:

	Min	Pts	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	FG	3FG	FT
Marks	21.8	10.5	5.3	1.5	1.2	1.5	53%	50%	88%
Burke	15.3	 3.8	3.0	0.8	0.2	0.0	26%	25%	50%

 

[ShuHanGuanYu]

Pat Burke's problem is that he bought into the crowd's chants and turned himself into a circus show of three point shooting, knowing that wasn't going to earn him any real playing time. I remember when Eddie House was going for a record in the fourth quarter, and Pat Burke comes in and starts firing up forced threes to get noticed or something without giving the ball up. Coach was not happy to say the least.

Sean Marks, while I still expect Skinner to be above him in the rotation, seems to have his focus in the right place. Sadly, I don't think that'll translate into many minutes when it's go time.

 

[Errntknght]

Frankly, IMO, Marks is likely to be more effective against the Spurs than Skinner because of his shooting range. True, its almost a lock that Skinner will defend Duncan better and rebound better but if we adopt the strategy of conceding Duncan his points and making him work on D, the situation won't change when Marks comes on the floor so we can continue the same strategy.

In order for Skinner to be effective in that strategy he is going to have to develop the mindset of relentlessly going to the basket when his man leaves him - and the rest of the team has to be ready to get him the ball. The problem is going to be that against the majority of the teams there will not be much reason to make Skinner an offensive threat so it won't be practiced enough unless conscious decisions are made to do it consistently. Sadly, D'Antoni has never displayed that kind of thought process in the past.

 

[Mainstreet]

In order for Skinner to be effective in that strategy he is going to have to develop the mindset of relentlessly going to the basket when his man leaves him - and the rest of the team has to be ready to get him the ball.

I don't think Skinner will need someone getting him the ball much because he will be cleaning up garbage points and rebounds... and I mean this as a compliment. I think Skinner knows his limitations.

 

[Lefty]

Amazing that about a month ago the majority of Sun fans here were ripping Kerr regarding his statements on Marks contributing to this team and getting rid of Thomas.

 

[ShuHanGuanYu]

Amazing that about a month ago the majority of Sun fans here were ripping Kerr regarding his statements on Marks contributing to this team and getting rid of Thomas.

Can't blame them much for that though, as far as Marks. He hadn't shown people that much, and many a coach and executive has in the past made this type of claim only to have it be the opposite. It was sorta the same with Diaw when we got him.

 

[azirish]

Their lack of explanation about why Marks didn't play much last season remains a mystery.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Amazing that about a month ago the majority of Sun fans here were ripping Kerr regarding his statements on Marks contributing to this team and getting rid of Thomas.

I didn't realize the regular season started already.

 

[Lefty]

I didn't realize the regular season started already.

What does that have to do with what I said?

 

[Chaplin]

Marks has definitely earned some time, no matter how negative some fans are about it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Marks has definitely earned some time, no matter how negative some fans are about it.

who's saying he hasn't? Pretty much everyone has been impressed/surprised at his accomplishments in pre-season, but as we've yet to see what he can do once the regular season whistle blows, I'm kind of surprised people are saying "I told you sos" already and making up that people are being negative.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What does that have to do with what I said?

let's see... you think it's amazing that people ripped Kerr for what he said... I'm assuming because Marks has played well in pre-season, right? Let's start there. Is that assumption correct?

 

[Lefty]

let's see... you think it's amazing that people ripped Kerr for what he said... I'm assuming because Marks has played well in pre-season, right? Let's start there. Is that assumption correct?

My original post was how people are now saying positive stuff about Marks but when Kerr made his statement awhile ago, most comments were negative. That's it. Geez.

 

[Cheesebeef]

My original post was how people are now saying positive stuff about Marks but when Kerr made his statement awhile ago, most comments were negative. That's it. Geez.

maybe that's because people have actually SEEN reason to make positive comments as opposed to seeing him behind Pat Burke last year and taking someone's word for it that he's going to contribute. Not sure why you find that "amazing". Most people like to see something with their own eyes before coming to a conclusion, especially when a FO, who's job it is to spin things, tells us something in the wake of a universally questioned baskteball move.

 

[Lefty]

maybe that's because people have actually SEEN reason to make positive comments as opposed to seeing him behind Pat Burke last year and taking someone's word for it that he's going to contribute. Not sure why you find that "amazing". Most people like to see something with their own eyes before coming to a conclusion, especially when a FO, who's job it is to spin things, tells us something in the wake of a universally questioned baskteball move.

