Marcus Banks Could Be the New Chauncey Billups; I Know, But Hear Me Out

by PeninsulaIsMightier on Sep 23, 2008 4:08 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

Marcus Banks has been talking a lot about taking over the Heat this year, even as Heat fans are ushering in the smoke-filled Mario Chalmers era and lamenting Banks' dead-weight contract. But maybe, just maybe, Banks is worthy of optimism.

Here's Banks' per-36 minute line from his 12 games with Miami last year, his fifth season in the NBA:

15.8 points...5 assists...2.9 turnovers...3.5 rebounds...0.8 steals...51% fgp...40% 3pfg...79% ftp...15.5 PER.

And here's Billups' per-36 line from 2001-02, his fifth year in the league and final year with Minnesota before signing with Detroit.

15.7 points...6.9 assists...2.1 turnovers...3.5 rebounds...1 steal...42% fgp...39% 3pfg...88% ftp...17.6 PER.

Now I understand 12 games is a small sample size for Banks, especially in a bizarre situation like Miami's last year. My point is that point guards are notoriously slow to develop; a five-year process of becoming a legitimate starter is not unusual.

I would argue that Banks is in a position to succeed with Miami in 2008-09 much the way Billups was in Detroit in 2002-03. He should be an asset on the fast break and in getting to the basket. in the half court. The key, I think, will be his ability to knock down jumpers off of Dwyane Wade's penetration. If he does that at the clip he did over those 12 games last year, rather than at his 34% career 3-point shooting mark, he might do more than win this year's starting job. He might lock down the position for a few years to come.

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I actually like Banks a lot, and I definitely think he can still make a nice career for himself.

But Chauncey might be setting the bar a bit too high.

www.upsideandmotor.blogspot.com

by Upside and Motor on Sep 23, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, Rob. And I thought this post would be low-hanging fruit for someone to devour. I guess there’s still time.

by PeninsulaIsMightier on Sep 24, 2008 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Marcus Banks has the capabilities of a floor general offensively. He doesn’t organize+direct his teams well enough. Offensively, he’s a scoring guard – Banks had his best period offensively while in Minnesota as a scoring guard. So I don’t like what Banks has shown offensively so far in his NBA career. I like point guards that can run his team’s offense at a high level and Banks hasn’t shown that.

I think the biggest question with Banks is whether he can rebuild his defense. He looked like an incredible defender in the makings while in Boston, but in Phoenix (limited sample) his D seemed to slip in a large way. I’m very interested to see how his defense is doing next season in Miami. That should be his calling card and his best weapon to winning major minutes next season.

My expectation is for Chalmers to start and Banks to back him up.

by NBR on Sep 24, 2008 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

That’s a good point about Banks’ defense, especially as Spoelstra has stressed that in his interviews recently. Strong D can keep him on the floor and give him a chance to figure the rest of it out.