By Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavs Spotlight: Matrix reloaded from long range

For much of forward Shawn Marion’s time with the Dallas Mavericks he didn’t venture out as far as 23’9″ on the perimeter and 22’0″ in the corners of an NBA court, but that all seems to have changed this season. This year, “The Matrix” is reloaded from long range.

The 33.3-percent career shooter from behind the 3-point arc has hovered just above 15 percent in two seasons with the Mavericks. In his third campaign with the Mavs, however, he’s hitting at the best rate of his now 13-year career from long distance and Monday night was further evidence of the range that he actually does possess.

The 6-foot-7 veteran forward swished in 4-for-6 from deep en route to matching his Mavericks-high of 29 points in Monday night’s 93-87 home win over his former team, the Phoenix Suns. Now, with Marion shooting 42.9 percent from behind the arc — by far exceeding the 39.3 percent that he shot with Phoenix back in the 2001-02 season — Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle says Marion has emerged as far more than just the defending champs’ best perimeter defender and a highflyer on the offensive end.

He’s also turning into a 3-point assassin.

“Look, he has the green light to shoot threes,” Carlisle said after Marion starred in the team’s third straight win. “I mean, the first year (that Marion was in Dallas) we discouraged it and it was the wrong thing to do. You know, a guy that has that kind of career and everything, you’ve got to let him play his game. Last year, we basically said, ‘Hey, just look for the good ones.’ And this year he’s gotten in a real good flow really since the beginning of the year. So, hey, it’s great for him, it’s great for the spacing of our team and, you know, he’s a confident guy. If you give him shots, he’s gonna aggressively step into them.”

“I’ve shot the three my whole career, I just don’t have to do it here,” Marion explained. “Here, I don’t have to do it because they need somebody who can score inside the paint. I had to (concentrate on defense) like I did if we wanted to win a championship, but I’ve always had the 3-pointer in my game. When you stop doing it, it definitely feels a little weird, though.”

Aggressively, Marion has looked more and more for his own shot from the perimeter since the injury bug has bitten his team. Since swingman Vince Carter (sprained left foot) went down four games ago, Marion has averaged above 19 points an outing. That production has been especially counted on with leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki sitting out the Mavs’ last two matchups during what is expected to be a four-game hiatus from the court while the 7-footer works on conditioning a sore right knee.

Minus Carter and Nowitzki, as well as their 18 All-Star appearances, the Mavericks have looked more and more in Marion’s direction and he hasn’t disappointed. And if the team has things its way, Marion won’t be slowing down any time soon.

“You know, he can score. He has a knack for putting the ball in the basket,” newcomer Lamar Odom said of Marion. “You know, his game is so unorthodox, he’s so fun to watch and I just love the way that he just plays — with the ball, without the ball. He’s always been a great rebounder, he’s been a great defender and he’s definitely one of the most underrated players in the league.”

“My teammates are looking for me,” Marion modestly said. “I’ve been able to do a lot of different things on the floor. This is about just helping my teammates.”

Note: The Mavericks return to action in the second matchup of a four-game homestand Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves with a championship ring ceremony before the game. The Timberwolves-Mavericks game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.