Marcus Banks Moving to Shooting Guard

Shapecity · Oct 25, 2008

As the Miami Heat works to establish a rotation for Wednesday's season opener at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks, it is looking more and more as if a point guard will be its backup shooting guard.

Marcus Banks, who has spent his career previous career stops with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns almost exclusively at point guard, exited the Heat's preseason schedule as a frontrunner to back up starting shooting guard Dwyane Wade, even with his uneven effort in Friday's 96-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

"He's a combo guard, in my mind," coach Erik Spoelstra said of the 6-foot-2 sixth-year veteran. "I just look at him as a player. He's a very good high-pick-and-roll player. He can create, get in the paint for us.

"But he also can play some point guard for us."
Banks' secondary role at his prime position does not come as a complete surprise, with the Heat undersized throughout the roster, and hopeful of finding minutes at point guard for Chris Quinn, Mario Chalmers and Shaun Livingston.

The competition at point guard became more complex Friday night, with Chalmers producing a breakout performance with his 11 points, 10 assists and game-winning 3-pointer at the final horn, as well as with Livingston summoning the strength in his recovery from a massive 2007 knee injury to go 17 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back and finish with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting.

"Basically, with our team, we have such a small team that all the guards are interchangeable," Banks said. "At times, I could be at the two, at times, at the three."

In some ways, Banks has found himself cornered by Spoelstra, often required to spot up for jumpers, a staple of the team's drive-and-kick game. Banks, of course, entered camp thinking he would be the driver.

"If you want me to be a catch-and-shoot guy, that's fine with me," he said. "But I'm basically a creator."

With 3-point specialist James Jones sidelined until midseason following wrist surgery, Banks has proven as reliable as any available shooter.

"We have to stick someone in the corner," Banks said. "Fortunately, we have like three or four point guards, so why not put another scorer in the corner?"

By moving Banks to shooting guard, it somewhat reduces the team's need for second-year Daequan Cook.

Even with Friday night's 2-of-6 shooting against the Spurs, Banks finished the Heat's 2-5 preseason at 47.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent on 3-pointers. His nine three pointers led the Heat in those seven games, the only Heat player to average more than one per game.

By contrast, even with his 6-of-12 shooting from the field in Friday's exhibition finale against the Spurs, which included 4-of-6 accuracy on 3-pointers, Cook closed the preseason shooting 34 percent from the field and 30.4 percent on 3-pointers.

"It's not a big-time adjustment," Banks said. "I'm ready wherever he puts me."
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Source: Sun Sentinel

DynastYWarrioR6 · Oct 26, 2008

Last I recall, he couldn't shoot, so.....good luck?

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Marcus Banks Moving to Shooting Guard

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Marcus Banks Moving to Shooting Guard

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

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