Marks tired of all that sitting
Web Posted: 10/13/2004 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...1137535f2.html
The Spurs were short on bodies and facing a pivotal late-season game in Utah's hostile Delta Center last April when Sean Marks got the call.
Despite having had little time to prepare, Marks kept his mistakes to a minimum. He deferred, when necessary, to the big-name talent. He did his best work in the fourth quarter, refusing to let the pressure swallow him.
"It was fun working with Stockton; what an honor," Marks said. "But this year I hope he's just calling my name when I'm out on the court."
As well as Marks did in his one game as a subs ute TV analyst last season, it was his stand-in work on the practice floor that led the Spurs to re-sign him this summer. His performance in the preseason could dictate whether the team decides to expand his role.
"If he plays his butt off, he's going to make it hard for us," Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "Is he going to be the first guy off the bench? No. But, guess what, we'll have to look at him."
Last season, the only look the Spurs got at Marks in uniform came during the preseason. After his play in training camp earned him a spot on the team's roster, the coaches quickly defined his role: Work hard, learn the system and don't expect to play.
Marks performed his job without complaint. His sense of humor fit well in the locker room and his 7-foot frame fit even better on the practice court, giving Tim Duncan and Rasho Nesterovic another body to lean on. With Malik Rose, Robert Horry and Kevin Willis entrenched as the reserve big men, Marks didn't play in a single game.
"They said this is the way it's going to be and that's the way it was," Marks said. "I just went about my business and tried to help out the guys any way possible. Sure, it was frustrating not being able to get out there and play, but if you're told that at the beginning, you don't really have any expectations. And I'm not the type of guy to sit here and hope for an injury just so I can play.
"This year, hopefully, it will be a little different story."
Though the Spurs guaranteed Marks' contract this summer, his minutes are anything but. Rose and Horry are still on the roster and Tony Massenburg has replaced Willis.
"The situation is still challenging for him," Carlesimo said. "He's got his work cut out for him again, but I think he's helped himself."
In addition to his work last season, Marks also impressed Spurs coach Gregg Popovich when he played for his native New Zealand in this summer's Olympics. Though the Tall Blacks did not advance past pool play, Marks averaged 10.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes in five games.
During workouts last season, Marks impressed his teammates with his athleticism. He has above-average leaping ability for a big man, a dependable mid-range shot and is coordinated enough to be an occasional surfer. What he's lacked, so far, is consistency. He had his moments during last year's preseason — just not enough of them.
It's also easier to produce consistently, Carlesimo said, with consistent minutes. Marks hasn't had that luxury: He's been on an NBA roster for parts of six seasons, but has played in only 57 games.
Whether Marks will add to that total this season remains to be seen. At the least, the coaching staff expects to give him an opportunity to play during the team's seven exhibition games.
"I'm really appreciative the Spurs wanted me to come back," Marks said. "It's the best organization I've ever been a part of. It's a great team, a great camaraderie group. That made it easier not playing, when you got a bunch of friends, good guys you can root for and support each day.
"This year, hopefully I'll be in the regular system and contributing."
Hope he does well in the preseason so he gets mins in the regular season.
During workouts last season, Marks impressed his teammates with his athleticism. He has above-average leaping ability for a big man, a dependable mid-range shot and is coordinated enough to be an occasional surfer
i would still rather have Marks coming off the bench before Rose.
Marks 7" vs 6'7" Rose
Wasn't Mark 6'10 last season? How is he 7' now?
He came back to NZ for some good kiwi tucker over the offseason and grew 2 inchs !! anyway, hes taller and can can jump higher than rose.
Bring it on.
Well since Duncan is now 6'11, I guess Marks got an inch from him.
Haha, who knows what players are any more. Apparently Lebron James is getting close to 6'10
Oh God, is Marks going to be the 4th big? Malik better be the 1st big coming off the bench.
It's bad enough that Radosoft is starting. Now this.
mb are you afraid marks would beat out rose?
I guess if I were you I might be since rose got beat out by 41 year old willis and then horry. After he got beat out by horry he quit trying like a selfish punk
Marcus Cryant the all knowing basketball expert, once again telling us how we should think.
Thanks cryant.
If Malik is given a fair shot then no way will Marks or any other big beat him out as the primary backup.
What's wrong, Stay Puff? You mad?
Last edited by Marcus Bryant; 10-13-2004 at 11:12 AM.
If he's tired of sitting, he can stand behind the bench.
he can play IF his play on court warrants it
Rose can play IF is play warrants it
That is assuming duckie that he is going to be judged on just his play.
Marks better get used to sitting for a bit. Won't be too many minutes avilable for him as long as Malik plays HIS GAME. Also if Horry plays similiar to last season and hits his 3's, can Marks see anything more than Kevin Willis minutes? Doubtful. But I guess we will see.
"Also if Horry plays similiar to last season and hits his 3's"
Do you mean: "Also if Horry plays similiar to last season, but hits his 3's this season...."
After the his 03 and 04 playoffs and his 03-04 season, I think we better forget about any signficant qty or %age of 3's from the player Formerly Known as Big Shot Bob.
he will be judged on his play in practice and his williness to do what the coach or his boss expects him to do on the court
just like any spur player
Ha.
Well he hit the threes at a reasonable rate. Pop kept him in cause he was a stabling force on defense, and always has that clutch 3pt element to his game that demands the defenses attention. Couple that with the fact that he had Rose in the doghouse, and its not too hard to see why Horry gets minutes on this team. If he just improves his 3pt% a bit, he might see some time. Possibly more than Marks.Do you mean: "Also if Horry plays similiar to last season, but hits his 3's this season...."
After the his 03 and 04 playoffs and his 03-04 season, I think we better forget about any signficant qty or %age of 3's from the player Formerly Known as Big Shot Bob.
Yeah, I think Marks will probably be a 12th man on this team. Which would still mean more playing time than he got last year.
I think the big man rotation will be Tim/Rasho/Malik. That 4th big man will be either Marks or Horry, whoever plays well in practice or depending on the situation. The other of those two will get KWill type minutes. And Massenburg will be on IR.
That's just my opinion but it seems like that's how it's going to go. This is the reason it doesn't make sense to me to keep James Thomas. Then you'd have two big guys on IR.
Of Thomas, Monteiro, Perry, and Boumtje-Boumtje, if one of them was a 3, I'd say they'd be kept. But I think it comes down to Perry and Thomas. I think they should keep Perry just to have another real PG on the roster. But they might keep Thomas for (UT) marketing reasons.
If someone buys one ticket because the 15th man played at Texas they probably post in another Spurs fan forum.
The cure for bench sores: play better.
After the first three, I think the minutes for the rest will be pretty situational. Normally Horry, but Marks if Rob's shot is off and Massenburg if some muscle is needed. I think Thomas is a project. Even if a point guard goes down and Perry is retained, Thomas could be waived but kept around til folks heal up a la Marks last season.
"Massenburg if some muscle is needed"
I was thinking TM was better muscled, since "muscle" is about all anybody can say about him, but his muscles didn't impress me at open scrimmage. Same weight as Rasho. His career stats are, well, typical for someone who's on his 14th NBA team, esp. his rebounding, the one area where he could really help any team. I figure he'll be no help, be not hurt, simply let 1st and 2nd team players get a breather, pick up some garbage minutes.
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