And the Academy Award for best supporting role goes to...Shawn Marion, pacing the Sun's current nine-game winning streak.
He's currently 16th in the NBA in scoring, and his 12.3 rebounds per game tie him with Orlando's Dwight Howard at the top of that list. He's also fifth in steals, a category usually dominated by guards.
With those numbers, it's hard to look at Marion as a supporting cast member. Recently, he's been the main attraction.
In the Feb. 25 sprint race between Phoenix and Charlotte, Marion paired 31 points with 24 rebounds, making him the first Sun to put together a 30-20 game since Charles Barkley.
In the previous game he posted a career-best 44 points, and over the past five games has averaged 31.6 points per game. It was reported that his recent outburst was in response to trade rumors.
Whatever it was that has motivated Marion, it's helped him elevate his game to unseen heights. It's difficult and exciting to imagine just how good the Suns can be with Marion on fire, MVP Steve Nash on point, and Amare Stoudemire back in the lineup.
The Suns' comeback win over Dallas on Sunday spoke volumes about what they might be capable of in the playoffs, but getting past the Spurs is another matter.
