Shawn Marion Promises Bright Future

Ray Bans? Panama Jacks? Blu Blockers?

Look, the future is so bright, I just might grab me a pair. Kim Jong Il has some, much be watching Heat games.

Why has the Heat's future been resurrected from one of a dilapidating old sorry site to a sleek, new, hip one? They traded Shaq away and got Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. And so far, it has paid immediate dividends.

Banks has already started to turn things. He called the Heat slow. Old man Heat need to get young buck quick and they are doing so by getting rid of the old diesel engine for a high-octane variety.

"It feels like we're pacing ourselves for something," Banks said. "If we get out there and just lay it on the line, we can shock a couple of teams and get a different outcome."

But Banks isn't the only one feeling prophetic these days. Shawn Marion believes in the future of this team too.



You heard the man. "I'm happy to be a part of this Heat organization and we're trying to build for the future." We all are.

The Heat got back not only an legit all star at a position they were iffy on, small forward, but they also added a potential starter for another position they are desperately thin at - point guard. Both Marion and Banks will take what they learned in Phoenix and help the Heat overhaul their offense and tweak it up to a faster paced model. The fans here in Miami are talking about it more, and seem to be rejuvenated.

Tonight is just another point in case. The Heat lost, sure, 114-113. But it was to the Denver Nuggets who had to rely on a career night from JR Smith to survive. Smith's 8 three pointers propelled him to 28 points on the night, with which the Heat may have won this game and may have done so convincingly.

Shawn Marion did poor in another productive night with 23 points and 18 rebounds. Dwyane Wade, all of a sudden, is looking more like the play maker he was in the 2006 playoffs - having 10 assists and only 2 turnovers.

Not to mention the Heat, averaging around 77 shots a game, put up 100 shots tonight.

In fact, after a dunk from Marion, who was on the receiving end of a bounce pass from Marcus Banks, took a 42-28 lead at home against the Nuggets.

Overall, the team is performing better. Blount had 18 points, Wright dropped 19 and is showing himself to be not just an athlete that can score, but that can contribute with rebounds (8) and in other ways (4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block).

Remember, Udonis Haslem and Alonzo Mourning are currently injured and in street clothes. They were both at the game cheering on the team and getting very excited. Could this mean Zo might lean towards returning? Regardless, the excitement was visible and could be a barometer of what is going on within the organization.

This team may or may not win a lot of games to close out the year, but the future is actually going to be brighter as a result. They not only will have salary cap space to play around with (expect another trade before the deadline so the Heat can get a player they want without having to play the numbers game - possibly Mike Miller) but with their continued losing efforts they are actually stepping closer to getting one of the top picks in this year's draft.

So Enter the Matrix and watch as the Heat, with their true architect Pat Riley, turn this thing around very quickly.