By: Gavin Inkster

Bryan Colangelo shook things up in a big way last week when he moved Jermaine O’Neal (and his 22 million dollar ball and chain contract) and Jamario Moon to the Miami Heat.

O’Neal’s play had been improving of late, but Colangelo added a player in Shawn Marion who is used to playing an up-tempo style of basketball.

Marion was part of last season’s blockbuster trade that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Pheonix Suns, while Marion and others ended up in Miami.

Marion has stated that he was never comfortable in Miami’s offense, preferring a style more similar to Phoenix’s fast-paced attack. Marion put up impressive numbers with the Suns just two years ago, averaging at least ten rebounds and twenty points each game.

Given the similarities between Toronto’s and Pheonix’s offensive philosophies, there is a good chance that fans will see Marion return to his impressive form. If this were to happen, expect to see Marion running the floor hard alongside Jose Calderon and Chris Bosh and fighting hard for a playoff spot this season.

Five points out with twenty-four games left, Toronto needs this major change to pay off in a big way to improve their NBA odds of making the playoffs. Marion will be playing without Bosh in his Raptors debut against the Cavaliers, so fans will be expecting to see a big effort from him as he looks to make his mark as a difference-making player.

The writer, Gavin Inkster, is a basketball odds consultant

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