Post#6 » by tsherkin » Fri May 16, 2008 7:40 pm
Tough call, depends on the team. They have differing strengths.
Rebounders of comparable value (Marion is a little better) and both capable of playing the 3/4, they are versatile defenders and nice all-around talents.
Odom is a more capable isolation scorer (most especially when you put him backdown in the post but even on the wing) and obviously a considerably better passer.
Marion is 3" shorter but concordantly more capable at defending small guys... including the Tony Parkers of the league, in short bursts, which doesn't work with Odom.
So it really depends on your guards. Are your guards capable of holding their own defensively? Do you have a really big-time point-forward type or a high-volume wing passer at the 2?
Marion is one of the best off-ball movers in the league; he can score 16-20 points a game just off of alleys and cuts and what-not, being in the right place at the right time isn't a skill with him, it's a state of being, kind of like with Antawn Jamison (only with more athleticism and less post skills).
I think they're roughly equivalent players, a little edge Marion's way, but they are different enough that they are situational selections.
I'd take Marion back on the Suns, for example, because D'Antoni refused to use DJ Strawberry to back him and Raja up on defense to spell them so they didn't wear down. Plus, his perimeter D was nasty, so even if Mike D's replacement opens up the rotation a little and embraces DJ, he's still going to need someone else... unless Grant Hill is healthy all year but even still. Marion could defend Parker; Hill, not nearly as well (but still better than Nash).
I'd definitely stick with Odom on the Lakers, though; Marion's offense isn't needed as much with Gasol around and because Gasol is a good low-post defender, the need for defense on the lightning-bug guards of the league is lessened. Too, Kobe's a great defender when he's got help and that negates the need for a really nasty wing defender. And then when Bynum comes back...