Shawn Marion takes up challenge
As Shawn Marion piled up more points and rebounds in April than during any other stretch in his two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki so marveled at him that he came up with a go-to line for the veritable elastic man long ago dubbed "The Matrix."
"He's turned back the clock on us," Nowitzki said more than once.
"He's been phenomenal just taking the challenge on both ends," Nowitzki said. "He can get up, he's athletic on the perimeter, he's long, he can contest shots. He's a good rebounder. But also on offense, he's been phenomenal. He's been cutting for us, he's been posting up. He's been getting offensive rebounds, put-backs. So he looks really comfortable right now. He's got a bounce in his step and it's fun to watch."
For all those reasons, TNT analyst and former NBA point guard Kenny Smith nicknamed Marion The Matrix after seeing him play in his first preseason game in 1999, the year the smash action thriller of the same name came out.
The Matrix, 12 seasons later, is in full "Reloaded" mode.
"Man, I'm just playing ball," Marion said. "And doing what I've got to do to help this team win. That's it."
His numbers in the Western Conference finals and through the first two games of the NBA Finals reflect it. He stepped up his scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder to 14.2 points a game. Against the Heat, Marion is averaging 18.0 points on 57.7 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks.
Those are comparable to the 6-8, 260-pound man he's guarding, the game's most powerful and explosive force.
"He's been phenomenal just taking the challenge on both ends," Nowitzki said. "He can get up, he's athletic on the perimeter, he's long, he can contest shots. He's a good rebounder. But also on offense, he's been phenomenal. He's been cutting for us, he's been posting up. He's been getting offensive rebounds, put-backs. So he looks really comfortable right now. He's got a bounce in his step and it's fun to watch."
For all those reasons, TNT analyst and former NBA point guard Kenny Smith nicknamed Marion The Matrix after seeing him play in his first preseason game in 1999, the year the smash action thriller of the same name came out.
The Matrix, 12 seasons later, is in full "Reloaded" mode.
"Man, I'm just playing ball," Marion said. "And doing what I've got to do to help this team win. That's it."
His numbers in the Western Conference finals and through the first two games of the NBA Finals reflect it. He stepped up his scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder to 14.2 points a game. Against the Heat, Marion is averaging 18.0 points on 57.7 percent shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks.
Those are comparable to the 6-8, 260-pound man he's guarding, the game's most powerful and explosive force.
"He's picked up his game offensively, hanging around the rim, getting some layups, getting some tip-backs," James said. "I take it upon myself to not only lock in at the beginning, but whoever is on him, to lock in a little bit more."
