Marion Not Selected to the All Star Game

Privately, to themselves, Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni must be thrilled that Shawn Marion was not selected to the big game this season. It is the best thing that could happen to Phoenix's hopes for a successful title run in 07-08.

I think there chances were improved with the Grant Hill addition for the following reasons. (1) added composure, (2) adds intelligence, (3) excellent ball handler and creator, (4) plays decent defense, (5) is a solid under control one on one player. Both Marion's and Stoudemire's offense is largely dependent upon what Nash can create. Raja Bell is an excellent defender and spot up shooter. Barbosa is a solid young talent, and yes he can go one on one. But he doesn't create like Hill, he isn't as intelligent Hill, and he isn't as under control as Hill. Hill adds elements to Phoenix's team game that weren't there last year. But lastly, and most importantly, Hill adds more toughness. Nash is tough. Bell is tough. Marion can be tougher. Stoudemire doesn't even know what tough means.

But back to Marion. Marion's biggest problem, based on what I've read in articles and in Jack McCallum's "7 Seconds or Less", is Shawn Marion. This is not to say that Marion is a bad guy. Not at all. Shawn Marion is a very sensitive player who is often frustrated by the fact that he is often overshadowed by Amare Stoudemire and Nash; especially when Marion is of the opinion that he does things that Amare and Nash can't. Marion can gaurd at least 3 different positions. Last year's Conference Semi-Finals was case in point when Marion gave Tony Parker some trouble when defending him. Marion is Nash's favorite running mate on the fast break. Marion is the master of the little things; things that only coaches notice. But what Marion suffers from is funks. Funks often created by Marion's feelings at times that he is being sleighted. Not being selected to the All-Star team might just be the thing that pisses him off for the rest of the season.

This year's all-star teams.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Carmelo Anthony, F Denver

Carlos Boozer, F Utah

Kobe Bryant, G L.A. Lakers

Tim Duncan, F San Antonio

Allen Iverson, G Denver

Yao Ming, C Houston

Steve Nash, G Phoenix

Dirk Nowitzki, F Dallas

Chris Paul, G New Orleans

Brandon Roy, G Portland

Amare Stoudemire, F Phoenix

David West, F New Orleans

Notable ommissions in the WEST

Deron Williams, Utah

Baron Davis, Goldent State

Shawn Marion, Phoenix

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio

Tony Parker, San Antonio

Al Jefferson, Minnesota

Kevin Martin, Sacramento

Pau Gasol, Memphis

Ron Artest, Sacramento

Josh Howard, Dallas

Tyson Chandley, New Orleans

Marcus Camby, Denver

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Chauncey Billups, G Detroit
Chris Bosh, F Toronto
Caron Butler, G Washington
Kevin Garnett, F Boston
Richard Hamilton, G Detroit
Dwight Howard, F Orlando
LeBron James, F Cleveland
Antawn Jamison, F Washington
Joe Johnson, G Atlanta
Jason Kidd, G New Jersey
Paul Pierce, F Boston
Dwyane Wade, G Miami

Notable ommissions in the EAST
Jose Calderon, Toronto
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Josh Smith, Atlanta
Gerald Wallace, Charlotte
Ray Allen, Boston
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia
Richard Jefferson, New Jersey
Vince Carter, New Jersey
Rashard Lewis, Orlando
Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando

Latest on Backup Point Gaurd Prospects

Excerpt pulled from ESPN.com at 1:46am:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3223023
Stoudamire initially expressed strong interest in joining the Boston Celtics as a veteran counterpart to second-year playmaker Rajon Rondo, but it appears that the Celtics are banking on the future availability of Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell. It's widely expected that the Clippers will consent to buying out Cassell if they can't move him before the Feb. 21 trading deadline and Cassell remains close to this day with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett after their time together in Minnesota.

Props To The Role Players: A Nice Win Against Miami

You really can't over analyze a blow out as the numbers are often skewed. But I do believe the following can be taken from this win...

The Boston Celtics were facing a team they should beat, and they did.

