I'm calling this article a Retro Recap. I stumbled across Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals on NBATV and a lot of thoughts came pouring out. So I thought I'd write them down for your entertainment. So lets just get started:
1st Quarter, 9:27. Latrell Sprewell just hit a shot and the camera goes in for a closeup. All I think about when I see Latrell are spinners and PJ Carlesimo with a bruised throat. It's easy to forget that Sprewell was a pretty good NBA player for a while.
9:12. Just caught a glimpse of Gregg Popovich and Jeff Van Gundy. Pop looks like he's fresh out of the Air Force and Van Gundy might have just given up on a real estate career. Also, why does Larry Johnson look like he was a long-haul trucker during the offseason?
7:05. I forgot that the Knicks were good at basketball once. This is a nice reminder.
5:55. Tim Duncan looks exactly the same as he does today in 2015. Maybe he's a little thinner here. But the moves are the same, the defense is the same. That same blank, robotic stare. There's something amazing about guys who seem to have another gear, who can do amazing things we've rarely seen in sports. I'm thinking Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan. But there's something equally amazing about guys who are consistently great for more than a decade. I think that might be harder to do. And Duncan has been a basketball artist for as long as I can remember. That leaves me in awe of him.
2:55. Avery Johnson cracks me up. If you've never seen David Robinson's impression of Avery, you're missing out. I'd link to it, but I can't find the video anywhere, which seems almost impossible these days. But use your imagination and picture The Admiral mimicking an angry and animated Little General. Yeah, it's even better than that.
2nd Quarter, 9:07. I forgot about Malik Rose. I always liked his game.
8:22. I don't care for Bob Costas. That's all.
2:30. It's weird to watch San Antonio play this game. Their style has changed so much since 1999, which is to say that the style of play in the NBA has changed so much since 1999. And it's for the best. The product is a lot more entertaining today. Much credit has to be given to the NBA for recognizing that the pace of play had to increase and then making the correct rule changes to encourage a faster, smoother game. Also, kudos to Popovich and the Spurs for seeing the direction the NBA was heading and adjusting sooner than everyone else. They completely changed their offensive system, something that isn't easy to do.
0:45. The broadcast just mentioned that David Robinson once scored 70 points in a game. I think it's easy to forget how dominant Robinson could be at times. Maybe it's because he didn't win a ring until Duncan came along and the perception is that obviously he wasn't that good if he couldn't win a title on his own. The dude was a beast, though, and killed it on both ends.
3rd Quarter, 7:42. Allan Houston just hit a long two, and somewhere 27-year-old Daryl Morey just got dizzy and felt a pain in his side. I forgot what a good shooter Houston was, and it's fun to watch him swish shot after shot in this game while everyone else looks like they were drafted off of a rugby team.
5:49. Marcus Camby is everywhere in this game. It's too bad he didn't play in today's NBA. He would have been a nightmare defensively. Bill Simmons' Ewing Theory, has gained a lot of traction lately, but what's important to remember is how well Camby played in the 1999 playoffs. It's not surprising that the Knicks played better when they replaced an aging, immobile center with a young, athletic center. Camby made the 1999 Knicks a great defensive team.
1:19. Tim Duncan bank shot is good, because he's a machine.
4th Quarter, 11:58. It's the start of the fourth quarter, and the score is 59-58 in favor of San Antonio. I know I've already said it like three times, but the NBA is better now. No one wants to watch these muddled up scrums posing as basketball plays. It's why college basketball sucks. And if anyone tells you the NBA was better back in 1999, you have my permission to kick them in the shin twice.
10:47. Sprewell was really, really good for about five years. I forgot he was such a gifted scorer. I know I mentioned it at the beginning of this piece, but man, he's so tough to guard, inside and out. He's keeping New York in this game by himself. The lesson here, kids, is don't choke your head coach, because that's all you'll be remembered for one day.
7:47. Popovich gets plenty of praise, but it's not enough. The Knicks have started double-teaming Duncan on the block, and he's making the perfect pass out to guards who are then making the perfect pass to the wing who then make the perfect basketball decision. The narrative is always that Popovich selects the smartest players for his system, but maybe the narrative should be that Popovich selects players and then teaches them how to make the best basketball plays possible. I think the second one makes him a better coach.
6:30. Young Steve Kerr sighting as Sean Elliot sits with his fourth personal!
2:37. I think it's amazing that Duncan's free throw shooting has never been a big problem for the Spurs or a lingering story line. He's never been good at the line, but he's kept it just respectable enough to keep the media off his back. Plus he graduated from the Shaquille O'Neal school of "I make them when they count."
1:53. 77-76 New York. This game is an offensive cesspool of sadness.
0:47. Avery Johnson just hit a wide open long two from the near corner because Duncan made the perfect pass out of a double team to Sean Elliot, who kicked it over to the Little General before New York could reset. Because Spurs. 78-77 Spurs.
