Marks Has Shaq’s Back
Tagged in: BBNZ News, Kiwis Abroad
Kiwi NBA performer Sean Marks and his Phoenix Suns will be banking on the mojo of legendary centre Shaquille O’Neal as they try to keep their title dreams alive at home in the western conference playoffs this weekend.
After letting their chances slip away in Games One (thwarted at the buzzer by a rare Tim Duncan trey) and Two (surrendering a 14-point first half lead), the Suns can’t afford to be faint-hearted as they defend their patch against the reigning NBA champions.
“I don’t think it’s ever quite as bad as you think,” says Marks (32) in his eighth season as a pro. “When you’re down two games in a best-of-seven series, you can definitely come back.
“San Antonio have really only looked after their home court advantage and it is up to us now to win at our place. Morale is still high.
“If we take care of business here and then get a win in San Antonio, that can change everything.”
O’Neal, who was acquired from Miami mid-season, remains a huge piece of that comeback puzzle.
Previously, the Suns had set a high-scoring pace, but struggled to contain elite big men like Duncan in the post-season grind. In many ways, this was the series Phoenix management had in mind when they traded for Shaq and the onus is on him to oblige.
“More than any anything else, Shaquille gives us the belief through all his accolades and his championships,” says Marks. “You know he’s all about business when it comes time to win championships.
“He wants to be known as one of the better centres of all time and he needs to win championships.”
O’Neal already has four – three with the Los Angeles Lakers and most recently with the Heat – but there is always a sense that too much is never enough with the 36-year-old giant, whose personality seems, at times, bigger than the league itself.
The Spurs crept back into Game Two through the time-honoured ritual known as “Hack-a-Shaq”, exploiting O’Neal’s inconsistency at the free throw line. If that’s the way this series pans, Marks expects his boy to rise to the challenge.
“Shaquille never likes to be looked upon as a weak link. He’ll want to make those free throws … that is his belief, he’s done it in the past and I’m sure he will do it again.”
But despite his aura, O’Neal cannot do it alone. The rest of the Suns must find a way to neutralize international stars Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) in the open court.
Between them, that pair have scored more than half (111/219) of San Antonio’s points in the opening games.
“It has to be a whole team effort,” insists Marks. “We can’t just say to Steve Nash ‘it’s your job to stay in front of Tony Parker and stop him’.
“It’s up to all of us to get back in transition.”
To hear Marks speak, you would think he has been in the thick of the action, when, in reality, has yet to step foot on the court in a playoff game.
As the Suns closed out the regular season, they gave the Kiwi centre a chance to show his abilities and he responded with 16 points and 13 rebounds in a meaningless win over Portland Trailblazers, his best NBA performance in 127 appearances.
“It was great to get out there and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he reflects. “From a selfish standpoint, I wish there were more opportunities like that.
“But I’ve always said, you can’t be focused on individual goals at this stage of the season. Myself and the four other guys on the bench must continue to stay ready because you never really know when we could be needed.”
Marks carries a unique perspective on the Suns-Spurs rivalry, having won a ring with San Antonio in 2005, then watching his old team-mate physically monster his new outfit in last year’s conference semifinals on their way to another title.
“That makes it fun,” he insists. “There is a really, really strong rivalry between the two teams.
“San Antonio has something we want and that’s what the game is all about.”