The role players deserve to be applauded. Yes, the win is against an injured and mentally defeated team. That said though, the Celtics were playing without two of there three all-star caliber players. Namely Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain) and Ray Allen (flu). In other words, the role players would be required to step up their game and find a way to win the game despite the losses of Allen and Garnett. More importantly the Celtics' role players would have to accomplish this by stepping up their game within the context of a team game. I say this because some players interpret stepping up as meaning "I have to score as much as KG or Allen." or "I have to try and take over the game." But more times that not, what leads to a victory is the stepping up of everyone's game within a team structure and not on various individual levels. The Celtics role players accomplished thus marvelously.

If I told you that KG and Allen were not playing tonight, who would you predict to be the leading scorer? Who would you predict would see the most defensive attention? I am guessing you all would have guessed Paul Pierce. Paul Pierce's numbers for the night: 28 minutes, 7 points, 2 for 9 (1 for 4 from behind the arc, 1 for 5 inside the arc), 2 for 2 from the line, 6 rebounds (1 offensive, 5 defensive), 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 3 steals.

ROLE PLAYERS:

Brian Scalabrine:
13 minutes, 2 points, 1 for 2 from the field, 3 rebounds

LEON POWE:
22 minutes, 23 points, 8 for 12, 7 for 9 from the line, 11 rebounds (3 offensive)

Eddie House:
21 minutes, 20 points, 7 for 14, 5 for 7 from behind the arc, 2 for 7 from within the arc

James Posey:
15 minutes, 9 points, 2 for 5 from behind the arc, 3 for 4 from the line, 5 rebounds

Rajon Rondo:
23 minutes, 24 points, 8 for 10 from the field, 8 for 9 from the line, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover

Tony Allen:
31 minutes, 19 points, 6 for 10, 2 for 2 from behind the arc, 5 for 7 from the line, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals

SIDE NOTE:

The Boston Celtics are 9-5 this month (good for a 64.2 winning percentage). If we were 9-5 anytime at anytime last season I would have been thrilled. Now, I'm irrationally annoyed the Boston lost 5 games this month. That's my irrational side. My rational side knows that you're not always going to beat all the teams you're supposed to beat. That said, it is nice to see that for the exception of the Charlotte Bobcats the Boston Celtics losses this month were at the hands of pretty solid Eastern Conference teams (twice against Washington and once against Toronto). Boston also made each of those losses a close game. In fact it should be noted that the Boston Celtics biggest loss in terms of the number of points they lost by is 12. Oddly enough, that is the game Boston lost to Charolotte.

Back In Gear: So Far So Good...

The one negative I'll pick out from today's matinee is that Boston has got to stop the talking, especially when you're up 20. There's no need for it and nothing good comes from it.

Kendrick Perkins played really well today. He was his usual solid self on the boards and defensive end of the floor. But what impressed me in addition to his usual contributions was that Perk seemed to be more in sync with the game on the offensive end today. Perk had a couple nice passes, he was moving very well without the ball and finding those open spots where Pierce, Rondo, or KG could find him. Perk also was very decisive with his moves off the catch, an aspect of his game where he has shown a tendency to be predictable.

Rondo had some real nice moments in his first game back.

KG was everywhere today.

Pierce's offensive numbers were not gaudy today by any means, but I really enjoyed watching Paul continue to create out there off the drive. Pierce also continues to hustle and give everything he has on the defensive end. Statistically, Paul may not be having one of his best seasons. But with respect to impact, I think Paul might be having the best season of his career.

Leon Powe also got a little time today, and was in my opinion quite effective for the short stretch that he played.

The Boston Celtics seem to be back in sync on the offensive end.

Boston finished with 15 tunrovers compared to NYK's 16. Boston shotw well from the field, and overpowered NYK on the defensive and offensive glass.

Hollinger's Stats On Stoudamire

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?statsId=3009
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=per&pos=pg&seasonType=2
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/stats?statsId=3009

Check out Damon Stoudamire's numbers at the above link/address.