0:02. Van Gundy draws up a really good play. Sprewell fakes a screen at the top of the key and then dives to the hoop. Unfortunately he cuts too soon, and Elliot stays with him. Sprewell catches the inbound too deep and is stuck under the hoop. He's only able to shoot a desperation fade-away with Duncan and Elliot towering over him. Spurs win. But that's a genius play. If Sprewell waits half a second longer, Elliot comes off him to hedge on Allan Houston, and Sprewell gets a wide open layup to win the game.
This is one of the first Finals I remember clearly, and it's the beginning of the San Antonio dynasty that has changed the NBA over the last fifteen years. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing basketball games to watch, it's interesting for its own reasons.
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2015
Monday, November 17, 2014
The Three Eras of Shawn Marion
We tend to break down life into eras. It's human nature. We do it with sports, history, even our own lives. There was history before 9/11 and after. There's our lives before and after we had kids. Our job before and after we got that promotion.
I definitely look at NBA players that way. Every time they move to a new team, get a new star teammate, or get a career-changing coach, it's the start of a new era for them. Sometimes it's hard to tell one era from another until years later.
For me, there have been three eras in Shawn Marion's long and stellar career. He's been electric and moody, an erratic shooter and a dominate defender, and so much more. Whatever you think of him, I consider Marion to be one of the most interesting players I've ever watched. And I'm looking forward to his time in Cleveland, which might be the start of a new era in his career. But I'll wait until I see the Cavs play before discussing that. Let's get to the three eras of Shaw Marion:
The 7 Seconds or Less Suns--We were introduced to Shawn Marion as a lanky, lightning quick scorer out of UNLV. He made the Western Conference all-star team in his fourth year, averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds a game. That's pretty good, but it's downright miraculous when you consider that the point guard on that team was none other than Stephon Marbury. It's amazing he even got to touch the ball on offensive possessions.
Mike D'Antoni took over in 2003 and installed a system that fit Marion like a glove. Then Steve Nash arrived from Dallas and the fast-paced, 7 Seconds or Less offense was born. Marion thrived, making the all-star team three years in a row. The Suns averaged 59 wins over those three seasons and made the Western Conference Finals twice. It probably would have been three if not for A'mare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw being suspended for stepping onto the floor in a game four shoving match.
My memory of Marion during these years is a gravity-defying, back-cutting beast, sliding into space just in time to catch a pass from Nash and slam the ball home. I can't remember a player with a better fit for a system. Maybe LeBron James in Miami, forcing turnovers and then running like a freight train on the break. Marion would have dominated in the system no matter what. Adding Nash at the helm just made Marion even more devastating.
Unfortunately, Nash played so well it made the Suns' management think that Marion was expendable. They thought Nash was the key, and all that mattered was surrounding him with young athletes who could score. This led to a sour relationship between Marion and the Suns. He felt disrespected, slighted, and unappreciated. Marion asked for a trade, and on February 6, 2008, he was traded to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O'Neal.
The Lost Years--After that trade to Miami, I'll admit I lost track of Marion. The Heat weren't very good at the time, and Marion's scoring dropped off significantly, to 14 points per game. Marion and the Heat tried to negotiate a deal, but never could agree to terms. In February of 2009, Marion was traded to the Raptors in a move that cleared cap space which would be used to sign LeBron James in the summer of 2010.
Marion only played 27 games with the Raptors, and no one had illusions about him staying past the 2009 season. But Marion is a pro, so he talked about the opportunities in Toronto and trying to make the playoffs (even though the Raptors were five games out at the time). The thought at the time was that Bryan Colangelo was clearing cap space in an attempt to keep Chris Bosh in Canada. It didn't work.
The Championship Years--In the summer of 2009, Shawn Marion signed a four year contract with the Raptors and was promptly traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The deal was insanely complicated and required four teams to facilitate. I'd always liked Marion, but now, living in Dallas, I got to see him play all the time and came to appreciate him even more.
Marion had come so close to a championship in Phoenix and then spent the last two seasons toiling away on mediocre teams. By the time he signed with Dallas, Marion was hungry for that elusive ring. He ended up being coached by Rick Carlisle at the perfect time in his career.
The Mavericks explained to Marion that they didn't need a high volume scorer. They needed a defensive stopper who could contribute occasionally on the offensive end. It would be a shift in playing style for him, a challenge for a veteran with pride. But to his credit, Marion fully bought into the role.
Over the next four seasons, Marion took on whatever defensive challenge was thrown his way. Every night he guarded the opposing team's best scorer. He never made another all-star team, because his numbers slipped. But anyone watching him play could tell he was an integral part of the team, snagging rebounds, hitting corner three's with that unique shooting motion, and sinking awkward floaters. Whatever the Mavs needed, Marion was there to provide.
It paid off in 2011, when Dallas won their first championship. All along the way, Marion put his stamp on the playoff run. He ended up guarding LaMarcus Aldridge, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. It's rare to find a defender who can guard that quality of player effectively and still contribute on offense. But Marion did.
