Kori Ellis
05-23-2005, 01:49 AM
Marion silenced, confused by Spurs
Web Posted: 05/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052305.3S.BKNsuns.marion.29eaadb4b.html
PHOENIX — Maybe Shawn Marion was too busy beating Memphis to listen to George Karl. Or too preoccupied with Dallas to pay attention to Ray Allen.
Because on Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, not only did Marion prove he wasn't sure how to attack Bruce Bowen, he showed he hadn't learned how to complain about him, either.
Continuing a postseason-long trend for the Spurs, Bowen latched onto a once-hot opposing scorer and took him out of his game. Only this time, his victim eschewed griping about Bowen's tactics and instead vowed to find his own solution.
"I've got to try something different," Marion said after scoring only three points in the Spurs' 121-114 victory at America West Arena. "I've just got to find a way, baby."
Marion has reasons to be confident. Like Denver's Carmelo Anthony in the first round and Seattle's Allen in the second, Marion entered his series with the Spurs on an offensive tidal wave. In 10 playoff games before Sunday, he averaged 22.5 points while making 51 percent of his field-goal attempts and 47 percent of his 3-pointers.
But with Bowen hounding him, that momentum didn't seem to mean much. He went scoreless in the first half and didn't make his first basket until he hit a baseline jumper with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter. Marion finished just 1 of 6 from the field.
"I was trying to take him out of his comfort zone," Bowen said. "Shawn is a guy who's become a very good 3-point shooter with time. If I can try to crowd him a little bit once he receives the ball and make him dribble drive, that's what I want to do."
That Bowen even guarded Marion at all was a bit of a surprise. Even though the 6-foot-7 Marion plays like a small forward, he's usually matched against an opposing center or power forward because the Suns start three guards. But on Sunday, the Spurs assigned Tim Duncan to Quentin Richardson, allowing Bowen to guard Marion.
Marion admitted the Suns weren't prepared for that look.
"We started getting all confused as to who was going to be setting the pick and rolls and stuff," Marion said. "I think that was throwing everybody off a little bit."
Not that the Spurs expect such confusion to continue.
"Whether it threw them off or not," Duncan said, "they'll be ready for it next time."
On that note, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't worried about Marion's ability to bounce back and still become a big factor in the series. D'Antoni said he thought Marion was affected by the quick turnaround after the Suns' Game 6 victory over Dallas on Friday.
"I didn't think Shawn had an abundance of energy," he said.
Marion, for his part, downplayed all talk of fatigue. But he said he realizes he can't afford another performance like the one he gave in Game 1 if the Suns hope to even the series.
"We can't win like that," Marion said.
Web Posted: 05/23/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Mike Finger
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA052305.3S.BKNsuns.marion.29eaadb4b.html
PHOENIX — Maybe Shawn Marion was too busy beating Memphis to listen to George Karl. Or too preoccupied with Dallas to pay attention to Ray Allen.
Because on Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, not only did Marion prove he wasn't sure how to attack Bruce Bowen, he showed he hadn't learned how to complain about him, either.
Continuing a postseason-long trend for the Spurs, Bowen latched onto a once-hot opposing scorer and took him out of his game. Only this time, his victim eschewed griping about Bowen's tactics and instead vowed to find his own solution.
"I've got to try something different," Marion said after scoring only three points in the Spurs' 121-114 victory at America West Arena. "I've just got to find a way, baby."
Marion has reasons to be confident. Like Denver's Carmelo Anthony in the first round and Seattle's Allen in the second, Marion entered his series with the Spurs on an offensive tidal wave. In 10 playoff games before Sunday, he averaged 22.5 points while making 51 percent of his field-goal attempts and 47 percent of his 3-pointers.
But with Bowen hounding him, that momentum didn't seem to mean much. He went scoreless in the first half and didn't make his first basket until he hit a baseline jumper with 2:30 remaining in the third quarter. Marion finished just 1 of 6 from the field.
"I was trying to take him out of his comfort zone," Bowen said. "Shawn is a guy who's become a very good 3-point shooter with time. If I can try to crowd him a little bit once he receives the ball and make him dribble drive, that's what I want to do."
That Bowen even guarded Marion at all was a bit of a surprise. Even though the 6-foot-7 Marion plays like a small forward, he's usually matched against an opposing center or power forward because the Suns start three guards. But on Sunday, the Spurs assigned Tim Duncan to Quentin Richardson, allowing Bowen to guard Marion.
Marion admitted the Suns weren't prepared for that look.
"We started getting all confused as to who was going to be setting the pick and rolls and stuff," Marion said. "I think that was throwing everybody off a little bit."
Not that the Spurs expect such confusion to continue.
"Whether it threw them off or not," Duncan said, "they'll be ready for it next time."
On that note, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't worried about Marion's ability to bounce back and still become a big factor in the series. D'Antoni said he thought Marion was affected by the quick turnaround after the Suns' Game 6 victory over Dallas on Friday.
"I didn't think Shawn had an abundance of energy," he said.
Marion, for his part, downplayed all talk of fatigue. But he said he realizes he can't afford another performance like the one he gave in Game 1 if the Suns hope to even the series.
"We can't win like that," Marion said.