You don't get it. People were ripping Kerr for his statement and now they are happy with Marks play. My post had nothing to do with Burke and last year. My whole point was people should wait and see before bashing a guy. Give him the benefit of the doubt. That's it.

It reminded me when the Suns picked Thunder Dan and the fans booed. They did not even have that wait and see attitude, they just assumed Dan was a bad pick. Cotton was right when he told the fans they would regret their booing.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You don't get it. People were ripping Kerr for his statement and now they are happy with Marks play. My post had nothing to do with Burke and last year. My whole point was people should wait and see before bashing a guy. Give him the benefit of the doubt. That's it.

still, you gotta admit, considering that we had the guy all last year and he never got off the bench, even behind Pat Burke, you can't see why people would be doubting what Kerr was saying, especially in the face of an incredibly unpopular move?

and honestly, if people should wait and see before saying anything, you'd have a ghost town of a message board during the offseason.

 

[Mainstreet]

Their lack of explanation about why Marks didn't play much last season remains a mystery.

Exactly. Could the Suns have used another big in game 5 against SA in the playoffs last season with Amare and Diaw out? You bet.

If Marks was a better player than Burke (and received his playing time during the season), he could have really helped the Suns front line in this game. Perhaps even a difference maker when fatigue set-in. If so, this would have been a major coaching blunder by D'Antoni not playing Marks instead of Burke earlier in the year.

 

[Errntknght]

I don't think Skinner will need someone getting him the ball much because he will be cleaning up garbage points and rebounds... and I mean this as a compliment. I think Skinner knows his limitations.

I disagree heartily when it comes to playing the Spurs. TD is almost certain to be guarding him and when the former leaves him to help out against a driving Leandro, Hill or Amare I'd much rather them lay the ball off to a cutting Skinner for a dunk rather than try to get the ball up on the rim so he can rebound it.

Even if the number of points gotten is the same either way it would irk Duncan a lot more to have a second tier player like Skinner getting dunks when he helped out a teammate. The name of the game is psychological warfare against TD - make him carry the offense and attack him on defense every way possible.

Generally speaking, Skinner is the ideal man for TD to guard because he can slack off him and defend the paint. The obvious counter is to turn Skinner into an offensive threat and I don't think there is any way to do that except by having him cut to the rim whenever Tim leaves him. I'd go so far as try to develop him into a P&R threat and I'd play him alongside Amare because that latter is such a magnet for help defenders.

It would look a trifle silly during the regular season trying to create scoring opportunities for our worst offensive player but the goal is get him ready for his role against Duncan and the Spurs - nothing else matters nearly as much as that. The main point I was making in my post was that I feared the coaching staff would adopt the very view you expressed.

MIB will say that the Spurs defensive rotation will spoil such a play, assuming it turns out that Skinner can be effective cutting to the rim. But if they have Oberto on Amare and Tim on Skinner that leaves a small player rotating to get trampled by Skinner.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

I am not sold on Marks. But I also believe he will get such few minutes that it won't matter. People are so damn worried about who will cover Duncan, when , in fact very few can. If Amare is going to be the stud he wants to and should be...then it will be HIM that needs to belly up to TD. He can do it, as long as he cuts back on his 2 tickytack reach in fouls per game. We need to have our best line up in the game when it comes to crunch time...and I believe that will be Marks+Skinner-less

 

[Rab]

If he gets a shot in the regular season and plays well, I will be the first to eat my words, but I don't see it happening.

He may be playing well in the preaseason, but so did James Jones 2 years ago. People produce when given extended minutes. It can be deceiving.

 

[Chaplin]

If he gets a shot in the regular season and plays well, I will be the first to eat my words, but I don't see it happening.

He may be playing well in the preaseason, but so did James Jones 2 years ago. People produce when given extended minutes. It can be deceiving.

How did Pat Burke do last season in the preseason? I don't remember him doing nearly as well as Sean Marks has done this preseason. As far as I'm concerned, Marks has earned the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Rab]

How did Pat Burke do last season in the preseason? I don't remember him doing nearly as well as Sean Marks has done this preseason. As far as I'm concerned, Marks has earned the benefit of the doubt.

Honestly I don't know. I didn't catch much of the preseason, so I don't know. Pat Burke also didn't get the playing time Marks is getting right now, because they were trying to work Amare back into the flow of things, and we were playing Kurt and Boris. If Amare didn't have his surgery, we probably wouldn't even be talking about Sean Marks.

I'm not denying he has played well, but I'm still not going to be sold on him until I see him produce in games that count. Like I said earlier, I hope I am forced to eat my words.