I've watched him now, quietly playing solid basketball on a stripped down Dallas team. He never complained, never pouted about the lack of talent around him. He was the ultimate professional, going out and doing his job every day.
I'm glad he's ended up on this highly publicized Cavaliers team, because I want the world to see how great a player Marion is. And I know he's on the downside of a great career, but I think he'll still have some great moments in the playoffs the next couple of years. So take the time and enjoy the last few highlights of a tough, complete, and quiet basketball legend.
I definitely look at NBA players that way. Every time they move to a new team, get a new star teammate, or get a career-changing coach, it's the start of a new era for them. Sometimes it's hard to tell one era from another until years later.
For me, there have been three eras in Shawn Marion's long and stellar career. He's been electric and moody, an erratic shooter and a dominate defender, and so much more. Whatever you think of him, I consider Marion to be one of the most interesting players I've ever watched. And I'm looking forward to his time in Cleveland, which might be the start of a new era in his career. But I'll wait until I see the Cavs play before discussing that. Let's get to the three eras of Shaw Marion:
The 7 Seconds or Less Suns--We were introduced to Shawn Marion as a lanky, lightning quick scorer out of UNLV. He made the Western Conference all-star team in his fourth year, averaging 21 points and 9 rebounds a game. That's pretty good, but it's downright miraculous when you consider that the point guard on that team was none other than Stephon Marbury. It's amazing he even got to touch the ball on offensive possessions.
Mike D'Antoni took over in 2003 and installed a system that fit Marion like a glove. Then Steve Nash arrived from Dallas and the fast-paced, 7 Seconds or Less offense was born. Marion thrived, making the all-star team three years in a row. The Suns averaged 59 wins over those three seasons and made the Western Conference Finals twice. It probably would have been three if not for A'mare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw being suspended for stepping onto the floor in a game four shoving match.
My memory of Marion during these years is a gravity-defying, back-cutting beast, sliding into space just in time to catch a pass from Nash and slam the ball home. I can't remember a player with a better fit for a system. Maybe LeBron James in Miami, forcing turnovers and then running like a freight train on the break. Marion would have dominated in the system no matter what. Adding Nash at the helm just made Marion even more devastating.
Unfortunately, Nash played so well it made the Suns' management think that Marion was expendable. They thought Nash was the key, and all that mattered was surrounding him with young athletes who could score. This led to a sour relationship between Marion and the Suns. He felt disrespected, slighted, and unappreciated. Marion asked for a trade, and on February 6, 2008, he was traded to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O'Neal.
The Lost Years--After that trade to Miami, I'll admit I lost track of Marion. The Heat weren't very good at the time, and Marion's scoring dropped off significantly, to 14 points per game. Marion and the Heat tried to negotiate a deal, but never could agree to terms. In February of 2009, Marion was traded to the Raptors in a move that cleared cap space which would be used to sign LeBron James in the summer of 2010.
Marion only played 27 games with the Raptors, and no one had illusions about him staying past the 2009 season. But Marion is a pro, so he talked about the opportunities in Toronto and trying to make the playoffs (even though the Raptors were five games out at the time). The thought at the time was that Bryan Colangelo was clearing cap space in an attempt to keep Chris Bosh in Canada. It didn't work.
The Championship Years--In the summer of 2009, Shawn Marion signed a four year contract with the Raptors and was promptly traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The deal was insanely complicated and required four teams to facilitate. I'd always liked Marion, but now, living in Dallas, I got to see him play all the time and came to appreciate him even more.
Marion had come so close to a championship in Phoenix and then spent the last two seasons toiling away on mediocre teams. By the time he signed with Dallas, Marion was hungry for that elusive ring. He ended up being coached by Rick Carlisle at the perfect time in his career.
The Mavericks explained to Marion that they didn't need a high volume scorer. They needed a defensive stopper who could contribute occasionally on the offensive end. It would be a shift in playing style for him, a challenge for a veteran with pride. But to his credit, Marion fully bought into the role.
Over the next four seasons, Marion took on whatever defensive challenge was thrown his way. Every night he guarded the opposing team's best scorer. He never made another all-star team, because his numbers slipped. But anyone watching him play could tell he was an integral part of the team, snagging rebounds, hitting corner three's with that unique shooting motion, and sinking awkward floaters. Whatever the Mavs needed, Marion was there to provide.
It paid off in 2011, when Dallas won their first championship. All along the way, Marion put his stamp on the playoff run. He ended up guarding LaMarcus Aldridge, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. It's rare to find a defender who can guard that quality of player effectively and still contribute on offense. But Marion did.
I've watched him now, quietly playing solid basketball on a stripped down Dallas team. He never complained, never pouted about the lack of talent around him. He was the ultimate professional, going out and doing his job every day.
I'm glad he's ended up on this highly publicized Cavaliers team, because I want the world to see how great a player Marion is. And I know he's on the downside of a great career, but I think he'll still have some great moments in the playoffs the next couple of years. So take the time and enjoy the last few highlights of a tough, complete, and quiet basketball legend.
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