62 NBA point gaurds are considered in Hollinger's player rankings
*To qualify: a player must have played 6.09 MPG.

TS% - Stoudamire ranks 34th out of 62 - 51.4%
True Shooting Percentage calculates what a player’s shooting percentage would be if we accounted for free throws and 3-pointers. True Shooting Percentage = (Total points x 50) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44)]

FT% - Stoudamire ranks 29th out of 62 - 80.8%

Ast Ratio - Stoudamire ranks 27th out of 62 - 30.5
Assist Ratio is the percentage of a player’s possessions that ends in an assist. Assist Ratio = (Assists x 100) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44) + Assists + Turnovers]

TO - ranks 53rd out of 62 - 13.6%
TO Turnover Ratio is the percentage of a player’s possessions that end in a turnover. Turnover Ratio = (Turnover x 100) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44) + Assists + Turnovers]

Usg - ranks 32nd out of 62 - 18.3
Usg Usage Rate is the number of possessions a player uses per 40 minutes. Usage Rate = {[FGA + (FT Att. x 0.44) + (Ast x 0.33) + TO] x 40 x League Pace} divided by (Minutes x Team Pace)

PER - ranks 41st out of 62
PER Player Efficiency Rating is my overall rating of a player’s per-minute statistical production. The league average is 15.00 every season.

Hollinger's take on Stoudamire

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/hollinger?statsId=3009

2006-07 season:
In his first year back after a devastating knee injury, Stoudamire didn't show inordinate slippage. That might sound like a backhanded compliment, but for a 33-year-old, 5-10 guard, it's actually quite impressive. Stoudamire's numbers were down, but not glaringly so, while his 8.0 assists per 40 minutes was easily the best mark of his career. In fact, for a guy who's been considered a shoot-first point guard his whole career it was a splendid performance -- he had the 10th-best assist ratio in the league.

Scouting report:
Stoudamire's overall numbers were solid, but look at the fine print and you'll see the impacts of the knee injury. Check the shot chart, for instance, and you'll see the percent of his shots that were non-layup 2-pointers went from 67.1 percent to 80.2 percent -- in other words, he got all the way to the rim a whole lot less. His free-throw numbers took a dip too, averaging only .189 free-throw attempts per field-goal attempt.

But it was most noticeable at the defensive end. Stoudamire seemed limited every time I saw him, with his already problematic size issues compounded by a newfound lack of quickness -- presumably because of the knee. On the other hand, players often fare better in their second year after a knee surgery, so Stoudamire could gain back more ground this year.

2007-08 outlook:
The Grizzlies have taken point guards in the first round in each of the past two drafts, so the handwriting is on the wall for Stoudamire. He'll serve as a mentor to Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry this year and might see spot duty when one or the other is taking his lumps, but nobody will be surprised if he's in a different uniform by February.

While his salary is generous for his production, Stoudamire has decent trade value if he can show he still has some of his trademark quickness left. By the trade deadline there would only be a year and a half left on the deal, so some team might become desperate enough to take it on.

Most similar at age: Dana Barros

Source: Grizz, Stoudamire near buyout; Suns, Celtics favorites to sign him

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3204305
By Chris SheridanESPN.com(Archive)

Damon Stoudamire is close to reaching a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies that would allow the 34-year-old point guard to sign as a free agent with either the Boston Celtics or the Phoenix Suns, a source told ESPN.com on Saturday.

There remained a possibility, however, that the Grizzlies would decide against a buyout if one of several teams seeking Stoudamire upped its offer in trade talks.

Either way, a resolution was expected within the next several days.

The Celtics, Suns, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets have all discussed trade possibilities with the Grizzlies to acquire Stoudamire, the 1996 Rookie of the Year and a 12-year veteran. Stoudamire was the Grizzlies' starting point guard over the first two months of the season before rookie Mike Conley was promoted. Stoudamire has not played since Dec. 30.
A source with knowledge of the trade talks said the situation also was being impacted by the possibility of Sam Cassell being traded or bought out by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cassell is in the final season of a contract paying him $6.156 million. Stoudamire is earning $4.35 million this season and has one season remaining at $4.65 million, half if which is guaranteed.
Of the five teams known to be seeking Stoudamire, the Celtics appear to have the greatest need. Boston does not have a true point guard behind starter Rajon Rondo, a second-year pro who has missed three of the past four games with back and hamstring injuries.

Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN.com.