Oh give me a break. There are plenty of times when Marion's weaknesses are brought up by Marion supporters. Unfortunately for most of the haters here that is all they can bring up.
Can you admit that when you put the ball in anyones hands you are risking a turnover? That is the lamest statement/question/argument I have seen in a looong time. I think you are really taking a big leap with your assumption about Marion's turnover ratio. Shawn's career avg in TO's is 1.63. Yeah that is really horrible and certainly would make me cringe everytime he touches the ball outside of 5 ft from the hoop or if he is leading a fast break. YOur assumptions about his TO's is kin to most everyone elses regarding his 3pt shooting that most think is just atrocious but it is a career 34%. So if you are a betting man what would you like to wager because I will certainly take you up on that.
Yes he may have some weaknesses in his passing game but thank god that isn't his game. He finishes around the basket pretty darn good and cleans up alot of the slop. He is forced to guard players he shouldn't.
How bout someone get on Nash's case about his atrocious defense. Nash is just the golden child in most fans eyes and the guy is pitiful. Maybe if he could play a lick of defense he could have guarded Parker and we could have put Marion on someone else where he wouldn't be running all of the floor guarding a freakin point guard. Oh, but we didn't want to wear Nash out in the series, most will say they won't say he can't guard his own shadow.
But I am the myopic and short sighted one? OK.
first, tell me the last time you watched marion LEAD a successful break. you can't. he hasn't.
second, nash's poor defense is based on his inability to stay in front of his man. that's a physical shortcoming. yes, i'll also acknowledge he has a tendency to stray and attempt help defense when he should stay home, AND I AM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT FACT. it IS something he should be criticized for. however, the basis for his poor defense is a physical shortcoming.
marion's shortcomings are based on poor fundamentals. you've never heard me comment on his three point shot and that's b/c i recognize that he hits it at a regular enough clip to be effective (but thank you for putting that argument in my mouth falsely). however, the other fundamentals, passing, dribbling, not leaping at a jumpshooter are all LEARNED SKILLS. the fact that he hasn't acquired them, AS A WING NO LESS, is damnable evidence that he doesn't work on his game enough. a wing should be able to put the ball on the floor without having the USAC cringe or complete a pass without taking a shooter out of rhythm or worse yet, creating a turnover. and unlike most all-stars, in the playoffs he does not tend to increase his numbers, which should happen when a rotation shortens, but rather his numbers decrease. i think he's physically strong, but mentally a bit soft.
marion is versatile. he is a tenacious rebounder. and no, i don't think he wracks up his rebounding numbers with concession rebounds, i think he gets a lot of hustle boards. and he tries valiantly to defend players bigger and faster than him. and i think his positives outweigh his negatives. the point i was making was that when anyone brings up a negative (AND YES HE HAS NEGATIVES, in fundamental areas imo) everyone uses the word "hate" and i think that's inappropriate.
