Lets set the record straight

Okay. So I'm running through some basketball articles today and I come across one from Adrian Wojnarowski titled "Keeping the peace." Here is a link.

In this article the Wojnarowski is basically saying that Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion is a spoiled, disgruntled trouble maker for requesting either a contract extension or a trade. While it is true that a trade is unlikely purely for financial reasons, I don't feel Marion's request is enough of a reason to label him a trouble maker. And what I really feel is way off base is this observation, "Still, Marion would be wise stay in Phoenix for as long as the Suns will have him. No matter what he has there – a great team, the best point guard in the sport to get him the ball, a perfect offensive system for him – he always wants something else. In so many ways, he reminds you of Larry Brown. You get the feeling that going elsewhere for more money and more plays would not make him happier..."

It is quotes like this one that have me seriously doubting how much this guy really knows about basketball on the player side of the equation. Strip away all the dollars and the contracts and the caps and lets just look at the player. I don't think Wojnarowski's observation is valid from this pure player standpoint for a couple of reasons.

Marion is a journeyman All Star. But a lot of people don't stop to think about what that means. Before Nash and Stoudemire, Marion was in Phoenix doing his thing. And what was his thing you might ask? His thing was 35 minutes a night, 19 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 2.5 assists per game. 79 games a year for 7 years. How many teams can get that type of production and durability from their stars? Marion isn't flashy, he doesn't growl when he dunks, he doesn't walk on a high wire without a net, or thread laser passes through needle stingy defenses. But what he does do is show up day in, day out and give you superior numbers on both ends of the court. That is not something you can say about any of the other Suns who start. And personally if he wants more money for that, I think you figure out ways to give it to him.

Here is why. I think the Suns owe more of their success to Marion than many are willing to acknowledge. Sure, since Nash showed up the Suns offense has been one of the leagues most prolific scoring machines. But one of the main reasons these guys don't wear rings yet is that while offense packs the house, defense wins championships. Without Marion, the Suns already sieve-like paper charade defense disappears like morning mist when the sun comes up.

Another quote I don't agree with and for the life of me have to wonder has this guy ever seen Marion play?

"And whatever his not-so-veiled resentment of Nash's MVP seasons, just wait until the Matrix is no longer playing with Nash, until he sees how the rest of the league lives without a superstar playmaker to get him the ball, and he'll long to be back where he is now..."

Marion is probably the one Sun who doesn't rely on Nash or set plays to be productive. He isn't the first, the second, or the third option in that offense. And anyone with any legitimate basketball IQ can watch game film and see it. No I think if Marion leaves the Suns will be the ones longing to have what they didn't appreciate. Anytime anyone starts talking about trading Marion vs Stoudemire, it just blows me away. Look at the numbers. Marion was productive before Nash or Stoudemire ever came to Phoenix. When Stoudemire was out, his production went up in one of the most successful Suns' campaigns ever. When Nash is out Marion's numbers do not suffer. This leads me to ask the question, "what the heck gives here, and why is it that no one wants to give this guy the respect and probably the money he deserves?"

To be honest, if Marion is disgruntled, looking at what is being said in the article, I get it. I wouldn't want to stay somewhere that I wasn't fully appreciated either, where they obviously have forgotten how coming to work and producing day in, day out, season in, season out is nothing to sneeze at even if these sports experts don't get it unless they see a highlight on Sportscenter. Lets set the record straight. Phoenix doesn't get past San Antonio, or Dallas unless Marion is wearing one of their jerseys.